Silver Fern’s Chief Nutritionist Explains Gut Health

For so long we have heard that diet and exercise are the key to healthy living. Eating right and moving your body! While that is true, there is another big player in the ring that needs to be included and that is gut health! We are learning more and more about how the health of the microbiome is linked to our overall wellness.  Brain function, skin health, metabolism, energy, digestion, …these have all been tied to the microbiome and the tiny bacteria working to keep you healthy!

Scientists have discovered that we have more bacteria cells than human cells (much much more), and these little soldiers play a critical role in our well-being.  Unfortunately, our healthy bacteria are being destroyed and many of us are completely unaware of it. Toxins in our food, water and personal products, pollution in the air, prolonged birth control, processed foods and artificial sweeteners and excessive alcohol use are all among the culprits harming our gut health.

Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to improve your microbiome.  One of the easiest things (and arguably the most important) is to eat enough fiber.  Fruits, vegetables, and all food that comes from the ground has fiber. Pretty much everything your grandmother told you was good for you. Sadly, most Americans aren’t getting enough fiber, and that is taking a toll on the health of their gut.  We used to think that fiber was just undigested food starch that made its way through the body. We now know that it’s so much more than that! Fiber is also FUEL for bacteria and can have a tremendous impact on your healthy bacteria.  On top of that, all those healthy foods, when eaten in variety, can also increase the diversity of your gut bacteria (which is definitely something you want)!

Another tool to helping your gut, is recolonizing it with probiotics. Supplementing with a good-quality probiotic can be one of the fastest ways to get your body the healthy bacteria that it needs.  Just remember though, not all probiotics are created equal. In fact, most of the ones in the stores are fairly useless. They are either already dead in the bottle, or they are not potent enough to survive the stomach acids.  Make sure you look for one like the Ultimate Probiotic from Silver Fern Brand that is spore-based and has been tested for survivability.

There are a few other things you can do to improve your gut health. Cleaning up your personal care products, drinking plenty of water to flush toxins, avoiding processed foods, and even getting a pet (which will expose you to other bacteria), are all things that can have a positive impact on your microbiome.  So keep up the exercise and healthy eating, and remember to incorporate some “gut health” self-care into your routine as well. The end goal is not simply to be healthy, but to have the energy and stamina to go out and live your very best life!

• Charity Lighten, Co-Founder of Silver Fern Brand

We’re giving YOU the chance to win 3 of Silver Fern Brand’s most popular products (one bottle probiotics, one digestive enzyme, and a tino fiber) and 2 months worth of Taylor Farms greens to start living your best life over on our Instagram page. All you have to do is:

1. Follow @silverfernbrand + @yourtaylorfarms

2. Tag a friend – the more the merrier (each new comment counts as an entry)

3. Tell us one thing that makes you feel like you’re living your best life!

Open to US only. Giveaway will close 1/31 at 11:59pm PST. Not sponsored by Instagram.