Are you ready for some brutal honesty? Here’s the hard truth: As effective as our digestive supplements are, they won’t make you totally resistant to the effects of an unhealthy lifestyle. 

There’s no way to sugarcoat it – good gut health requires a daily lifestyle commitment. In our humble opinion, gut health is one of the most critical aspects of health. 

You may know that a large portion of the immune system resides in the gut. And the connection between the gut and brain is crazy powerful, impacting mental health in myriad ways. 

We want to share five surprising tips that go way beyond the standard take a probiotic (although that’s wise!), and everything will be fine advice. 

So, let’s get to it. Show your gut some love and practice these five habits daily.

1. Mind Your Mouth
   

   Good oral hygiene, including daily flossing, brushing, and check-ups, is super important for gut health, and here’s why. Studies have found that bacteria from your mouth can get into your gut and cause problems. And while you’re at it, limit sugary foods. According to Susan Mintz, RN, in a Blue Zones interview, besides causing inflammation in your body, sugar can cause yeast to grow and throw off delicate gut balances. 

2. Stress Less
   

   Yes, we know this isn’t the first time you’ve gotten this advice, but it’s particularly important for gut health. You know those stomach aches that happen when your stress levels are soaring? It has to do with the body’s fight-or-flight response. Your body thinks danger is around the corner (that hypothetical sabretooth tiger). Chronic stress can cause hormones to get out of whack as well as your digestive system. Prioritize stress-busting activities like meditation (breathing intentionally counts, too!). 

3. Get Moving!
   

   It is good for managing stress, but regular movement can help digestion. Think of it this way: a sluggish lifestyle = a sluggish gut. Research shows that regular activity can positively impact gut bacteria. 

4. Keep it Cool in the Bedroom
   

   We’re not saying that things can’t get well, you know, hot. But when it comes to sleep quality, experts say it’s best to dial down the thermostat to between 64° - 69°. Researchers have discovered that sleep loss can negatively affect the ratios of gut bacteria and cause other health problems. 

5. Make Massage Mandatory
   

   Yup, we knew you’d like this one. Professional massage, self-massage, or even massage from your honey can stimulate neurotransmitters like serotonin, which in turn help support the gut-brain connection. 

Before we sign off, let’s circle back to that dose of honesty dose, we offered at the beginning of the article. Here’s another hard truth, Zenwise® has a digestive health supplement to fit your healthy lifestyle. 

To determine which product best suits your needs, take our 2-minute quiz or contact our customer service team at support@zenwise.com or M-F from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at (800) 940-1972.

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6427756/