Happy Gut, Happy Life

What if I told you I have microscopic photos of my gut? I wish I was kidding. One of the charming benefits of being diagnosed with Celiac disease is my gut health has been the literal focus of each & every doctor visit. This gut-wrenching health battle has lead me to be a microbiome nerd & gut guru.

The word gut is one of the least attractive, happy or thriving words in the English language. However, your 'gut' is directly correlated to skin radiance, hair growth, nutrient absorption, weight loss, brain health and energy - just to name a few! Another sexy word that feeds the thrive in our gut is bacteria. Now if your gut bacteria isn't thriving - you most likely aren't.

Meet best friends prebiotic and probiotic. This power couple promotes the growth and success of healthy bacteria in the gut microbiome for a thriving lifestyle. Prebiotic fibers act as the building blocks to a strong gut lining as they are essential in ensuring probiotics are able to do their job! Probiotics are the powerhouses that fuel our body's systems so we can thrive at full capacity. Luckily, prebiotic foods are commonly already incorporated into your daily diet - so keep doing you! I challenge you to try to mix in at least one prebiotic food in all of your meals - little or small! When looking for probiotic foods, you may hear the word fermented - simply meaning the fermentation process promotes the growth of the healthy bacteria in that given food.

Thriving Prebiotic Foods

Garlic

(Sneakily add garlic to your olive oil in salad dressings & side dishes to amp up the flavor - perfect for all grilled vegetables this summer)

Onion

(Two superfoods in one dish? Start your morning off with this thriving Turmeric, Tomato, Onion Omelet)

Asparagus

(Spring's superstar vegetable that can be easily chopped up & thrown into any stir-fry!)

Chickpeas & Lentils

(Meatballs. Need I say more?)

Bananas

(Unpopular opinion: the greener the banana the healthier - sorry)

Oats

(From peanut butter cup to cinnamon roll - overnight oats are not only deliscious but uber healthy for those mornings on the go)

Apples

(There's nothing more simple & satisfying than apples smothered in a nut/seed butter)

Almonds

(See above for double the gut power)

Flaxseeds

(Flaxseeds must be ground to reap benefits! Buy prepackaged ground seeds or save money by buying full seeds in bulk & grinding your own with a coffee grinder)

Thriving Probiotic Foods

Yogurt

(All hail yogurt based smoothie bowls! Top them off with this probiotic granola)

Coconut Kefir

(Thick & creamy yogurt alternative with double the diary-free probiotic power)

Sauerkraut

(Don't crap on the kraut! If you can battle through the tang, top your next sandwich or salad with this gut powered side)

Tempeh

(Tofu alternative - check it out as a salad topping at your local by CHLOE.)

Kimchi

(Spicy addition to any salad that your gut & taste buds will thank you for! Found in the refrigerated produce section of your local grocery store)

Miso

(Out to dinner with friends at your favorite Asian restaurant? Order a bowl of miso soup to compliment your sushi for an ultimate gut healing meal)

Kombucha

(Sooo expensive but so worth it! I will splurge on this liquid gold when they are on sale at the grocery store - I am determined to learn how to brew my own booch so stay tuned)

Pickles

(My dad will be happy about this one)

Bonus points for popping a probiotic pill everyday. My thriving routine is to take one right when I wake up and right before I go to bed. I truly believe in the gut-brain connection and will pop a probiotic when I begin to feel some anxious feelings bubble up. My go-to brand is

Renew Life - Ultimate Flora Probiotic Women's Care

Need help finding a perfect probiotic pill match?

Check out Claire's super helpful probiotic guide!

Happy thriving with a happy gut!