By Carla Oates
While it might not seem like the most logical link, your gut health has a lot to do with how your overall health fares during winter…
That’s because a healthy gut microbiome has been linked with overall wellness, a strong immune system, glowing skin and even improvements in mood. With around 70 percent of your immune tissue situated in your digestive tract, it’s your body’s first line of defence against pathogens – disease-causing viruses, bad bacteria and other microorganisms. By keeping your gut microbes healthy and happy throughout winter, you’ll be more prepared to combat any nasties that come your way and be able to maintain your #GLOW all year round.
Keep Up Your Intake Of Fermented Foods
As the weather cools and the winter months descend, you’ll be less inclined to sip on ice-cold kombucha, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop consuming probiotic-rich fermented foods altogether. Keep up your intake of these gut-loving goodies by finding fermented foods that you can easily work into your winter repertoire. Think miso for soup, sip on kefir, try tempeh for stir-fry and kimchi or sauerkraut as a complement to your meals. And of course, The Beauty Chef’s range of bio-fermented products can be enjoyed all year long! Fermented foods are essential for nourishing the gut, partly because of their anti-inflammatory properties and “bioavailability”. When foods are fermented, they are effectively “predigested” by microorganisms. This process allows the body to assimilate and utilise the food’s nutrients more effectively. In short, the "goodness" becomes more “available” to the body and easier for the body to digest. Because The Beauty Chef range is bio-fermented, each of our Inner Beauty products is also highly bioavailable. Why not try GLOW Inner Beauty Powder? Its summery flavour will take the edge off the winter chill! Research also shows that fermented foods boast health benefits including improved immune function—which is a further bonus during the winter season when our immunity can take a hit. For extra immunity support, add a serve of IMMUNE FOOD™ Inner Beauty Support which boasts an abundance of protective and anti-inflammatory nutrients—like vitamin C, zinc and vitamin D—to keep your immune system fighting fit.
Eat The Right Kind Of Fibre
While it might be tempting to dip half a loaf of white bread into your minestrone soup on a chilly day, there’s little—if any—fibre to be found in refined carbohydrates. Switch them up for antioxidant and fibre-rich veggies like sweet potato, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and even spinach—which your good bacteria love. Roast veggies make for a delicious and grounding accompaniment to any meal, so enjoy them in abundance! Lentils and beans are also a good source of gluten-free fibre for those of us with a robust digestive system—just be sure to soak and/or sprout them to make them easier on the gut.
Eating a diverse range of vegetables during winter will ensure that your gut is getting enough of the fibre that it needs and loves to properly function. Remember: prebiotic fibre feeds your good gut microbiota, a lack of fibre starves them.
Move, Move, Move
Exercise doesn’t just benefit the mind and body, it also impacts your gut by positively altering the composition of gut bacteria. Not only that, but daily movement helps to keep you regular, which is absolutely essential for good gut health—and reducing stress levels. We know it can be tough to get moving when it’s cold and windy outside, but is there anything better than that post-exercise high? To stay active—and warm—opt for hot yoga or an indoor Pilates class instead.
Sip On Warming Drinks
When you drink cold water, your blood vessels actually shrink, making digestion more difficult. Fortunately, curling up on the couch with a warm mug of tea has to be one of life’s greatest pleasures! Brewing and sipping tea is not just an enjoyable ritual though, it’s also an amazing, gut-friendly way to stay hydrated during the colder months. If you suffer from IBS, leaky gut or nausea, you might like to try sipping on peppermint, licorice or ginger tea. Or, if you suspect that your gut is ‘acting out’ as a result of stress or anxiety, enjoy a warming mug of chamomile or passionflower tea before bed. Better yet? Try The Beauty Chef’s SLEEP Inner Beauty Powder with anti-inflammatory turmeric! It’s the perfect nighttime tonic for gut health, glowing skin and a peaceful slumber.
