PINEAPPLES, BLUEBERRIES, AND CHERRIES
First, I want to talk about fruits. Especially pineapples, cherries, and blueberries. Pineapples are a great source of the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan is a precursor of the “happy hormones” serotonin. When serotonin is at normal levels, you feel more focused, emotionally stable, happier, and calmer. 90% of serotonin is made in the gut.
Another reason why I love pineapple for our gut health is that it contains a powerful enzyme called “bromelain(brow·muh·layn)”. Bromelain works as a digestive aid, helping to break down protein from large food molecules into smaller peptides.
Fruits like cherries and blueberries are rich sources of polyphenols. Polyphenols are natural compounds in fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and spices, coffee, tea, nuts that give foods their color and taste and protect them from damage. They also act as potent antioxidants.
Polyphenols can break down into molecules that help beneficial microorganisms in the digestive system. In short, they can support our gut health.
FERMENTED FOODS
Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimuchi, kefir, kombucha, miso, and tempeh. If you are having SIBO-like symptoms such as bloating, abdominal distension, abdominal pain or discomfort, or diarrhea, you need to be careful with these foods, but in general, fermented foods contain probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics which are good for the gut health.
It might be challenging to eat fermented foods every day. Also, fermented foods you see at the grocery store might not contain these beneficial nutrients and might contain artificial additives that you might want to avoid as much as possible.
You can get probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics to support gut health by just drinking R’s KOSO daily! With R’s KOSO, you will also get other beneficial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, polyphenols, and amino acids.
BONE BROTH SOUP
The last thing I want to talk about is bone broth soup. Bone broth helps heal the lining of the gut.
It contains a variety of healing compounds such as amino acids such as
glutamine and arginine. They help to seal the gut lining, fight inflammation, and boost the immune system. It also contains important minerals such as magnesium.
Magnesium plays many roles in the gut, including motility, secretion, and absorption. It helps to increase good bacteria in the gut while reducing inflammation. Magnesium is the key to relaxing our body. It helps reduce muscle tension and improve our mood.
A functional medicine nutritionist
Manami Toda
