Looking to enhance your gut health? You’re not alone—our gut plays a crucial role in our overall well-being. Dive into these expert-backed strategies to support your digestive system and feel better every day.

WHEN THINGS START TO GO WRONG, YOUR GUT IS USUALLY THE FIRST TO NOTICE—THERE’S A REASON WE CALL IT A GUT FEELING.

Your gut is the command center of your health, home to a vast community of good and bad bacteria that influence everything from digestion to mental clarity. A balanced gut can help you manage weight, prevent digestive issues, and maintain emotional stability.

Creating a healthy bacterial environment in your gut starts with one simple truth: you are what you eat.

One of the toughest but most impactful changes is cutting out refined sugars and artificial sweeteners found in processed foods. These feed harmful bacteria, allowing them to thrive. The same goes for starches, which break down into glucose—another sugar source. Excess glucose gets stored in your liver, muscles, and fat.

Healthy fats are essential for brain function and cell health. You can get a good mix of omega-3 and omega-6 fats by eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and mackerel, and incorporating nuts like almonds, cashews, and walnuts into your meals. These fats also help protect your heart. Swap out butter for unsaturated oils like olive, canola, or vegetable oil for even more benefits.

Homemade soups and broths are nutrient powerhouses. Made from animal bones, they’re rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and other minerals that support digestion, bone strength, and protein absorption. No wonder chicken soup is a go-to remedy.

Living foods—those with active enzymes—are key to better digestion and nutrient absorption. These include raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted grains, and unpasteurized dairy like yogurt and buttermilk.

Probiotics are the good bacteria your body needs. While food can help, sometimes supplements are necessary to restore balance. Fermented cod liver oil is another great addition, packed with vitamins A and D and omega-3s.

Balancing your diet can be tricky with so much conflicting information out there. But these simple tips can guide you toward better gut health and overall wellness. Personally, I follow the SCD Lifestyle diet—Specific Carbohydrate Diet—which eliminates processed foods, sugars, starches, and grains for a cleaner, healthier gut.