Wild About Gut Health

Spring is here and as the garden is poised to burst into life so too could our gut garden!

Our inner garden is teeming with life and much like the outside world, the wilder the better! Just as we nurture the soil beneath our feet to produce the finest results, so too can we enrich our inner soil to boost our own health and well-being. The great news is that as gardeners we’re already well on the way.

The gut microbiome consists of trillions of bacteria helping our bodies deal with everything from digestion to chronic illness and mental health. Often referred to as our ‘second brain’ our guts are directly connected to our brain via the vagus nerve. This gut-brain axis is constantly sending messages back and forth, one influencing the other; stress stifling effective digestion and poor food choices hijacking our previously good mood.

In the metropolis of the gut, diversity is key. Research shows that gardening families have more diverse gut microbiomes than non-gardening families. Simple contact with the soil has been proven to increase the microbial diversity as has just being outside and breathing in the airborne particles. Mix in community and proximity to nature and animals and you‘re already adding to the heady cocktail with fairly little effort.

What we eat has an enormous impact on our gut health (and therefore overall health). So, whether you’re ‘eating the rainbow’ or going for your 30 plants a week, getting out there and growing your own has never looked so good. As the days lengthen and our soil starts warming up here’s some gut boosting goodies to grow now.

Herbs are a great place to start and can live on a sunny window sill. Basil, parsley and coriander smell incredible and are packed with polyphenols. If you have outdoor space then carrots and beetroots can be sown directly as can spring onions, parsnips and squashes. Leafy greens like kale and spinach provide not only nutrients and vitamins but prebiotic fibres that feed your happy gut bacteria.

It’s time to sow courgettes, squashes and sweetcorn undercover as well as chillies and tomatoes for a vibrant summer boost.

If you’re really up for multiplying those microbes you could try fermenting some of your home grown produce. From sauerkraut to pickled radishes it’s super easy, fun to try and adds a real punch to any meal.

So, let’s get out there, plant something (anything!), if you can eat it then all the better, and watch your garden and your gut flourish this year. Who knows, maybe one or two other things will miraculously fall into place too.

Know someone who might like this post or wants help creating their own productive garden? Why not share or get in touch today.