Page 68 - Vegan Food & Living (February 2020)

Get a

U
better G T

FE E L I NG!

Gemma Hurditch from
CNM shows you what to
eat for better gut health

have been found to reduce the likelihood of
antibiotic-related diarrhoea, and are useful

against clostridium difficile, a common ‘bad’
bacterial infection that can manifest when
‘good’ bacteria are wiped out by antibiotics.
Other medications – a surprising number
of medications can irritate the gut. Check

the medication adverse effects list. If you’re

suffering from such symptoms, it’s important
to mention them to the doctor, in case things
can be adapted or substituted, and follow the
he health and proper functioning Painkillers like NSAIDs and aspirin can guidelines below for better gut health.
of our digestive tract, our gut, is the damage the lining of the gut – keep this Pesticides, herbicides and food
T cornerstone of good health. Healthy in mind when choosing your pain relief. additives – chemical nasties can disrupt
digestion allows us to get maximum nutrients Depending on the ailment, you may do better the gut and are some of the many reasons we
from food for function and repair. A damaged using herbs such as turmeric, ginger or cloves advise a wholefood, plant-based, organic diet,

gut lining will compromise our digestion and that have anti-inflammatory qualities. These wherever possible.
our health. Poor absorption may create a loop natural options can help heal your gut rather High fat diets, including polyunsaturated
whereby the nutrients needed to repair are than distress it. Investigate headache options fats, are associated with an increase in bowel
in short supply. Poor gut diseases such as Crohn’s and
bacteria (dysbiosis) and ulcerative colitis. Choose a less

leaky gut (permeable gut A 'weed, seed and feed' protocol can help to inflammatory fat ratio in your diet

membrane due to disease by taking more anti-inflammatory
or disorder) can create omega-3 fats such as a
unpleasant symptoms such remove the 'bad' bugs and help the 'good' ones micro algae omega-3

as bloating, inflammation supplement, chia seeds,

and inflammatory disorders, and linseeds (flaxseeds)
immune dysfunction, weight issues and mood like magnesium supplements and addressing (freshly ground). Reduce omega-6, which is

problems. Research is constantly uncovering hydration. Massage and acupuncture can also considered an inflammation promoter, by

new ways the gut and microbiome influence work wonders for pain relief. ditching the sunflower oil and other vegetable
our physical and mental health. Let’s look at Antibiotics – this one seems obvious, and cooking oils. Favour olive and coconut oils in
some things that can disrupt the gut and ways nowadays many pharmacists will ask if you cooking and don’t heat oils to smoking point.
we may be able to minimise them: want to take probiotics alongside or after a
course of antibiotics. The understanding of Gut Healing 101
Alcohol is a gut irritant, which is one of the

reasons a hangover can include nausea and probiotics and their effectiveness is under A ‘weed, seed and feed’ protocol is often
vomiting. If drinking, be moderate, never continuing investigation – all probiotics are recommended. Poor gut health can be due

drink on an empty stomach, avoid straight not equal. Two specific types, lactobacillus to too many of the ‘bad’ bugs and too few of
spirits and have plenty of water. rhamnosus and saccharomyces boulardii, the good. We want to eliminate the bad bugs
68 VEGANFOODANDLIVING.COM