Gut health has been stressed more and more in the media recently – and justifiably so! Your gut health is linked to a variety of critical functions, such as digestion, nutrient absorption, and your immune system. It also is essential for maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria, which in turn can impact various areas of your health, including mental health, metabolism, and the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. In short, a healthy gut is crucial for a healthy life!
If you find yourself struggling with bloating, indigestion, abdominal pain, or fatigue, you may be experiencing symptoms of an unhealthy gut. An easy and refreshing solution to poor gut health is by drinking gut health drinks! The recent emphasis on gut health has, in turn, spurred a new craze of drinks that are gut-healthy.
But, what exactly are gut health drinks? And, do they even work? In this article we will discuss:
- What qualifies as a gut-healthy drink & their the benefits
- Examples of gut-healthy drinks
What Makes a Drink “Gut-Healthy”?
And the Benefits of Adding Gut Health Drinks to Your Diet
Gut health drinks are beverages specifically formulated to support digestion, balance gut bacteria, and improve overall gut function. These drinks often contain components that promote a healthy microbiome, which is essential for bodily functions.
A drink is considered "gut-healthy" if it contains ingredients that support digestion, nourish beneficial gut bacteria, and promote overall gut function. The key components that make a drink gut-friendly include:
- Probiotics: good bacteria that help maintain a balanced gut microbe
- Aids in digestions
- Reduces bloating
- Supports immune system
- Prebiotics: stimulate the growth and activity of existing gut bacteria, and are typically high in fiber:
- Fuel for probiotics
- Supports the gut lining
- Improves bone density.
- Regulates bowel movement
- Digestive Enzymes: break down food into nutrients that your body can absorb more easily
- Reduces bloating
- Improves digestion
- Enhances nutrient absorption
- Hydration + Electrolytes: proper hydration is essential for digestion
- helps break down food so the body can absorb nutrients
- Aids in food moving down the digestive tract
Great! Now we know what to look for in gut-healthy drinks. However, it is also important to note what to avoid in gut health drinks:
- Excessive sugar! This, obviously, is unhealthy for numerous reasons but in terms of gut health, excess sugar can feed the harmful bacteria in your gut and can disrupt the balance of gut bacteria by doing so.
- Preservatives and additives. Again, another sort of “given,” but it’s important to note that these may irritate the digestive system.
- Artificial sweeteners. These can cause bloating and may disrupt the gut bacteria as well.
A gut-healthy drink should be natural, nutrient-rich, and functional, helping to keep your digestion smooth and your microbiome happy.
Specific Gut Health Drinks
There Are A Variety of Gut-Healthy Drinks That You Can Add to Your Daily Routine!
So, now that we have a little background of what these gut-healthy drinks may contain, what are some examples of drinks that will help your gut health? There are actually many options for gut-healthy drinks that you can add to your diet, including:
- Kombucha. This is a big one! Kombucha is probably the first thing to come to mind as the go-to gut health drink, but what exactly is it? Kombucha is a fermented tea that is full of antioxidants and probiotics that benefit digestion and overall gut health. The organic acids and enzymes in the drink help break down food and support nutrient absorption. The antioxidants also help to combat gut inflammation! This is an easy drink to add to your diet as its natural fizziness makes a great swap for sugary sodas!
- Kefir. This one may be a bit more unfamiliar, but this fermented milk drink has lots of benefits! It’s sort of similar to yogurt, but with a thinner consistency and with "friendlier" bacteria. This gut-healthy drink is incredibly rich in calcium and probiotics, which we have established as essential to a drink that promotes gut health. Kefir is associated with improved digestion and decreased inflammation.
- Ginger Tea. Ginger has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to aid digestion and relieve nausea. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. Try drinking some warm ginger tea before a meal to see an improvement in digestion!
- Prebiotic Sodas. Recently, brands like Poppi and Olipop have gained popularity for their reinvention of soda. This is a great option for people who are trying to cut down on their soda intake and switch to something more gut-friendly. These sodas may improve digestion, help you hit your recommended amount of daily fiber, and work fairly similarly to kombucha and other fermented drinks. However, make sure you check their sugar content! Sometimes, in an attempt to get closer to the taste of soda, some prebiotic soda brands have high sugar contents which, as we established previously, can cause digestive issues like bloating. This is still a great alternative to those trying to quit the habit of drinking soda, though!
- Supplements. You can also try a supplement that you can mix into water, coffee, or the beverage of your choice! Dr. Emil’s Multi Collagen + Gut Health drink mix is an easy way to improve your gut health, and reap other benefits such as healthier skin, and stronger hair and nails. This supplement contains ginger and probiotics, which we now know are pertinent for gut health!
If you start treating your gut right, you will see and feel results! An easy way to improve your gut health is by including some gut-healthy drinks into your diet. You have plenty of choices when it comes to the beverages you want to add to your meals, snacks, or on their own. Feel free to try a couple of different ones out to find your perfect match! Make sure to look for drinks full of prebiotics, probiotics, and other components that aid in digestion. Avoid drinks that are high in sugar or additives!
Now you are ready to begin your health journey, starting with the gut!
