The Role of Gut Microbiota in Weight Management: Tips for a Healthy Summer Body

Got weight loss goals? Losing weight is an AMAZING accomplishment – however, keeping the weight off is a whole different hurdle to jump. 

Weight loss is so much more than diet & exercise.

There are so many different factors that come into play when it comes to managing your weight, including what (and how much) you eat, how physically active you are, and even your gut microbiota.

So, what is your gut microbiota? The gut microbiota is essentially the population of bacteria and other organisms that live in your gut! As you will see, the gut microbiota is an essential part of managing your weight.

Understanding the Gut Microbiota 

The gut microbiota is actually composed of both good AND bad bacteria– the key is to have a good balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, while keeping the amount of bad bugs at bay.

LOTS of factors influence the well-being of the gut microbiota, but here are some of the most noteworthy:

• Diet and nutrition
• Lifestyle choices (like exercise)
• Medications and antibiotics
• Stress and mental health

Gut Microbiota and Weight Management

Your gut microbiota and metabolism are more connected than you might think! For example, having poor gut health, which can be caused by gut or hormonal imbalances, stressors, or inflammation, can lead to slowing your metabolism long-term.

Can poor gut health cause weight gain? The short answer is yes. A slowed metabolism from having poor gut health can result in your body storing extra weight. 

In contrast, having a sufficient population of good bugs in your gut helps maintain your metabolism, as well as your weight! In addition, the good bacteria in your gut also function to regulate your appetite, and these two factors together are CRUCIAL for how to support your gut health for weight loss goals! 

 

The Holy Grails: Probiotics & Prebiotics 

One tip that your gut will LOVE is to incorporate prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods into your diet!

Probiotics can be found in food or come in supplement form! Some foods that are rich in probiotics include kimchi, Greek yogurt and sourdough bread. In addition, probiotic supplements can be a gamechanger for gut health and weight loss because they boost the amount of good bacteria in your gut! 

On the other hand, prebiotics are essential food for the bacteria in your gut! Prebiotics are the food for probiotics. Both are important! Prebiotics are found in foods like apples, bananas, onions, and garlic, just to name a few! Think fiber-rich foods.

Eating prebiotic and probiotic foods can be a great first step when it comes to how to support your gut health!

Want to Improve Your Gut Microbiota? We Got You!

One SUPER effective way to improve the amount of good bacteria in your gut is to consume fermented foods and beverages, which contain those gut-loving probiotics! Examples of fermented foods and beverages include kimchi, pickles, kombucha, and sauerkraut! 

Dietary fiber and prebiotics are also important ingredients for improving the population of beneficial bacteria in your gut in that they promote bacterial growth– this allows those good bugs to carry out their essential functions in the gut!!

Some other tips include avoiding processed foods, sugary foods, and excessive alcohol intake as well as hydrating adequately throughout the day.

We also encourage you to try our Gut Testing Package! Our Gut Testing Package is a comprehensive test that includes a stool test, a private results session with our lead dietitian, and a three-month personalized supplement protocol created to rebalance your gut of any imbalances! 

More Tips for a Happy & Healthy Summer Body

Interested in how to support your gut health and feel your absolute best? Here are some tips to get you started! 

• Maintain a balanced and varied diet with whole foods.
• Stay physically active and engage in summer exercises.
• Move in ways that YOU love! (It also doesn’t hurt to spend some time outside to get your daily dose of vitamin D this summer!)
• Manage your stress and promote your mental well-being.
• As we know, stress can cause inflammation in the body, which can then cause you to gain weight and deter you from reaching your weight management goals.
• Avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.
• Taking antibiotics, especially when you don’t need to, can not only rid your body of the bad bacteria in your gut but also the good bacteria that you need for good gut health.

How to Reset Your Gut (Once and For All)

As we now know, the gut microbiota plays a HUGE role in weight management that can’t be ignored! The key to maintaining your weight through having good gut health is to nourish your gut with foods that it loves, managing your stress, and taking the right supplements FOR YOU!

We again want to reiterate the importance of individualized gut testing to get to the root of your weight gain! By finding out how to reset your gut, you can feel confident in your body once again!!

Get personalized supplement recommendations by taking our FREE QUIZ!

Want to take it a step further? Get GUT TESTING for the quickest results!