Plants and your Microbiome
Your microbiome includes all the organisms and bacteria living in your body. Your gut has trillions of bacteria, both good and bad. The type of bacteria living in your gut is heavily influenced by what you eat. The healthier the foods you eat, the healthier your gut bacteria will be. An imbalance of too much bad bacteria can wreak havoc on your health and cause a leaky gut which can lead to disease and inflammation and a weakened immunity.
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To increase your "good gut" bacteria think of fiber as your friend. Fiber rich foods feed the good bacteria in your gut so load up on fruits and veggies, even at breakfast by adding kale to your smoothie. Dark green leafy veggies, lentils, and beans are all high in fiber and promote a healthy gut.
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A healthy gut translates to a healthy brain. The vagus nerve connects your gut to your brain so what you eat affects the neuropathways in your brain, influencing not only how you feel but how well you think. Stay away from "frankenfoods" which are foods made in a lab. If you can't pronounce the ingredient, don't eat it.
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Sugar and processed foods feed the unhealthy bacteria in your gut so avoid it as much as you can. Focus on eating a whole foods, plant based meal.
Spice it Up for your Health
By adding a variety of spices to your meals you can help your body reduce inflammation, support your immune system and promote healing.
Turmeric has a bright yellow color and deep flavor. You can use as a powder or grate the root over your food. Curcumin is the active ingredient in Turmeric. It's anti-inflammatory and also anti-bacterial and anti-viral. I like to put it in my smoothies and sprinkle over my soups and stews. I even put it in my Macha tea in the morning along with cinnamon, another powerful anti-oxidant, and ginger.
Ginger's active ingredient, gingerol, can even reduct joint pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties. I add ginger to most of my smoothies. I grab a small chunk that I've kept in the freezer from the farmer's market and throw it in all my smoothies.
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Cayenne pepper is a great way to add heat to your dish and also acts as a natural digestive aid. I essentially add cayenne peppers to most of my meals because I like the extra kick in the flavor instead of adding more sodium.
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Coriander is another versatile spice that I use often in my salads and smoothies. It has detoxifying properties and can also help with mood and hormonal balance. It's also a good source of magnesium and iron.
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Tip: Keep your spices close by on your countertop and you'll use them more often. Other healing spices to try include fennel, fenugreek, cardamom, cumin and garlic. Not only will you be fortifying your body with healing foods but your house will smell great!