Recently, I wrote about falling in love with your gut. Our guts are like car gas tanks and I often share with people the importance of putting the right gas for the car in the tank so the car can function at its optimum. Today, I'd like to share more action items that can help keep your human gas tank optimal so you can use your food fuel effectively.
1) Eat Whole Foods: whole foods provide multiple macro and micro nutrients that are often removed in processed foods.
2) Eat More Plant-based: you'll get more fiber and healthy intestinal floral support by increasing your consumption of plants foods.
3) Eat More Raw: you'll get more readily available enzymes that will help your gut health.
4) Eat Fermented Raw Vegetables daily: this offers probiotics and digestive enzymes in addition to the nutrients in the vegetables. Here's one of my favorite fermented wrap recipe to get you started:
1/4 cup raw dill and leek sauerkraut
1 ripe avocado, sliced and diced
3 tbsp sun dried tomato (I use Trader Joe's Sun Dried Tomato)
1 tbsp raw fermented mustard
3 - 4 Raw Coconut Wrap ( I use Julian Bakery's Paleo Wraps)
In a bowl, combine sauerkraut, avocado, sun dried tomato and mustard, mix well. Scoop mixture evenly into center of each coconut wrap and fold over. Enjoy
5) Drink Lemon and Apple Cider Vinegar and Filtered Water: they help with digestion
6) Eat Tigernuts/Chufa daily: this nourishing tuber packs nutrients such as potassium (more than bananas), magnesium, zinc, B vitamins, omega fatty acids, fiber, complex carbohydrates, protein and prebiotics. You'll get a nice jaw workout when you eat it or you can blend it up and drink it as a beverage or use it as flour in your baked goods. Here's a nice beverage recipe:
100g raw tigernuts, soaked for 24 hours
5 cups filtered water
1 tsp true cinnamon powder
pinch of cardamom powder
1 tsp nutmeg powder
1 tsp true vanilla extract
agave nectar to sweeten to taste
Blend tiger nuts and water together till smooth. Pour into a jug, stir in cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg and vanilla and sweeten with agave if desired. Enjoy.
For a warm variation, I keep mine in a covered glass cup and leave it out in the sun for some natural heat infusion and then drink it. You can also pour the milk on your hot cereal and stir in to enjoy it.
7) Be Wary of Nasty Cosmetics: our skin absorb many things and cosmetics products and soaps can seep unwanted substances into our body and gut. Check your products and ensure they do not contain damaging ingredients.
8) Use environmentally safe cleaning products.
9) Take additional digestive enzymes.
10) Take probiotics especially if you find yourself under the weather and must take antibiotics.