To Anyone Struggling to Lose That Last 10 Pounds Your Gut Is Begging for These 24 Foods Print 4 LikeDislike By Dr. Kellyann Petrucci When people who just can’t seem to lose weight come to see me, I don’t offer them pills or a surgical solution. As a naturopathic doctor, I try to help them focus on feeding their body the right way and a big part of that is how you treat your gut — the trillions of microbes that make up your microbiome. When that microbiome is healthy, you have a rock-solid gut. When it’s not, you’re in trouble.Why is your microbiome so important? Eighty percent of your immune system is in your gut — and your gut microbes help to modulate this system’s activity. So treating your gut right — which involves prebiotics and probiotics — is the biggest piece of the puzzle when it comes to having a slim, young, healthy body.When your microbiome is healthy, your immune system works optimally, and that means you have a lower risk of getting colds, the flu, autoimmune problems, and even cancer. You also digest your food better, which means less gas and bloating and fewer incidences of constipation and diarrhea. What’s more, it means you’re getting the nutrients your body needs.On the flipside, an unhealthy microbiome creates inflammation, which can eventually lead to “leaky gut,” allowing toxins and undigested food particles to escape into your bloodstream. This sends your immune system into hyperdrive, causing chronic, low-grade, system-wide inflammation that makes you fat and sick. It’s like a forest fire that never goes out. If you heal this inflammation, the pounds will fall off and you will feel more energetic.Here are three things you need to know to maintain a healthy gut:1. Trillions of good microbes live in your GI tract, and they need prebiotics to flourish.Prebiotics are foods or supplements high in the soluble fiber that your gut microbes love to eat. Here are some of the best prebiotic foods: jicamaonionsgarlicasparagusleeksbananaschicory rootJerusalem artichokesI recommend taking prebiotic supplements if you lack these foods in your diet. This is particularly important if you need to take antibiotics, which kill off millions of good microbes along with the bad ones.2. Your microbiome also needs beneficial bacteria and other good flora.Here’s where probiotic foods come in; they contain live, beneficial microbes that will settle happily into your ecosystem, helping to build a diverse and well-balanced microbiome. Probiotic foods include:sauerkraut (the unpasteurized kind in the refrigerated section at the store)kimchi (available in Asian markets if you can’t find it at grocery stores)pickles (the unpasteurized kind in the refrigerated section at the store)coconut kefirIf you aren’t used to sauerkraut (great with eggs or sausage!) and kimchi (a great spicy side dish!), give them a chance.3. Anti-inflammatory foods are essential too.Prebiotics and probiotics lay the foundation for a super-healthy gut microbiome. Consuming anti-inflammatory foods that soothe and heal your gut make it an even better environment for your hardworking microbes. Here are some of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods: bone brothberriescoconutturmericgingercurry powderfatty fishavocadosgreen and leafy vegetablescruciferous vegetableschocolategreen teaWhen you combine the power of prebiotics, probiotics, and anti-inflammatory foods, your microbiome will keep getting stronger and healthier. As a result, you’ll lose weight, your hair will shine, your skin will look smoother and younger, and you’ll feel fantastic.Check out these gut health promoting recipes:Cranberry-Ginger BarsSpring Frittata with Asparagus, Leeks, Mushrooms and FetaGrain-Free Banana PancakesOil-Free Avocado Hummus Want more? You might also like:To All the Vegetarians Out There: You Can Reap the Benefits of Bone Broth TooSuccess Story: The Bone Broth Diet Helped My Client Melt Away 30 PoundsTo Anyone Struggling to Lose That Last 10 Pounds Your Gut Is Begging for These 24 FoodsThis Doctor Prescribes 8 Steps to Heal Your Gut to Lose Weight and Reverse Chronic IllnessSuccess Story: Why the Bone Broth Diet Healed My Client’s Celiac Symptoms When Avoiding Gluten Didn’t Note: PLEASE consult with your doctor before making any changes to your diet or medications. The material on this site is provided for educational purposes only, and is not to be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
6 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate Chocolate is a decadent treat we just love to eat. But besides tasting good, chocolate actually has some amazing health benefits that you need to know about! Read below to find out how this age-old guilty pleasure has actually been used to heal the ...
Proven Benefits of Elderberry For Immune Support You may have heard that elderberry provides immune support, but do you know why? Read on to learn more about the science behind why elderberry helps boost your immune system and how they came to be known as nature’s medicine chest. What Are Eld...
How Do Mushrooms and Supplements Support Your Immune System? After working in integrative and functional medicine as a chiropractor and nutritionist for over 15 years, Dr. Chris Oswald joined Further Food as Chief Science Officer in charge of new product development. On top of his list of new products to crea...
Immune Boosting Herbs and Foods To Fight Colds Now, more than ever, it’s important to keep our immune systems strong. One of the best and easiest ways to stay healthy is through what we eat. Certain foods and nutrients have been shown to help keep your immune system strong and protect against ...
Tips On How To Get Pregnant with PCOS Naturally Today, PCOS is the leading cause of infertility and many women find it difficult to get pregnant naturally with PCOS. To give yourself the best possible chance of getting pregnant naturally with PCOS, read on for helpful tips from these authors. ...
Chinese Face Reading Proves That We Should Embrace Our Wrinkles Chinese Face Reading is one of the original tools that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners used thousands of years ago. We all do some type of face reading in our daily lives, from looking at people’s eyes and facial expressions. Trut...