Gut health. Two words I did not think about much until last year.
I have always been blessed with an iron stomach. I rarely struggled with digestive issues and I have always been able to eat whatever was on my plate without any problems. That all changed 9 months ago… I started having stomach pain and bloating, I was not able to eat a lot of my usual foods anymore, and I just had a general feeling of malaise.
I think more and more people are suffering with gut issues because we live in a society where our hands are often coated with sanitizer and rarely covered with dirt, we take another round of antibiotics without questioning its efficacy or its long term side effects, and our bellies are full of food that is barely chewed and made with ingredients we can’t even pronounce. Also, over-cropping practices and the use of pesticides are prioritized over the preservation of our true wealth, a rich nutrient soil, and we live an extremely fast paced life with the need for more stimulants or the desire to numb ourselves. All of these factors take a toll on our physical, emotional, mental, and gut health.
What are the symptoms of an unhealthy and imbalanced gut? There are so many but I will list the most severe ones I have experienced myself last year:
Food intolerances
Constant and debilitating fatigue
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Anxiety
Hives
Sleep disturbances
After months of struggling, I decided to bite the bullet and take an expensive stool test last summer called GI-Map. I discovered that I was highly sensitive to gluten, I had low slgA (low immune function), overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria and probable SIBO (Small Intestine Bacteria Overgrowth). I was put on a low FODMAP diet for a month and a regimen of herbal antimicrobials for 3 months. I was desperate to feel better and I tried just about everything. One thing that helped me a lot was juicing. I have to admit that before my health struggles, a green juice was not on my list of favorite foods. Actually, it was not on my list at all:) I am now a convert and swear by its health benefits. By juicing a few times a week, I was able to feel more energized and boost my immune system.
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Even if you are not incapacitated by gut issues, I would encourage you to incorporate juicing into your health regimen. I can assure you that it will help your body run more smoothly and efficiently and it will boost your immune system. If you don’t own a juicer, you can purchase one for a minimal investment. I listed some at the end of this post for your convenience.
GUT-HEALING & IMMUNE-BOOSTING GREEN JUICE
Prep time: 5 minutes | Yield: 2 servings
INGREDIENTS:
2 carrots
5 celery
1 cucumber
1 cup of pineapple chunks
1 pear
1 lemon
handful of mint leaves
aloe vera leaf
1/8 tsp ground cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp ground ginger
INSTRUCTIONS:
Harvest the aloe vera gel from an aloe vera leaf by cutting the skin and scraping off the gel. You can also buy store bought aloe vera gel.
Put fruits, vegetables, aloe vera gel, and mint leaves through a juicer.
Squeeze the juice of one lemon and add ground cayenne pepper and ginger. Stir well.
I really hope you give juicing a try and cheers to higher health!
With love and gratitude,
Marie-Hélène
CLICK ON THE IMAGES TO SHOP FOR JUICERS
