Improve Your Gut Health in 7 days

Maintaining optimal gut health is not just a long-term goal—you can kickstart in as little as seven days. If you are already on the gut health bandwagon, you will appreciate these strategies to give your microbiome the VIP treatment. This 7-step guide will tell you how you can improve your gut health in 7 days.

Day 1. Diversify Your Fibre Portfolio

While you are probably well aware of the benefits of fibre, let's take it up a notch. Instead of sticking to your usual fibre sources, diversify the types of fibre you consume. Different fibres nourish different bacterial species, promoting a more diverse and resilient gut microbiome.

• Mix and Match: Combine various fibre-rich foods, like soluble fibre from oats and insoluble fibre from vegetables. Why not add some grated parsnip to your oats?
• Experiment with Prebiotics: Introduce prebiotic-rich foods such as leeks, garlic, and asparagus to feed beneficial bacteria selectively.

Day 2. Give Your Gut a Break

Giving your gut a break shouldn’t be seen as fasting, a way to restrict caloric intake, or to skip meals. Instead, see it as a tool that fosters good gut health. Leaving a larger gap between the last meal of the day and the first meal the day after provides your gut with a much-needed break, allowing it to focus on repair and maintenance. This practice can enhance gut barrier function and support a healthier microbial balance.

A 14h break can easily be done without fasting or skipping dinner or breakfast. For example, if you eat your evening meal at 19h and breakfast at 9am, that’s 14 hours without intentionally fasting. Think more about having dinner an hour earlier and pushing breakfast to an hour later, rather than skipping meals altogether.

• Start Slow: Begin with a 12-hour window overnight and gradually increase to 14-16 hours.
• Stay Hydrated: Consume plenty of water during fasting periods to support digestive processes.

Day 3. Incorporate Fermented Foods for Beneficial Bacteria

While fermented foods like kefir or yoghurt can contain up to ~3 beneficial bacteria, pickled vegetables, kombucha and other fermented foods can be loaded with as many as 30 types of good gut bugs! Introduce various fermented foods to expose your gut to an orchestra of beneficial bacteria strains.

• Kombucha Crafting: Experiment with making your own kombucha using different teas and flavour combinations.
• Culinary Kimchi Adventure: Explore diverse kimchi varieties, each offering unique flavours and bacterial profiles.

Day 4. Incorporate Mindful Eating Techniques

Gut health goes beyond food - it's about how you eat, not just what you eat. Mindful eating practices can reduce stress, improve digestion, and positively impact your gut-brain axis.

• Chew Slowly: Take the time to chew your food thoroughly, aiding in better digestion.
• Savour the Moment: Engage your senses during meals, appreciating flavours, textures, and aromas.

Day 5. Include Polyphenol-Rich Foods

Polyphenols, abundant in colourful plant foods, are antioxidants and play a role in supporting gut health by influencing the composition of gut bacteria.

• Tea tasting: Explore different teas, such as green, black, and herbal teas, for a polyphenol boost. All these count towards your 30+ weekly plant varieties.
• Rainbow platter: Consume a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables for a diverse range of polyphenols.
• Go for Kurami: Not only will we provide you with 100+ varieties of plants each week, but we will also ensure 30+ grams of fibre every day of the week!

Day 6. Proactively Manage Stress

Stress management is a crucial component of gut health, as chronic stress can negatively impact the gut microbiome and contribute to digestive issues.

• Yoga Nidra Sessions: Incorporate Yoga Nidra, a form of guided meditation, into your routine to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
• Art Therapy Breaks: Engage in art therapy as a creative outlet. Drawing, painting, or crafting can be therapeutic and contribute to stress reduction.

Day 7. Cultivate Social Connections

Social connections and positive relationships profoundly impact mental well-being, influencing the intricate interplay between the gut and the brain. The Blue Zones are the perfect example of how well-nurtured relationships add years to life and life to years.

• Coffee dates: Schedule coffee dates with friends or loved ones. Genuine connections foster emotional well-being, reducing stress that may negatively affect your gut.
• Group activities: Engage in group activities, whether it's a book club, fitness class, or a shared hobby. All this can promote a sense of belonging, contributing to overall mental health and indirectly benefiting your gut.

These advanced strategies can elevate your gut health game in just seven days. Remember, consistency is key, and making these practices a part of your lifestyle will yield lasting benefits.

For more support, select your Kurami 7-day gut focused meal path.