By Guest Blogger Amy G.

How Your Gut Bacteria Can Help You Lose Weight

If someone approached you saying that the era of dieting and exercising are over and that now you can rely on the microbes in your stomach to keep you lean and healthy, your reaction would probably be You’ve GUT to be kidding me! But, terrible puns aside, recent studies have showed that the bacterium living in your gut plays a major role when it comes to your overall health and weight. But how does this work exactly?

Hippocrates once said that all disease begin in the gut. Taken in consideration that the bacterial cells in the human body outnumber human cells 10 to one, this presumption is not that surprising. But what is important to realize is that not all bacteria in our bodies is harmful. Our bodies are home to both good a bad bacteria and your health is determined by how well you maintain this balance. There are many factors that affect the gut flora and your dietary habits are one of the most important ones. So if you are looking for ways to lose a few pounds and not harm your health in the process, perhaps these few nutrition tips will help you:

1. Eat More Fiber

One thing that can greatly help you maintain your ideal body weight is to keep those friendly bacteria well nourished. Fibers play a significant role here, as the fibers consumed by the friendly bacteria in the intestine are transformed into energy. Feeding these good microbes with viscous fiber also has anti-inflammatory effects, which is a great thing, considering the fact that inflammations can cause weight gain and obesity. Consuming high amount of beans, oats, Brussels sprouts, bananas and garlic can give your body the sufficient amount of fibers needed to maintain good weight. Fibers are also known to increase satiety and reduce the appetite, which can greatly contribute to losing a few extra pounds.

2. Snack Smarter

Most diet plans require giving up your favorite treats and snacks for good. You do not necessarily have to say goodbye to all your guilty pleasures, all you need to do is learn how to snack smarter. The first step is to try and avoid processed foods which contain too many preservatives and refined sugars. By consuming too much sugar you are feeding only the bad bacteria and leaving your friendly microbes hungry. This can later result in increased inflammation which is one of the leading causes of obesity. So the next time you decide on snacking, try some alternative snacking options like nuts, fruits or some healthy homemade treats.

3. Pick Probiotic Foods

Probiotics actually represent that good gut bacterium which is already found in your body. They are in charge of keeping our digestive system in order. Probiotic foods hold many health benefits and controlling your weight is just one of them. Plain low-fat yogurt is definitely the best probiotic food and people who consume it on regular basis are known to have a much faster metabolism and a highly functional digestive system, which are also linked to weight loss. Other great probiotic foods include kefir, kimchi, tempeh, miso soup and even pickles.

4. The Importance Of Regular Exercise

We are all aware that losing weight requires a bit more effort than simply regulating your diet a bit. But recent researches have shown a correlation between exercise and gut health. Apparently, people who indulge in regular fitness activities have shown an increased level of friendly microbes in their gut, therefore improved gut health. Also, people who exercise regularly are known to have a more diverse set of bacteria in their organism, which is another indicator of good health.

Unfortunately, scientists still have not developed a magical device that allows you to eat whatever, whenever and maintain ideal weight. But good news is that they have a good insight into our bodies and the fact that we have friendly bacteria in our bodies fighting to keep us healthy makes a pretty compelling argument for making some lifestyle changes. After all, we cannot expect for these friendly microbes to do all the work, they need some assistance. So why not take it from Hippocrates when he says Let food be thy medicine and let thy medicine be food.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

About the author

Amy Mia Goldsmith is an Australian personal trainer and nutrition expert. Check out her blog Beausmith blog.