By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern
Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet along with meat proteins, dairy, eggs and nuts.
We all know the phrase “Garbage in, garbage out.” In other words, if what you’re putting in is bad, then the outcome will also be bad. This can be especially true when it comes to food and what we are putting into our bodies. If we love to enjoy junk food and eat it in large quantities, our health probably won’t be the best. Or, if we want to live long, healthy lives, then we have to make sure that we are getting good, nutritious foods in our diets. The choice is ultimately ours.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, one of the main players in determining our health is our guts. Our guts are responsible for so many of our body’s functions that keep it healthy and thriving. Our gut microbiome, which is all of the bacteria that live there to digest foods have to be kept healthy and within a correct balance to keep us feeling our best and to help prevent future health issues.
According to a review article, what you eat plays a big role in determining your gut health. Specifically, the article noted that eating high amounts of fat, fiber, cholesterol, emulsifiers, sodium, and simple carbs really takes a toll on your gut microbiome. Unfortunately, the typical Western diet that many of us eat is very high in many of these, such as saturated fat, sugar, sodium, simple carbos, and cholesterol.
Following and sticking to a healthier diet is the best way to improve and continue to support your gut’s health. While there are many different diet plans that you could choose from, simply just cutting back on junk foods and making healthful swaps in your current diet is also a step in the right direction! If you’re looking for more advice on healthy eating, be sure to check out the Fill Your Plate blog!