The best food, drink and supplements for a happy gut
With good gut health being linked to our overall mental and physical wellbeing, its no surprise that gut health is hot topic in the world of wellness. Long gone are the days of probiotic pills. We are now turning to the more natural sources of food and drink as an easy and safe way to top up on the beneficial bacteria that help keep our gut in good order.
From kimchi to kombucha, we’ve rounded up some of the best food and drink for a healthy and happy gut.
KOMBUCHA
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll be well aware of the rising popularity of a little drink called kombucha. But do you know what it actually is?
Kombucha is a fermented drink made from sweetened tea and a gut friendly culture known as scoby (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts). The bacteria and yeasts in the culture convert the sugar into ethanol and acetic acid, giving the drink its distinctive taste. Full of microorganisms, antioxidants and containing vitamin C and B vitamins B1, B6 and B12, it has been suggested that the drink is beneficial for digestion and bone health.
Legendary rugby player, Jonny Wilkinson, is such a big fan of the living drink that he started his own kombucha company, No.1, that focuses on putting wellbeing first. Available in three mouth watering flavours, Ginger and Turmeric, Raspberry, Pomegranate and Hibiscus, and Passion Fruit and Goji, these gut friendly drinks taste just as good as they are for your gut.
PROBIOTIC DRINKS
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There’s a no more convenient way to get your daily dose of gut-aiding microorganisms than to drink them. Containing billions of live active cultures as well as vitamins B6, D and Calcium probiotic drinks help to support the normal function of the immune and digestive systems.
One of our favourite probiotic drinks here at BALANCE is Biomel, the first and only dairy free probiotic drink. Drinking Biomel regularly will help to restore your intestinal flora and replace bad bacteria with good cultures. What’s more is the full-sized drink also comes in a convenient shot size with both available in 3 flavours including natural, pure vanilla and dark chocolate from Whole Foods and Planet Organic stores.
KEFIR
Kefir is a fermented milk drink, full of cultures, that is very similar to yogurt but is a sour drink with a slight fizz to it. The fizz is as a result of the carbon dioxide produced during the fermentation process. As a good source of protein and calcium, Kefir is also rich in gut-friendly probiotic bacteria that can help to ease IBS symptoms such as bloating and digestive distress.
Bio-tiful Dairy have a range of kefir products including drinks and smoothies in a variety of flavours including original, honey and mint, raspberry, and morello cherry. As a source of essential vitamins including B2 and B12 the drink helps to contribute to the normal function of the immune system, metabolism and reduction of tiredness. These tasty and nutritious drinks can be enjoyed as a drink or can be poured over fruit and cereal.
SAUERKRAUT
Sauerkraut, basically, is fermented cabbage. The fermentation process produces live bacteria that are responsible for most of the health benefits of sauerkraut including it’s ability to help combat inflammation in the gut. With enzymes that help the body to break down food into smaller, and more easily digestible molecules which in turn helps the body to absorb more nutrients as well as providing vitamins C and K, potassium, calcium and phosphorus, Sauerkraut is a great health food all rounder.
At BALANCE, we like to add Biona’s sauerkraut infused with juniper berries to our salads, burgers and grilled veggies to make sure we’re getting all the good gut bacteria we need.
KIMCHI
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Kimchi is also made using fermented cabbage but has a spicy chilli powder kick to it. Originating in Korea, and a staple of the local cuisine, it is said that every household has its own secret recipe. Again, as kimchi is a fermented product, it is full of microorganisms that are good for the gut, aiding with digestion and bowel movements, helping to preventing constipation.
Kimchi is a low-calorie, high fiber, and nutrient-packed side dish that can accompany almost any food. Full of vitamins such as A, B1, B2, and C, and also rich in essential amino acids and minerals, kimchi is packed with powerful antioxidants that provide additional health benefits.
At BALANCE we love using The Cultured Collective’s classic kimchi to give our scrambled eggs a little kick.
MISO PASTE
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In Japan, people start their day with a miso soup, made simply with miso paste and boiling water, to help stimulate digestion and energise the body. Made from fermented soy beans and grains, yep you guessed it, it’s full of beneficial bacteria. Miso paste is also rich in essential minerals and is a good source of B vitamins, vitamins E, K and folic acid. The paste can be used to make soups, dressings, glazes, and marinades so can be consumes in a variety of ways.
With autumn just around the corner, we’ll be sipping on a hot cup of Clearspring’s instant miso soup to help keep us warm.
TEMPEH
Similar to tofu, Tempeh is made from cooked soya beans that are then fermented, making it a source of probiotic bacteria, into oblong patties, which when sliced you can see whole beans. Full of protein, three times the amount in tofu, tempeh is great source of protein for those with vegetarian or vegan diets.
It is not recommended that tempeh is eaten on it’s own, rather as part of a dish. Tempeh must be cooked before eating and should be boiled, steamed or fried for at least 20 for the best taste.
The organic tempeh slices by Oasis are delicious in a stew or in vegan ramen.
SUPPLEMENTS
Although certain food and drink can be a great source of probiotics, it’s always wise to top up with a Live Bacteria Supplement.
We recommend Renew Life’s Ultimate Flora 50 Billion formulated with 10 specially selected Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains to reflect the gut’s natural diversity.
