Your gut microbiome hosts trillions of bacteria and fungi that inhabit every part of your gastrointestinal tract. They have a major influence on your appetite, mood, metabolism, immune system, body weight, and propensity to illness. These microbes mostly live in your lower intestine and are greater in number compared to the other cells in your body even when combined together.

Since they provide an important function in your body, how do you keep their numbers up and help them maintain the health of your gut? Check out these tips to learn how to make your gut healthy and happy in Vacaville.

1. Eat a plant-based diet with loads of fiber - The fiber found in plant foods passes through the digestive system and makes its way to your colon. Bacteria in the colon breaks down the plant polysaccharides in the fermentation process into short-chain fatty acids, which is the largest amount of butyrate. The cells in the colon gets their energy from butyrate and are essential for preventing colon cancer.
2. Eat fermented foods daily - Examples of fermented foods are kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, kombucha, and miso. These foods contain beneficial bacteria that can fight off bad bacteria in the gut. This results in having a healthy balance of bacteria inside your intestines. You can have one or two servings of these fermented foods daily to benefit your gut.
3. Consume prebiotic-rich foods - Prebiotics, the fuel source of good bacteria in the gut, are the indigestible fibers that can be found in plant-based foods. You can acquire prebiotics through foods like artichokes, garlic, onions, jicama, oatmeal, Jerusalem artichokes, green bananas, green banana flour, cooked and cooled rice, and cooked and cooled potatoes. Make sure to have enough servings of these foods on a daily basis.
4. Take a probiotic - Probiotics contain several Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus species. Another class of probiotics are soil-based organisms, wherein they can better survive the journey through the digestive system and can reach the intestines in good shape. They "seed" the digestive tract with bacteria that can produce a healthy microbiome. You should consume probiotics that contains a large number of different strains.
5. Incorporate collagen - Collagen makes up your hair, nails, skin, and connective tissues. It can also serve as a protective covering for certain body organs like the kidneys. But due to aging, genetics, nutritional deficiencies, and environmental pollutants, the collagen in your body will start to deplete. It is essential to add this one to your diet so that it will continue to protect and soothe the gut lining and build new tissues.
6. Be mindful of antibiotics - Antibiotics can kill of the bad bacteria that's making you ill and the good bacteria that's keeping you healthy. If you're taking antibiotics to fight off a bacterial infection, make sure to take Saccharomyces boulardii, an anti-biotic resistant yeast that acts as a probiotic, in between your antibiotic doses. This will help maintain and increase the population of good bacteria in your body.
7. Choose polyphenol-rich foods - Polyphenols are micronutrients that can be found in blueberries, pomegranates, cherry, green tea, dark chocolate, and red wine that acts as antioxidants. They can lower inflammation and stimulate the growth of good bacteria while inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

There's no doubt that gut microbiome plays an important role in maintaining your health. With these tips, you can help increase their number and keep you away from different kinds of illnesses. To learn more information about gut microbiome, you can ask a consultation from Dr. Alex Tam of Vacaville, BC. He currently owns the top chiropractic and holistic center in the Solano country so you can be sure that you will be well-informed and be provided with the best of care.