A good gut feeling

A cake, a tablet or a tomato – everything we swallow is soaked and slowly shoved through the intestine. This inconspicuous organ in the middle of our body withdraws all active substances and nutrients from the mass and disposes of the rest. In a lifetime, around 30 tons of food and 50,000 litres of liquids, but also many kilos of harmful substances and bacteria pass the intestine this way.

In order to cope with the daily rush, the intestine is equipped with a length of approximately eight meters and millions of extended villi that sum up to an inner contact surface the size of a football field. Orbicular muscles make sure the food is continually moved on.

Further, 80 percent of our body defences are located on the intestinal mucous membrane because there, at the biggest border area between inside and out, the hose-shaped organ decides every second not only between useful and disposable, but also between good and bad substances. Anything that might become dangerous must be fought and destroyed.

What is good for the gut

Winter is over. During the cold season, we often don’t move enough and food is often too sweet and fatty. This combination can harm the sensitive intestine in the long run. It will become sluggish and indigestion may become the source for many other diseases. So now after Christmas and carnival is a good time to take strain off your gut.

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Reduce your sugar intake

Sugar in coffee, sweet spreads, cake, sweetened soft drinks and hidden sugars in fast food don’t do the intestine any good. They favour fungal infections; fermentational processes cause intestinal gas, maybe even toxins – the intestine cannot work well anymore. Vitamins for healthy intestinal cells are missing. Why don’t you try and reduce your consumption of sweets and cook without sugar. It really is possible. Dried fruits are sweet and well-tasting, too; but they don’t take as much influence on the blood sugar and together with nuts they deliver important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins and healthy vegetable fatty acids.

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Move

Physical activity also gets your guts going. Instead of the elevator, take the stairs. Leave your car in the garage and walk or use your bike. The more you move the better.

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Relax

Even the intestine suffers from stress. Make sure you find a relaxing counter-balance such as Yoga, painting or autogenic training. Eat in peace and quiet and chew your food well for better digestion.

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Avoid daily toxins

Laxatives and preservatives, colourings, alcohol and drugs burden the intestine. When buying groceries, look for healthy, natural products and try to use home remedies instead of chemicals wherever possible.

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Eat what benefits your gut

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and combine with satiable full-grain products until the afternoon. The vitamins and secondary plant substances from this nutritional basis also benefit the intestinal cells. Dietary fibre, the hard plant fibres from fruits, vegetables and full grain, make you feel full and accelerate intestinal transit. The rigid fibres even contribute to cleansing the gut as they work like a brush. Flea seed and linseed are rich in fibres – they are a real treat for intestinal health. Combine with lots of fluids - around two litres daily – preferably water and unsweetened herbal or fruit teas.