These days we're hearing about leaky gut syndrome everywhere with multiple options on the grocery shelves claiming they can help us heal our guts - from sauerkraut to bone broth and even probiotic cereals and drinks. It's a common catchphrase but do you know what gut healing means?
When your our digestive tract is healthy and robust, it allows small amounts of nutrition from the food we eat to be absorbed and circulated throughout our body. Infants naturally have immature guts so they can grow quickly but with us, it's called leaky gut syndrome. When our gut walls are overly permeable, this allows undigested food proteins, toxins and bacteria to pass through into our bloodstream. This can quickly lead to an inflammatory response which congests our organs and leads to symptoms such as eczema, food sensitivities, allergies, joint pain, autoimmune conditions, headaches, fatigue and more.
Once we start to connect the dots, we can then see how vital it is to address gut health to address our wellness challenges at a primary root cause, rather than just manage symptoms.
While we want to focus on nourishing and nutrient foods that our bodies know how to digest, I’ve compiled a list of my top three supplements to support gut healing. So if you are currently struggling with symptoms, I'd highly recommend starting here.
Remember you often get what you pay for, and always pay special attention when starting anything new. It's only helpful if you body needs it. Dosage also matters especially with premium products that exclude cheap fillers so I always recommend starting low and building slowly.
A HIGH QUALITY PROBIOTIC
Smidge Infant Probiotic is specifically designed to nurture both young and sensitive digestive systems. I wrote an article you can find here.
Helps to promote a healthier and stronger inner intestinal lining.
Can be used by all members of the family.
Does not contain histamine releasing strains.
No it isn't cheap but you use such a small amount at a time that a jar can last up to year so overall this tends to work out better value especially for such a high quality product.
✔ Buy Smidge in NZ, AU or UK and save 5% on your first order with code MARYANA5 at checkout. ✔ USA readers can purchase here.
ALOE VERA JUICE
Aloe Vera provides soothing support, not just on sun-exposed skin but with it's naturally occurring nutrients, amino acids and enzymes, it can also help hydrate and support our gut lining and aid in the digestion of food. ✔ Try Lily of the Desert Preservative Free Aloe Vera Juice and save 5% with code GVJ251
BROAD SPECTRUM MINERAL SUPPORT
Ion Biome
Many factors can reduce healthy bacteria levels in our digestive tract - processed foods, difficult to digest ingredients, stress and environmental toxins such as herbicide sprays. A product such as ION BIOME (previously known as RESTORE) was developed by a team of scientists and physicians to support the integrity of our intestinal walls so beneficial bacteria can thrive.
✔ Try ION Gut Health Mineral Supplement and save 5% with code GVJ251.
The adults and kids formula is the same - the only difference is that the kids version contains paediatric usage guidelines on the label as follows: start on five drops a day then double the amount weekly until you reach a maintenance dose of 25 drops (quarter teaspoon for kids under age 2) or 100 drops (one teaspoon for kids over age 2) three times a day, before or with meals.
... and if I had to choose a fourth:
COLLAGEN
It would be a high quality clean collagen powder. Collagen is a type of protein that contains high levels of glutamine, an amino acid that provides ‘food’ for our microbiome and helps support a healthy gut wall. It's great for those who don't like or can't tolerate bone broth.
✔ I recommend Vital Proteins Marine Collagen as it's unflavoured so very versatile.
✔ My fave for smoothies is the Primal Kitchen Chocolate Collagen Fuel
Save 5% on each with code GVJ251.
