What Supplements Are Good For Gut Health?

Taking care of your gut is one of the best ways to improve your health. Your gut is home to trillions of bacteria, mucous-munching microbes called microflora, and trillions of nerve endings that can be beneficial or harmful. While your gut is beneficial for many things, like digesting food, producing vitamins, and maintaining your immune system, if it isn’t kept in tip-top shape, it can cause digestive issues. Luckily, taking care of your gut doesn’t have to be hard! In this blog post, we’ll talk about what the best supplements for gut health.

What’s good in gut health?

To start, you’ll want to get your gut bacteria in check. This is done by supplementing with probiotics to help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast strains that can help restore your flora by increasing the number of good bacteria to fight off bad bacteria. Brands like Garden of Life, BioKomb, and Now Foods have high-quality probiotic supplements that can help get your gut back on track.

Next, you’ll want to ensure your prebiotics are getting a fair shot. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that are selectively beneficial for bacteria and yeast. Brands like PlantFusion, Klaire Labs, and Chlorella are high-quality prebiotic supplements that can keep your gut well fed.

Probiotics

A probiotic is a supplement containing live bacteria and yeast strains that can help restore your gut’s bacterial balance. Probiotics can be taken to help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut that are missing from an unhealthy diet.

Common bacterial strains used in probiotic supplements include: Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces, and S.Bilis. These strains are often found in the human gut and are thought to be beneficial.

Prebiotics

A prebiotic is a type of dietary fiber that is selectively beneficial for bacteria. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that are selectively beneficial for bacteria by stimulating the growth and activity of bacteria in the colon.

Common prebiotic supplements include inulin, oligofructose, oligo-oligosaccharides, and polydextrose. These supplements often come in powdered forms and are often added to protein shakes or canned soups to provide a prebiotic source.

When looking for a prebiotic supplement, make sure it is high-quality. Prebiotics are often used to promote gut health, but a high-quality supplement can increase this effect. Prebiotic supplements should also be affordable and easy to find.

Fats

Fats are essential for optimal health and should make up 20–30% of your diet. Reducing fat to low-fat or no-fat levels can lead to digestive issues, so keeping fats high in your diet is recommended.

Common fat sources include: Olive Oil, Avocado, Almonds, and Flax Seeds. Olive Oil is high in polyphenols that can decrease inflammation and improve gut health. Avocado and Almonds are high in vitamins B6 and B3, which are essential for gut health. Flax seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are key for gut health.

Plant-Based Proteins

Plant-based proteins are also essential for gut health. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and plants are where most amino acids are found naturally. Some amino acids, such as histidine, can be toxic if not properly metabolized.

Plant-based proteins such as Hemp, Pea, and Brown Rice proteins are often low in histidine and high in other amino acids that can help improve gut health.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is crucial for overall health and can improve gut health by regulating the immune system. The body needs sunlight and vitamin D to produce vitamin D, which plays a role in regulating your immune system.

A good way to get vitamin D is through supplements. Brands like Source Natural and Now Foods have high-quality supplements with easy-to-follow dosing.

Conclusion

Gut health is important for overall health, and it isn’t difficult to maintain. Taking probiotics, prebiotics, fats, and plant-based proteins can help keep your gut happy and healthy.