The secret to losing weight is all in your gut. That’s why having a good and healthy stomach makes a huge difference in your weight loss journey.
What makes a healthy gut?
The body contains trillions of microorganisms, a majority of which are good bacteria located in the digestive system. Known as microflora, these gut bacteria contain a diverse group of microorganisms. They are also responsible for fighting bad bacteria, digesting food, boosting metabolism, and improving the immune system.
Probiotics, in particular, are a type of live bacteria and yeasts that are especially helpful in having a healthy gut. Often found in yogurt, they maintain balance among bacteria and they replace lost good bacteria.
How a healthy gut affects weight
A healthy gut is able to strike a balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria. Once an imbalance occurs, it can lead to bloating, digestive problems, mood swings, and eventually, weight gain.
Since gut bacteria play a huge role in your digestive system, they affect your appetite and how your food is digested. Studies have shown that those with low gut bacteria diversity are more prone to gaining weight due to fewer gut bacteria.
There are a number of ways that gut bacteria help in losing weight. One of these ways is by digesting fiber. Since humans are unable to digest fiber, the body’s gut bacteria step in and aid in its digestion. Gut bacteria are also instrumental in digesting antioxidants, absorbing dietary fats, and reducing inflammation. These also produce certain chemicals that influence your appetite, helping you feel fuller.
Causes of an unhealthy gut
Majority of the reasons why we have an unhealthy gut is due to the food and medications we put into our bodies. These products normally contain toxins that feed bad bacteria that interrupt the growth of good bacteria. The main causes of an unhealthy gut are:
- Antibiotics – Antibiotics do not only kill infected bacteria, but they harm the good bacteria as well.
- Refined sugar, carbohydrates, and processed food – These types of food feed bad bacteria and reduce good bacteria.
- Chronic stress – During long-term periods of stress, blood flow to the stomach is affected.
- Chronic infections – Persistent infections create an imbalance among the good bacteria in the body.
- Alcohol – When consumed in large amounts, alcohol decreases the number of good bacteria in your gut.
Improving and maintaining a healthy gut
The best way to have a healthy gut and lose weight is to eat smart. Aside from avoiding the food choices mentioned above, it’s important to incorporate different types of whole foods, fiber-rich food, and fermented food into your diet. Fermented food such as yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha contain a substantial amount of enzymes and probiotics that can help increase the microflora in your body.
Complement healthy eating by exercising regularly. Physical activity is also essential in improving and maintaining your gut. When you exercise, the composition of your gut microbes increases and helps you successfully lose weight.
Your weight loss journey starts with the proper guidance. WholeBody Solutions offers a wide range of services to improve your body inside and out. If you want to learn more about what we do, feel free to give us a call at 617.328.6300. You can also reach us at [email protected].
References:
https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/tips/advice/gut-bacteria/
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19939103/probiotics-and-weight-loss/
https://chriskresser.com/a-healthy-gut-is-the-hidden-key-to-weight-loss/
http://www.chirothinweightloss.com/2018/02/how-restoring-gut-health-can-help-you-lose-weight/
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/exercise-improves-your-gut-bacteria
Opened more than 30-years ago by Dr. Ann Doggett, WholeBody Solutions is a holistic wellness center whose mission is to provide the community with safe, effective, and natural answers to health and wellness concerns. Our all-encompassing wellness center focuses on the following drug-free services: Nutrition, Chiropractic, Acupuncture, and Weight Loss. Our goal is quite simple – to make sick people well and to keep healthy people healthy. It’s that simple and that powerful.
