How Cutting Down On Sugar Helps Your Gut

Although we've likely been taught otherwise, it is a good thing that your gut is full of bacteria and other microorganisms. We've been taught to fear bacteria and microorganisms, however they actually help break down the food we eat and provide our bodies with the nutrients it needs.

Fun fact - did you know that your digestive tract (everything from your mouth to your anus) is considered the outside of your body. To make the most out of the healthy foods you eat, particularly green leafy vegetables and the nutrients they provide, you need a healthy gut biome. You need plenty of good bacteria that help break down these types of foods and allow the nutrients to enter the cells of your body.

That's Where Sugar Can Come Into Play

Sugars, particularly fructose and sucrose can cause the wrong type of bacteria to grow and flourish. This in turn overcrowds the good bacteria you need to break down healthy food. Cutting back on the sugar and the processed foods you eat will go a long way towards helping you restore balance to your gut microbiome and give the good guys a chance to help you stay healthy.

Sugar Causes Inflammation

Sugar also causes inflammation throughout the body, and especially in the gut. Inflammation can prevent the proper processing of nutrients and cause all sorts of digestive issues. Another big problem with an imbalance in the gut is that having too many of the wrong kind of microorganisms will in turn make you crave more sugar and processed foods. When you have a large colony of bacteria in your gut that crave those foods and thrives on them, it’s not surprising that you crave them more. This starts a vicious cycle that’s hard to break out of, but you can do it.

Here's How To Break The Sugar Craving Cycle

1. Start by cutting back on sugary foods and processed food in general as much as you can.

2. Cut out sugary drinks, particularly soda and anything with high-fructose corn syrup. Replace it with fresh fruits, vegetables and healthy energy drinks.

3. Take a good probiotic and include fermented foods like yogurt, cheese, pickles and sauerkraut to name a few. When you restore balance to your gut it you will help restore health to your body.

This has benefits outside the gut as well. By reducing the amount of sugar you eat, you reduce your chance of getting diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and even some types of cancer. Cancer cells thrive on sugar as well, so you don’t want to feed them if you can avoid it.

Sugar is addictive and it’s not easy to cut back or cut as much of it out of your diet as possible, however it’s well worth it in the end. You won’t believe how much better you’ll feel once you get over those pesky sugar cravings.

The beauty is that once you have reprogrammed yourself to eat healthy foods, your body actually gets to the point that you crave health foods over sweets.

If you want some more simple tips on how to cut down on the foods that aren't serving you, like sugar, be sure to check out the free Food & Mood bonus exercise in my Freedom Lover's Guide to Vibrant Health!

Always remember, Your Health IS Your Wealth,

Jennifer