Improving Your Gut Health in the New Year – Cleveland Clinic Newsroom

CLEVELAND — If getting healthy was your New Year’s resolution, it’s important to make sure you’re paying close attention to your gut health, too.

“Gut health is important because it harnesses 80 percent of our immune cells,” said Julia Zumpano, RD, registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic. “So most of our immune system is in our gut. Our gut is responsible for digesting food, and gut health can also affect our brain health and mental health.

So how do you know if you have poor gut health?

Zumpano said some of the more obvious signs can include heartburn, gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.

There is no magic bullet for improving gut health. The process can take time and requires a change in diet.

It may sound intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be.

She recommends slowly eliminating junk foods that can cause inflammation and feed bad gut bacteria.

Also, you should eat more fruits and vegetables, as well as more fiber.

You can also include more foods with probiotics.

She said some might benefit from probiotic supplements, but it’s best to get them from food if you can.

“Fermented foods are also very helpful, so like kimchi, kombucha, apple cider vinegar, yogurts, these are all good sources,” she said. “In some cases you might benefit from a supplement, but we really want to try to clean up our diets and provide good foods that are going to support that healthy gut first.”

Zumpano said stress can also impact gut health, so finding ways to relax is beneficial.

The same goes for getting more exercise, which can help with digestion.