Spring has sprung – time to spring clean your body as well as our homes

Want to know how to spring clean your body?
Spring clean your body and mind. All this begins with our gut – here are some key steps to ensuring your digestive system is raring to go.

Increase your fibre
Fibre from vegetables, fruits and other plant-based foods can help to support a number of gut functions, including regulating bowel action, speeding up transit time, helping us to feel fuller for longer and supporting stool consistency.

Manage your stress levels
Stress is not just mental, but also physical. It is affected by what we think, what we eat, what we do, how we feel and the toxins we absorb. A poor diet can affect stress, as can exercising too much, not sleeping enough or worrying too much. And too much stress affects stomach acid and digestive enzyme production, gut motility, intestinal barrier function and the composition of the gut bacteria.

Stress management techniques include relaxation (improved sleep, deep breathing, meditation, yoga), moderate exercise, a healthy diet and social support.

Get good quality sleep
Science is increasingly showing that sleep can affect our gut (and our gut can affect sleep). Our bodies are designed to a particular circadian rhythm, which requires a specific pattern of sleep and wake time, and this rhythm helps to keep both us and our bacteria happy.

Ensure you are hydrated at all times
Make sure you drink enough water every day – the optimum amount will vary for each of us, but aim for at least 1.5-2 litres. Dehydration is the main cause of constipation and water helps to keep the food you eat moving through your gut, supporting digestion and elimination.

Avoid inflammatory foods
Such as gluten, refined sugars, artificial sweeteners, alcohol and processed foods, as these foods can cause inflammation throughout the body, affecting the structure and function of the gut and feeding the unfriendly types of bacteria.

Support your microbiome
The bacteria in our intestines perform a number of key functions and maintaining a balance of the right types of bacteria is essential to support this. Friendly bacteria can be found in fermented foods such as kefir and sauerkraut and can also be taken in supplement form. Feeding these friendly bacteria with specific types of fibre (prebiotics) can also help them to thrive.

Other related articles on how to spring clean your body:

• 6 steps to spring clean your mind and body – A Lust for Life
• 5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Mind and Body – Do You
• 9 ways to spring clean your mind and body – Benenden

Want to know more?

Pro-Ven Probiotics aim to provide the best support for both you and your health. If you wish to know more about gut health, please do not hesitate to call us on 01639 825107 or alternatively, learn more via our blogs or in-depth proven research.

ProVen Probiotics, Unit 2 Christchurch Road, Baglan Industrial Park, Port Talbot, SA12 7DJ. Tel: 01639 825107