GUT HEALING FOODS

As a naturopath and nutritionist, I’m often asked which foods are helpful to “heal the gut”. In chronic digestive conditions, the best advice is to seek 1:1 advice from a professional as what you need will differ from what someone else needs. Testing is always helpful. However for the general population who are looking to improve their gut health, the following foods may be beneficial:

• Bone broth

• Sauerkraut

• Kefir

• Kombucha

• Organic live yoghurt

• Organic miso soup

• Chicory root

• Inulin

• Flax seeds

• Chia seeds

• Psyllium husks

• Slippery elm powder

• Apple cider vinegar (with the Mother)

Remember everyone’s digestive system is as unique as their fingerprint, so what works for one person may not work for another. There are some instances (i.e. bacterial overgrowth and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)) where some of the above foods may make symptoms worse.

Complete resolution to digestive issues requires fixing the root cause/s of the problem, which can be many. It is always best to work with a qualified healthcare practitioner and utilise gut bacteria/microbiome testing where possible to assess the state of the microbial colonies in the digestive tract. This can then allow treatment to be completely relevant to your needs. Test don’t guess!

For gut testing queries please email hello@bridgetbnaturopathy.com