Sydney-based clinical nutritionist Jessica Sepel from JS Health , gives her best tips on how to boost your gut health.
She is a clinical nutritionist, a best-selling author, international health blogger and the beloved voice behind JSHealth and @jshealth. She is passionate about helping people overcome fad dieting and disordered eating, having gone through her own struggles with food.
Jessica’s philosophy is focused around balance, rest and building a healthy relationship with food. She recently launched the JSHealth App, which features a world-first nutrition clinic, hundreds of healthy recipes, a daily meal planner, health guides, body love support and much more.
This year has seen an increase in awareness of the importance of gut health and its impact on the body. From metabolism and weight control to your mood, brain health and immune function, the gut has been labelled as a ‘second brain to the body’ by health professionals.
“It has become apparent that a connection does exist between the brain and the gut microbiome. The bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, benefit from a nutritionally dense protected environment, which benefit the human host by making nutrients available to the body.
Systems that ensure optimal function of the gut-brain axis include the central, autonomic and enteric nervous systems. Irritable bowel syndrome and irritable bowel disease are two conditions that characterise a disruption in the communication between the gut and the brain.
An unhealthy diet, antibiotic use and life stress can all disturb the function of the gut and contribute to the development of many mental and neurological conditions.” She says.
These are Jessica Sepel‘s best tips for a healthy gut:
1. Optimize digestive enzymes:
“Having good amounts of hydrochloric acid in the stomach helps to break down food, aiding digestion. I recommend sipping two litres of water with a dash of apple cider vinegar throughout the day to stimulate digestive enzymes.”
2. Reduce stress:
“When released in high amounts within the body, the stress hormones – adrenalin and cortisol – cause the digestive system to shut down, which wreaks havoc on the body. I recommend practicing deep belly breathing, getting more rest and making time for restorative exercises, such as yoga, walking in nature and tai chi.”
3. Chew well:
“Digestion begins in the mouth. When we chew, our saliva sends signals to the brain to prepare for the digestive process. Once the food enters the stomach, hydrochloric acid and enzymes work to break it down into small particles, which travel to the small intestine and allow the nutrients to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Chewing well helps to stimulate digestive enzymes and optimize the digestive process.”
4. Get a little help from quality supplements:
“Since launching our Detox + Debloat Vitamins, we’ve had hundreds of verified reviews from men and women who’ve suffered from bloating and have found this vitamin to profoundly help. This vitamin contains milk thistle, fennel, and turmeric, which have been traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to relieve digestive discomfort. Fennel seed is traditionally used in Western herbal medicine to reduce abdominal bloating and distension and turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant herb that maintains and supports liver health.”
5. Take a good-quality probiotic:
“I’ve long been a fan of taking a good-quality probiotic in the morning before breakfast, as it populates the gut with a range of bacteria, which aids digestion and overall wellbeing. In fact, I’m so passionate about gut health and probiotics that I recently created the JSHealth x Nuzest Protein + Probiotics, which has one of my favourite probiotic strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, which helps to nourish the gut flora and support digestion. It’s incredibly satiating yet light, which means it’s the perfect addition to smoothies, chia pudding and oats.”
Check out the fabulous health range here at www.nuzest.com.au