Blog - Healing Our Gut

It’s common knowledge that an unhealthy gut can cause stomach pain, gas, bloating or diarrhea. All of which would probably be given an Irritable Bowel Syndrome or leaky gut diagnosis by your GP.

What you may not be aware of is that because 60-80% of your immune system is located in your gut, imbalances can lead to hormonal imbalances, autoimmune disease, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, anxiety, depression, eczema and other chronic health issues.

So how can we heal our gut? What can we do for ourselves to improve our gut health and what therapeutic support is available?

Therapeutic Support

Thankfully there is plenty of therapeutic support available for gut health.

Here at the Haven, we have therapists who will consult with you on your diet and support your gut to heal.

Our Kinesiologists will test you for food intolerances and make suggestions for what particular foods will benefit you while you are healing. Plus Kinesiology will work directly with your gut encouraging better function and general healing.

Our Acupuncture and Shiatsu therapists also work with the gut by stimulating and clearing obstructions from the meridians (energy channels which move through the gut and around the body, providing the energy for proper functioning.)

Our Massage therapists can also benefit your gut functioning by relaxing the mind and body and gently massaging the gut to improve functioning.
General Food Advice For Gut Healing

Foods that heal

Foods that are particularly good for the gut are bone broths, pasture-raised meats, organically grown vegetables, healing fats and naturally cultured or fermented foods.

Bone Broth

Bone broth is an extremely healing food. Full of soothing gelatin, easy to digest, full of easily absorbable minerals, this is a gut-healing staple

Healthy Meats

Healthy meats, from pasture-raised animals are nutrient-dense and can be especially healing for the gut when the cuts include bone and fat and are slow-cooked or braised.

Healthy fats

Absolutely essential to gut health, healthy fats are vital to our health. Natural fats including saturated fat are good for us. This includes butter, ghee, tallow and lard, pure olive oil, avocados and coconut oil. These fats should be plentiful when supporting your gut towards better health.

Fats to avoid

Avoid processed, trans fats, oxidized cholesterol and refined polyunsaturated fats (vegetable oils like corn, cottonseed, canola and soybean oils).

Fermented Foods

Fermented or cultured foods are critical for gut health. They are easily digested by the body and have a probiotic content encouraging positive bowel flora to develop.

Fermented foods are yoghurt, sauerkraut, chutneys and preserved fruit. Soya sauce, tamari, fish sauce or drinking water kefir, kombucha or beet kvass.

Restoring Healthy Gut Bacteria

Take a probiotic supplement that contains beneficial bacteria such as bifid bacteria and lactobacillus.

Supplements and Vitamins that Help Repair the Gut Wall

L-glutamine is an amino acid taken as a supplement. Other key nutrients include zinc, omega3fish oils, vitamin A, C and E, as well as herbs such as slippery elm and aloe Vera.

Reduce foods that negatively impact the gut

Reduce foods that irritate the gut such as alcohol, caffeine and drugs and foods, which cause inflammation such as gluten, dairy, corn, soy, eggs and sugar. Reduce hard to digest grains and legumes and anything you find gives you indigestion or makes you feel bloated after eating.