5 ways to get your gut health back on track

I don’t know about you, but I went HAM over Thanksgiving. Ate all the delicious, decadent eats. Drank all the good wine. And don’t even get me started on the leftovers. It was glorious and joy-filled and made my dang year to have a little touch of holiday spirit. 

But the not-so-good part? My gut is all out of whack! Even though I love and adore embracing the moment and living fully in the holiday spirit, my gut is not feeling great after so much decadent food. 

Need to get you gut back on track? Cool, me too.

So here is what I am doing to get my gut feeling good again. I’ll share some simple tips to help balance my gut bacteria. From getting back in a routine with my favorite simple dishes, to how to motivate back into a workout habit, I got you covered. 

The main thing to remember: be patient and kind with yourself! Your body works hard and adding stress and pressure isn’t going to help anyone feel better.

Eat some simple, healthy foods 

Adding nutrient  meals full of fiber and antioxidants will help build good gut bacteria and support your digestion! For the winter, that means big salads and roasted veggies, berries and fruit! 

Building good gut bacteria is pivotal for digestion, decreasing bloating, and easing your stomach pain! While every body is different, having some go-to foods can make all the difference getting your gut to feel good again.

These are some other foods that help build good gut bacteria:

• Kefir 
• Cultured yogurt
• Fermented veggies like sauerkraut and pickled ginger

Lastly, I like to keep it simple with easy meals I know my body does well on:

• Brown rice pasta with steamed broccoli
• Roasted butternut squash and brown rice 
• Eggs and gluten free toast 
• Roasted veggie bowls

Get more sleep

When your body is under stress, it has a harder time digesting food. That leads to discomfort, pain, bloating, and difficulty getting that digestion moving along. A good night’s sleep is key for restoring your gut health.

If you haven’t checked out my top tips for a better night’s sleep yet, you need to!

Some of my top ways to sleep better: skip the phones at night, mindful breathing, and get a good sleep mask.

Move more

Now I’m with you if you think intense exercise sounds pretty awful when you your gut is feeling painful. But, some gentle movement is actually very beneficial for your gut health!

I love taking long walks along the beach or a gentle yoga class. Take it easy on yourself, though. Don’t worry about pushing yourself to ultimate athletic endeavors right off the bat. 

Take a digestive enzyme and probiotic supplement

I take FRISKA digestive enzymes and probiotics! They have seriously made such a difference in restoring my gut health. FRISKA supplements promotes healthy digestion while improving immune function and overall mood, prevents bloating and discomfort, and have botanical benefits to support your overall health.

I’ve been loving taking the Women’s Daily every morning with breakfast. It helps me digest my food better, and it has helped my bloating so much!

You can use my code BEACHSIDEKITCHEN for 20% off your order!

Drink lots of water 

Hydration helps with digestion! Water works with your stomach’s acids to break down the foods you eat, plus it travels throughout your system, softening your stool for easier bowel movements — which we all know can make or break your day. Water and other liquids help break down food so that your body can absorb the nutrients in your meals. 

I drink TONS of water every day. Personally, I drink about 120-150 ounces per day, but most people feel great on at least 64 ounces. This Hydroflask water bottle has been a game changer getting me to drink more throughout the day.

Do what works for you!

Last but not least, always focus on doing what works for your body. Every person is different. Your body may need something different than what mine does. So, take it easy on yourself and listen to that glorious body as it tells you what it needs.