foods for a happy gut

As someone who has a love-hate relationship with their gut, I have many-a-times googled "foods to help gut health", but have always come up unsure of how to incorporate the foods into my meals. So I've compiled a list of some foods that will boost your gut health, and ideas on how to incorporate these spices and foods into your meals and every day consumption. 

Yogurt 

This one is fairly easy to incorporate into your meals. Adding yogurt to your smoothies or even having some with granola and fruit is a great breakfast or snack idea. 

Almonds 

A lot of sites recommended adding chopped almonds into salads, and if that floats your boat, then great! I personally am not the biggest salad fan, and I usually just snack on almonds and other nuts when I'm hungry but that's kinda lame. A super easy way to incorporate more almonds into your diet is by making your own almond milk. It's actually quite simple, soak 1 cup of almonds overnight and then blend the soaked almonds with 2 cups of fresh water, strain the almond meal and add sweetener like honey or maple syrup if desired. Voila! Homemade almond milk so you can feel like you've got your life under control. 

Miso 

I personally cannot go into a Japanese restaurant without getting miso soup, and it's very easy to make your own miso soup (depending on how far into it you go). A lot of grocery stores have miso paste that you can add to water to create the broth, and then simply add tofu, scallions, seaweed, and any other ingredients of your choosing. 

Sauerkraut 

Okay, this is one of the foods that not only did I not know how to incorporate it into my diet, but I also didn't even know what it was! Turns out, it's basically German sour cabbage that's been fermented (I know, sounds kind of gross). After some searching on Google, it would seem that most people prefer to eat it as a topping on a sandwich, burger or hotdog. And if you don't like the flavor, there's nothing a little ketchup can't fix. 

Sourdough 

I wouldn't consider myself a big bread person, but whenever I do buy myself a loaf, you better believe it's sourdough. I personally like to make my own avocado toast by toasting (duh) sourdough then adding mashed avocado and scrambled eggs (or tofu) on top. If you want to spice this up even more, try adding a bit of shredded sauerkraut on top. 

Olive Oil 

I would definitely say that olive oil is my oil of choice whenever I cook, but how else can you incorporate this oil into your life other than the obvious? Well have you tried putting it on your face? I know I know, putting something on your body isn't the same as ingesting it directly, but the things you put on your skin still gets absorbed into your system. People have used olive oil as a cleanser and moisturizer for a long time, so if you're feeling DIY-y, maybe give it a go! 

Bananas 

There is an endless list of ways to incorporate bananas into your diet. You can add it to your smoothies, to yummy breakfast bowls, as a snack (preferably with peanut butter), you can even make banana bread or banana pancakes. Go bananas with it! 

Ginger 

I used to live in Amsterdam, and in every cafe I went to, fresh ginger tea was always available. It's as simple as cutting up fresh ginger (no peeling required), and just adding hot water and honey to sweeten it. Not into the taste of ginger on its own? A little grated ginger adds yummy flavor (and goodness) to the top of any stir fry or soup. 

Garlic 

My sister and mom went through a period where they would eat raw garlic in the morning for its health benefits, and while this is a good option, I personally never wanted to do this. I prefer garlic on garlic bread, homemade chili, stir fry, and even in guacamole! 

Tempeh 

I have to be honest, I wasn't sure what tempeh was until a few months ago and had only tried it once or twice. I personally have loved adding it to curry and Mexican style meals in place of meat. Even if you're not a vegan, I would highly recommend adding this food into your meals weekly.

Life is all about balance, and while it would help your gut to incorporate these goodies into your meals, it's also important to remember to eat enough leafy greens and fresh fruit as well. Consuming a range of healthy food helps balance and improve immune systems. I've also personally found a probiotic drink every morning really helps my bowels. As a closing disclaimer, I am not a nutritionist, these are just tips that have helped my gut, but not all guts are the same! It's important to listen to your own body and work out what your gut needs!