Do you know that around 80% of your immunity springs from your gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)? But first, we should understand what exactly does ‘gut’ mean. The gut consists of the gastrointestinal tract, which is the long tube from the mouth to the anus. Few people realize its tremendous significance in keeping the human body healthy. Many people tend to overexert their gut by way of mindless eating and drinking habits.
Unfortunately, this can lead to severe, long-lasting and at times, fatal health issues. Keeping your gut healthy is imperative to overall wellness and fitness. With the festive season already swinging, it becomes even more crucial to be alert to what all we eat and drink. That’s because a majority of folks tend to throw caution to the winds during this time, so as to be able to ‘fully enjoy’ themselves. Onlymyhealth editorial team spoke to Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator Madhavi Karmokar Sharma, Founder of Informed Health, about the Do’s and Don’ts to keep gut healthy during festive season.
Tips to keep gut healthy for Diwali
According to Nutritionist Madhavi Karmokar Sharma, here are the dos and don'ts to keep gut healthy for Diwali season:
Don'ts:
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1. Don’t eat heavily fried and sugary foods
While this might be a high order to achieve during the festive / marriage season, at least make efforts to eat smaller portions, if at all you must eat such food. It is advised to eat healthy foods instead of heavily fried and sugary foods.
2. Don’t drink excessive alcohol
While it is always best to completely avoid all alcoholic beverages in general, if you can’t, then limit your alcohol intake. Also, make sure you don’t drink on an empty stomach; and try having a glass of plain water in between to help your liver.
Also read: Good Bacteria Are Essential For Gut Health, Here Are 5 Ways To Increase Them
3. Don’t skip meals in order to binge later
If you skip meals only to be able to justify a binge eating (or drinking) session later during the day (or week), you are setting yourself up for acidity and associated stomach issues. You should take small meals instead of eating everything all at once.
4. Don’t miss out on a regular sleep cycle
An erratic sleep schedule can throw off-balance your gut microbiome, i.e. the colony of healthy bacteria inside your gut. This messes up your digestion. So getting high quality 6-7 hours’ sleep every night is crucial.
Dos:
1. Do follow a balanced eating routine
If you eat sensibly, you’re taking care of almost 90% of your gut health. Eat small but frequent meals in your day. Home cooked meals are the best. Following a balanced eating routine is important during the festive season.
2. Do include fibre in your meals
Opt for good sources of dietary fibre such as nuts, sprouts, cruciferous vegetables and fruits. Fibre helps in digestion and in keeping your stomach clean.
Also read: How Can Gut Bacteria Help In Losing Weight? Check Out These Ways To Improve Gut Health
3. Do include probiotics in your meals
Probiotics mean healthy gut bacteria. Natural sources to get good amount of these in your diet are curd, chaas, idli and dhokla and home-made chutneys or pickles. Healthy gut bacteria promote a speedy digestion and avoid bloating, gas and other gastrointestinal issues such as acid reflux, constipation etc.
4. Do exercise regularly
During the festivals the workout routine does get disturbed. Make sure you stay active through out the day. If possible do home based workouts. This will boost your gut health and also keep your metabolisms soaring.
The above suggestions from expert Madhavi can help in making your festive season joyous, healthy and prosperous in all aspects of your life. Wishing all a happy & healthy festive season!