A Healthy Gut Is A Happy Gut
*I want to start this off by saying I am not a doctor, and I am in no way qualified to be giving advice on this subject. I am just telling you what my experience is. Always consult your doctor before incorporating new things like this.
I have been incorporating Collagen into my diet since January, but I have really ramped it up over the past two months. If you don’t know what collagen is and why everyone talks about it, I’m going to break it down for you. Collagen is the main structural protein found in your skin and connective tissues. It’s basically the “glue” that holds your body together if you will. You naturally produce some, but as you age the quality and quantity that your body produces decreases. There are also two main things that damage your body’s ability to produce collagen; Sugar & The Sun. So, if you eat a lot of cookies and spend days on end at the beach you might want to consider including collagen in your diet.
I used to only put a scoop of it in my smoothies, but now I’ve switched over to my coffee. I put a scoop of the Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides in my morning coffee, and then if I have some coffee in the afternoon I use the Vital Proteins Collagen Creamer. A great benefit is that they are packed with protein, so it keeps you fuller longer. Unfortunately there is no plant-based source of collagen, so this is the one non vegetarian thing I incorporate into my diet. The pros outweigh the cons in my eyes, but that is just my personal opinion.
Collagen is beneficial for your body in SO many ways! Personally in myself I see a glow in my skin all over my body, my digestion is better, and my hair and nails are very strong. Here are some of the ways that you can help your body.
- Strengthened hair, skin, teeth, and nails
- Improved Leaky Gut
- More muscle mass
- Balanced blood sugar
- Boosted immune system
- Reduced joint pain
- Improved skin texture
- Better sleep
- Improved liver health
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Alright, now let’s talk about gut health. This has been a trendy topic for 2018, but it’s something that for me became very real last November and December. As we talked about here and here, at the end of last year I started having some health problems that we thought was an autoimmune disease. It still could be, but I am currently having no symptoms. One of the biggest things I found out about though was leaky gut syndrome. If you are unaware of what that is, it is basically when the lining of your gut has been damaged and everything that you are consuming is leaking out into your body and bloodstream. Sounds gross right? Well it is, and it’s very common. Your gut can damage really easily. At the end of last year I found out how damaged my gut was, and it was not a fun experience.
There are a lot of easy ways to keep your gut healthy, and one of them is collagen. I also take a probiotic, and make my own apple cider vinegar shots before meals. I have the tendency to get severely bloated after eating a lot of things. I’m talking like I look 6 months pregnant bloated. I’ve been experimenting and trying to figure out what my triggers are for that. It’s mostly dairy, soy, gluten(especially if mixed with dairy), and some grains. It’s important to practice intuitive eating and really listen to your body. As much as I love to order from Domino’s, I just feel so disgusting, bloated, and sick almost immediately after eating. I’m not saying you can’t indulge every once in awhile, just know the consequences. Healing your gut takes time, and one thing can truly set you back, so if you want it to heal you have to commit.
I also just wanted to briefly mention the supplements I take on a daily basis. After doing blood work and consulting with my doctor this is what she recommends for me. Please please please consult your doctor before starting supplements. Don’t just do what I do. It’s so important to get the right balance of vitamins and minerals on a daily basis, so I encourage you to find out if your body is lacking in something. Here is what I take every day.
- Probiotic
- MultiVitamin
- D3
- B12
- Allergy Pill
- Omega 3
Have you ever tried collagen before? Do you drink apple cider vinegar like me? Leave me a comment down below and let’s chat!
-Shelbs xx