8 Proven Tips to Get Rid of Bad Gut Bacteria

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again and again: health (and illness) starts in your gut.

If you have poor gut health, you’ll experience anything from wrinkled skin, to weight gain, to low mood and immune health.

We can thank (or blame) the standard American diet (SAD) for most of our gut concerns. We’ve been told for too long that foods like whole grains and soy are good for us — when they’re two major culprits making your gut sluggish!

It’s never too late to heal or reset your gut, naturally. You can start today by changing your lifestyle and diet to support gut-healing foods. It’s no surprise what we put into our bodies plays a huge part in our gut health.

How to get rid of bad bacteria in your gut?

1. Get rid of the toxins in your diet.

These foods are causing inflammation in your body and making your gut sluggish:

Alcohol
Caffeine
Conventionally raised, non-organic raised meats. These are high in omega-6 oils, which leads to chronic inflammation. (Instead, eat pastured or grass-fed meats)
Yes, even whole grains.
Processed foods
Refined sugars (Get the full list of sugars to avoid here)
Seed oils like canola, sunflower, grapeseed, and even vegetable oils. These are also high in omega-6 oils your gut doesn’t want!

If you keep eating these pro-inflammatory foods, you’re poisoning your body and quite frankly, setting your gut on fire.

2. Fill your diet with fermented foods

Popular fermented foods include kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi. These are rich in probiotics — the good bacteria your intestines need for optimal digestion and health. Your gut loves food like these! Best of all, you can find them at your local health foods store. And they’re packed with flavor to add to any meal.

3. Take a powerful probiotic

Taking a probiotic daily floods your body with good bacteria like lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium lactis. You may not be able to eat kimchi or sauerkraut everyday, so this is your best option if you want to quickly reset your gut. And because probiotics are filled with good bacteria, it puts your gut on the fast track to strengthening. Just don’t forget to take it every day.

4. Avoid antibiotics like the plague

Antibiotics get rid of ALL your healthy gut flora — they’re the opposite of probiotics. Sometimes doctors are too quick to prescribe them. If you absolutely must take antibiotics, ask your doctor about also taking a probiotic supplement at the same time, and when you’re safe to do so. If you’ve taken a lot of antibiotics, then you REALLY need this gut reset!

5. Take a multi-enzyme supplement (preferable after every meal)

Digestive enzymes break down the foods we eat so we absorb its nutrients. But certain things can decrease our digestive enzymes, like aging and chronic stress. So, even if you eat healthy foods, you may not get all the nutrition you need. That’s why I recommend you take an enzyme supplement such as carbohydrases (break down carbohydrates), lipases (break down fats), and proteases (break down proteins).

6. Consume natural gut-healers

In addition to probiotics and fermented foods, these will help the walls of your gut:

Aloe vera
Vitamins A, C, and E
L-glutamine
Omega-3 fatty acids

7. Relax to support gut health

Easier said than done, right? Look, I know stress happens. Your life gets busy, and maybe you forget to do a daily relaxation practice. But that’s bad news for your gut, because stress contributes to a leaky gut. Think about it... aren’t your stomach and your digestion two of the first things affected during an emotionally difficult time?

In fact, your gut is where the majority of your body’s serotonin resides, which is why it’s referred to as the “second brain.” So, give yoga or meditation a try. Take a spa day, get a massage, and simply take it easy. Your gut and entire body will thank you for it!

8. Sip at least one cup of bone broth a day

I’ve saved the best for last, folks! Bone broth keeps your digestion on track and helps strengthen the gut lining and thanks to the beneficial amino acids glycine and glutamine as well as glucosamine and chondroitin.

Glutamine is an amino acid that supports a healthy gut by protecting the gut lining, and providing fuel for the cells of the small intestine. Glycine is an amino acid that stimulates stomach acid secretion thus supporting healthy digestion. Glycine is also a key part of bile acid, which plays a huge role in fat digestion and supporting healthy cholesterol levels.

Glucosamine and chondroitin create healing mucus, which soothes intestinal distress. It also facilitates the passage of food, and strengthens the good bacteria while weakening bad gut bacteria.

Did I mention it tastes delicious, too? It keeps me satisfied throughout the day and curbs any sugar cravings (take that, Sugar Demon!).

No matter what your health is like right now, remember that healing (and weight loss!) starts in your gut. When you do a reset, miraculous things happen!

Keep thinking Big and living BOLD!