How better to embrace the dawning of a new season than with a spring health reset? Our Spring Reset Challenge is all about prioritizing our health and finding effective ways to restore balance in our gut. There’s never been a better time to embrace a healthier lifestyle, and with the help of our expert tips and advice, you can look to dramatically improve not only your gut microbiome, but your overall health and wellbeing.  

What is our gut microbiome?  

A term we are hearing more and more as time goes on, our gut microbiome refers to the population of microorganisms that exist within our intestines. From bacteria and viruses to fungi and microbes, these microorganisms work together to form our gut microbiome.   

What does our gut microbiome do?   

Our gut microbiome is responsible for optimizing a number of different things within our bodies, all relating to our digestive health. From extracting the health-boosting benefits found within the food we eat to strengthening our immune system and protecting against harmful pathogens and bacteria, having a good gut microbiome is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.  

How does your gut microbiome affect our overall health?  

Our gut microbiome plays a key role in supporting not only our physical wellbeing, but our mental health, too. There is strong evidence to suggest that having a diverse variety of gut bacteria could minimize the risk of developing serious health conditions such as psoriatic arthritis, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. This is why it’s so important to take care of our gut and to explore the ways in which we can keep our gut healthy and happy.  

How can we improve our gut microbiome and gut health? 5 ways to improve gut health  

A well-balanced gut and good microbiome are key components in maintaining a healthy overall lifestyle, and there are many different things that we can do to improve both, starting with our diet. 

1. Make healthy changes to your diet

When it comes to our gut health, the phrase ‘you are what you eat’ couldn’t be more true, which is why it’s so important to pay close attention to our diets.

Here are a few simple tips that will help restore balance in the gut and therefore improve your gut microbiome:

• Eat a variety of whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, wholegrains, beans and pulses

• Try to keep your consumption of red meat to a minimum

• Eat foods that are rich in fibre, as these help to feed the healthy bacteria within our gut

• Incorporate fermented foods into your diet, such as natural yoghurt, sauerkraut and kimchi, all of which contain health-boosting probiotics

• Try your best to avoid processed foods. Every once in a while,we all resort to convenience foods, but it’s essential that this doesn’t become a frequent habit 

2. Make daily exercise a priority 

Physical activity can help increase the volume of good bacteria in our gut, so be sure to make time to exercise every day.

3. Keep stress levels to a minimum

Those with high stress levels often complain of gut-related health issues such as diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain - and that’s because stress directly impacts what goes on in our gut. The likes of general digestive issues, increased inflammation and even damage to the gut line are just a few of the ways in which stress can negatively impact our gut.

4. Probiotics and supplements 

The likes of probiotics and prebiotics can be added into our daily routines to help improve our gut microbiome.

In addition to the above, it’s vital that you drink plenty of water, minimize alcohol consumption and get enough sleep. 

5. How long does it take to restore gut health?

There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer to how long it will take to restore the balance in your gut. In some cases, it can improve within a matter of weeks, but for more long-term changes, it could be months. Ultimately, this all depends on your own personal lifestyle and how severe your gut issues are.