[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Useful health advice is becoming much more easily available these days, which is only a good thing as far as I can see. There seems to be less and less cabbage-soup type diets, and more and more real food, truly health-promoting diets. Many diets are beginning to focus on gut health, which I believe to be the foundation of good health.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Inside our guts there are millions of bacteria, known as the Microbiome. The Microbiome qualifies as an organ, and the exact combination of bacteria making up each individuals Microbiome is pretty unique.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”20620″ img_size=”full” add_caption=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The microbiome adjusts based on what you eat, where you live and what you do – I find this completely fascinating! We get a lot of our bacteria during birth and childhood, and so have something of a natural ‘base’ which we can then either build on or not, depending on lifestyle choices as we age.

The gut is intrinsically linked to every aspect of health; the direct link between our gut and brain illustrates its importance – what is happening in our guts is communicated to our brains, and vice versa. This is why you get butterflies in your tummy when you’re excited.

It’s also why a poor diet shows on your skin, and how nutrition can play a huge part in
depression.

Research suggests that the diversity of bacteria in our guts is very important. So, how can we optimise gut health?

The bacteria in our guts enjoy fibre-rich seeds and vegetables, especially the fibrous parts of vegetables which we often bin, like broccoli stalks or cabbage hearts. The idea to ‘live dirty, eat clean’ is a simple one to follow in order to improve your gut health. It means not worrying about a bit of dirt under your fingernails or disinfecting everything all the time, and making sure you eat a really good quality, whole food diet.

Fermented foods are appearing more and more on our supermarket shelves, they are great natural probiotics and can be a helpful addition to your diet.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Heather Smith is a fat loss specialist Personal Trainer. Get in touch for a free five-day meal plan via www.fitbiztraining.co.uk[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]