Research shows that there is over billions of bacteria which use the gut has shelter. These bacteria are referred to as the microbiome. They are microscopic organisms which are needed to improve gut health; they are also involved in the digestion of food and regulation of metabolism. In addition, studies show that the condition of your microbiome can also affect your mood and the ability to resist disease. The bacteria in the gut are very dynamic; this is the reason why taking up healthy food habit is essential as it will help in responding and will modify within a very short period of time even within 48 hours. However, it takes a lot of things to improve gut health in the long-term; sticking to a healthy habit is very important because the benefit can disappear as quickly as possible. Below are five healthy habits that can help in improving gut health;

1. Improve gut health by diversifying your diet.

It has been found that people who are sick as a result of a gut related issue or even other types of illness such as diabetes and allergies have one thing in common: and this as to do with a lack of diversity in their microbial population. It is evident that a healthy gut is a diversely-populated gut, and when you find yourself in this situation, the only solution is giving birth to a diverse bacterial community, and this is achievable by eating a wide variety of healthy foods.

2. Eat yogurt and kefir for healthy intestines.

One of the best ways to introduce healthy bacteria into your gut is consuming cultured dairy products, such as yogurt and kefir. Though the bacterial may not live there for an extended period of time, but they can exert a positive effect even while passing through. According to a study carried out in 2011, it was revealed that when mice ingested a strain of bacteria that’s common to yogurt, it regulated their mood. This led scientists to believe that bacteria can also treat depression in humans.

3. Do not give up cheese in the name of gut health!

The question is; could cheese be good for bowel health? It seems more and more probable. A study revealed that people who ate cheese had higher levels of a certain by-product of gut bacteria which are associated with cholesterol reduction. The recommended types of cheese are the unpasteurized ones because they are suitable for your microbes.

4. Be diligent about your dental health.

Relating dental hygiene with dental health may seem strange. But the fact is that everything is related. Numerous studies conducted at Cornell University and the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, has shown that harmful forms of bacteria that develop in the mouth often enter the gut or even into the bloodstream. The only way to avoid this is regular brushing as it can prevent these potentially dangerous microbes, and the balance of gut bacteria.

5. Cook whole grain.

Whole grains such as quinoa, barley, and oats, contain dietary fibers that cannot be decomposed by your intestines. This means they reach your colon intact, where they become food for microbes and can help increase their population.