If gut health is on your mind, you are not the only one. Almost 47% of adults in the United States are giving priority to digestive health benefits, as reported in a Brightfield Group’s Wellness Consumer Insights study. Besides, #GutTok has received over 999 million views on TikTok of influencers sharing personal stories on products and supplements that assisted in healing their gut.
But how do you decide whether your gut needs nourishing and do these products make a difference? This blog post offers expert advice on the gut health trend.
Symptoms of an unhealthy gut.
If you’re looking under a lens, an unhealthy gut will have less microbial diversity than a healthy gut. In an unhealthy gut, the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is off, instigating a torrent of biological events that may put your health at risk.
A 2017 review concluded that gut imbalances and inflammation possibly spawn anxiety and depression. Physical and neurological health issues, like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune conditions, and degenerative brain disorders, are probably triggered by gut imbalances.
Do trendy supplements work?
Below are some of the trendiest and best supplements for gut health. However, in case your gut problems create extreme discomfort, it’s advisable to seek proper medical care than to self-experiment with supplements.
Probiotics
In a healthy adult, probiotics have been proven to help with the immune system, improve bowel movements and the vaginal microbiome. Probiotics are being researched for different disorders, but they aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. For example, a strain that supports constipation may not be same as one researched for a different issue. Do remember, the American Gastroenterological Association doesn’t recommend probiotics for all GI conditions.
If you decide to try a probiotic, shop for the specific strain in an amount proved to be effective for the goal you have in mind. A registered dietitian can help you navigate this.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are elements that nourish the beneficial bacteria in your gut. You can receive them from the best supplements for gut health and in-trend low-sugar sodas. However, fiber and antioxidant-rich plant foods too have prebiotic activity.
L-glutamine
TikTokers are crazy about this amino acid, which according to them can help heal a leaky gut by strengthening the intestinal wall. There’s enough evidence that L-glutamine helps repair and maintain the healthfulness of your intestinal wall and microbial community, and supplementing may improve constipation.
There’s proof that L-glutamine acts as a support to repair and maintain the healthfulness of your intestinal wall and microbial community. Hence supplementing may improve constipation.
The Bottom Line
For sure the best supplements for gut health have proven their worth; however, other lifestyle factors can also support your diet in promoting a healthy gut. Doing exercise can improve microbial diversity and diminish intestinal permeability, thus restricting toxins and various pathogens from escaping and promoting inflammation. Stress can activate adverse changes in your gut microbiome, so trying to reduce stress is another way to promote gut health. It’s recommended to work with a dietitian who can analyze the evidence along with the potential risks and help you navigate supplements and lifestyle changes to improve your gut health.
