A (smart) girl’s guide to gut health.
We all know the phrase “you are what you eat”. We’ve been hearing it from adults, media and friends since early childhood. But what does it really mean, and why is it important?
Throughout these chaotic (to say the least) teenage years, everything around you and in you seems to change, whether it’s for the better or for worse. The one thing, though, that we can all agree is that our physical appearance seems to shift in different ways, some which may seem unpleasant. For example, you notice your body starting to change, your skin starting to break out, your energy levels decreasing even though you’re getting enough sleep (or not).
These universal struggles may seem to us unbearable burdens, on top of all the other issues we have to face: schoolwork, social life, relationships etc. Luckily, a wonderful invention of the internet allows girls like me and you to share tips, tricks and advice to one another, making everyone’s life much easier.
Today, we will be talking about gut health.
The gut consists of our internal gastrointestinal system, which basically absorbs nutrients from food, and excretes metabolic waste. To put it in simpler terms, it absorbs all the good stuff you consume, and tries its best to get rid of all the harmful substances. Now, this system is extremely complicated, but extremely important. Your gut microbiome, which is basically the site of digestion where all processes happen, contains helpful bacteria which may become harmful. These bacteria boost your immune system, aid with digestion and mental health. When these bacteria are balanced, we say that you have ‘good gut health’ and vice versa.
So, why should I care to improve my gut health?
In this phase of your life, where everything is changing inevitably, our hormones are all over the place. This is reflected directly through our appearance: from our skin, nails, hair, body to our mental state and energy levels. A malfunctioning gut can be a combination of several factors, such as: poor sleep, lack of hydration, chronic stress, fiber deficiencies, sedentary lifestyle, overconsumption of processed foods and much more.
DON’T WORRY. There’s a solution, and it’s easier than you may think.
The answer is simple: small, easy changes in your everyday life. Here’s a quick, brief list of tips to support your digestive system and glow from the inside out:
-Eat more fibre:
Try eating a chia seed pudding for breakfast, a handful of almonds, sweet potato fries, sliced pear with a side of peanut butter.
-Include fermented foods in your diet
This can be in the form of kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, yoghurts, the list goes on. Search for the words ‘probiotic’ the next time you’re checking out a food label.
-Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily.
What has helped me the most is carrying a water bottle everywhere and trying to refill it as many times as I can before going to bed.
-Eat mindfully: pay attention to how certain foods make you feel and adjust your diet accordingly.
These simple yet effective choices are the first steps to feeling and looking your best, coming from within. Stay tuned for more articles on internal wellbeing so we can all achieve the best version of ourselves in 2025!