These Ingredients Might Be the Secret to a Healthier Gut

Taking care of your gut health is very important and can have a ripple effect throughout your whole body. You see, according to Harvard Health Publishing, the gut microbiota—all the good and bad bacteria that live inside your digestive system—can not only influence your digestion but may also have an impact on a variety of health conditions, like heart disease, arthritis, and cancer.

A healthy gut can also protect you from illness. According to UC Davis, a gut that's in good health contains healthy bacteria and immune cells to ward off bacteria, viruses, and fungi. There's also a connection with your brain. It communicates through nerves and hormones to maintain general health.In short, it's a big deal. There are a couple of things you can do to promote good gut health. Johns Hopkins Medicine says lifestyle habits like getting more sleep, getting regular exercise, reducing stress, and getting help for mental health issues like anxiety and depression are all important. And of course, one of the biggest factors is food. Avoiding processed and fried foods is key, as is controlling your consumption of alcohol and caffeine.

But if you want more of an assist, you can add prebiotics and probiotics to your diet and daily routine. Probiotics are the "good" kind of bacteria that can improve the health of your gut by helping to balance the environment. You can get them through certain foods and supplements. Simply put, there are a plethora of best products to improve gut health.Now, before you start adding these to your cart, there is still more research that needs to be done on the benefits of probiotics. For the most part, people can generally take them and experience minimal side effects—bloating, gas, and diarrhea are some—but before you decide to consume, it might be best to talk with your doctor or a healthcare professional about your specific needs. The Mayo Clinic says you should proceed with extra caution if you are taking an antibiotic or prescription drug that affects your immune system, are being treated for a fungal infection, or have pancreatitis. The Clinic also says that probiotics might not be safe for people who get infections often, have a weakened immune system, or are allergic or sensitive to sources of probiotics like dairy.