Today we are overwhelmed with dietary options and fads, and it is very hard to choose what will work for us. The media can't seem to make up their minds as to what is healthy and what is not. Our doctors are overworked and literally unable to provide adequate health care due to lack of time, knowledge, and pressure to prescribe medicines from companies that have only profit in mind. It is up to us to discover true health for ourselves through a healthy diet and lifestyle. You doctor may mention this, but knows very little about it and has no incentive to try to educate you! That is why we are here, and hope to inspire and help others who are ready to take their health into their own hands.

Behind the curtain, our gut is responsible for putting our body into working order. As it breaks down the foods we eat, our gut absorbs nutrients that support our body's functions — from energy production to hormone balance, skin health to mental health, and even toxin and waste elimination. In fact, about 70 percent of the immune system is housed in the gut, so making sure our digestive system is in tip-top shape can be key to addressing many of our bodily woes. But how do we translate our gut feelings into health solutions?

Your gut may not be a literal voice, but it's functions communicate in a form of code. From complete silence to hunger grumbles and bathroom habits, get insight into what's going on inside.

Why is gut Health Such a Common Problem?

Processed foods can cause inflammation in the lining of our GI tract, the exact place where food is absorbed. Your gut may not recognise what you've eaten as digestible food and instead interprets the presence of foods Processed foods can cause inflammation or artificial ingredients as an "attacker."

There's evidence that gluten increases intestinal permeability (also referred to as "leaky gut"), even if you don't have celiac disease. This means that particles like undigested food and waste, and pathogens like bacteria, can pass through the compromised lining of your intestines, get into the bloodstream, and cause overall inflammation and illness.

When your digestion is compromised, our bodies can under-produce neurotransmitters, like serotonin. (95 percent of serotonin is produced in the small intestine.) Low serotonin is attributed to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. Also, it may not be the case for every person with these issues, but cleaning up your diet may relieve brain fog, sadness, and low energy.

7 Signs of an unhealthy gut

1. Upset stomach
2. A high-sugar diet
3. Unintentional weight changes
4. Sleep disturbances or constant fatigue
5. Skin irritation
6. Autoimmune conditions
7. Food intolerances

This Weeks Challenge

One of the best ways improve your gut health, along with a healthy diet, is to consume probiotics! In many countries like Japan, Korea, China and India fermented foods are an important part of their daily diet, and they have learned to ferment foods such as soya and cabbage so that they are very high in healthy microorganisms (bugs).

The term "gut microbiome" refers specifically to the microorganisms living in your intestines. A person normally has about 300 to 500 different species of bacteria in their digestive tract. While some microorganisms are harmful to our health, many are incredibly beneficial and even necessary to a healthy body. When the microorganism are our of balance, usually due to a poor diet, we need probiotics to help restore the natural flora in the gut as well as providing essential vitamins like B12.

I know many people who have their own fermenting recipes, and it is so easy to come up with your own inventions. You can ferment almost anything! So, whether you are a Kimchi master, tofu fanatic or have your own fermented recipes to share, now is the time! I can't wait to see what you all have to share with the Medicinal Cooking Collective, as I am always struggling to make a good kimchi!

Posting Guidelines

Please share a recipe made from fermented ingredients. Please include photos and clear instructions how to make it.
Include any other information about fermented foods that we may find interesting.
The deadline for posting is Sunday 30th September.
Please use the #ecotrain tag in your post. You can also tag #naturalmedicine as it is so relevant.
Please resteem this post if you want to help spread awareness to others who may be suffering and just don’t know the truths and options out there.
Please do comment on this post to let me know if you will join us for this Medicinal Cooking Collective Diets For Ailments & Disease.