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Trying to lose weight sucks. The human digestive system is incredibly complex, and it can be difficult to balance different nutritional elements for weight loss. How much fat is enough to help you drop pounds but still keep you full? How many carbs do you cut without cutting them out completely? There are not always easy answers.
One frequently overlooked aspect of weight loss and digestive health is the role of bacteria in the gut. Although for a long time these little buggers weren’t included in the weight loss equation, we now know that they play a crucial role. They help determine how many calories our body absorbs from our food, what kinds of food we crave, and how much food we want to eat.
You have about 100 trillion bacteria in your gut (that weigh about 5-6 pounds altogether), so making sure they’re happy is absolutely key. Leaner people tend to have more, and an imbalance of these little guys can really throw you off. When these bacteria aren’t balanced, your body may experience mild inflammation which can lead to weight gain or a difficulty to lose weight.
Although belly imbalance can seriously hamper your weight loss goals, don’t stress. The best thing about trying to manage your gut health is that you can turn things around in only a matter of days. The bacteria in your system respond rapidly to dietary changes. You can completely revamp your system in just a couple weeks.
While all bodies are different, these 10 foods can significantly impact the health of your gut. The first five are probiotics. These foods supplement the existing bacteria in your system with new, fresh, live microorganisms. By adding these “good” bacteria into the system, you can help tip the scales toward in your favor. They can help replenish healthy bacteria, and they can outnumber the bad stuff. The second five are prebiotics. These types of foods help nourish the bacteria already present in your gut. They can induce growth and activity of these microorganisms, and as a result, they can help support your digestive system.
Ideally, these probiotics and probiotics will leave your digestive tract in an optimal state for weight loss. Give them a shot and feel the difference.
Probiotics
-Yogurt (can be non-dairy, but must be no-sugar)
-Pickles
-Olives
-Cheese made from raw milk
-Miso
-Kimchi
-Kombucha
Prebiotics
-Raw or cooked onion
-Bananas
-Beans
-Asparagus
-Jerusalem artichokes
-Raw garlic
