Many people who experience weight gain look towards vitamins and weight loss supplements for help. Gut health is a crucial element in helping with digestion and weight loss and should be taken into consideration when prioritizing your health and wellness.
What you eat has a significant impact on how your body processes it. It also spans over other aspects of your health, such as brain function, sleep quality, and more. Therefore, ensuring that your food is broken down and digested correctly will help to improve your health in the long run.
Taking supplements can help provide people with fewer stomach problems and regular bathroom trips. Some of these supplements will not only provide you with optimal gut health but also aid in helping you to lose extra weight, as well.
There is a great debate regarding functional medicine vs integrative medicine and which is better for your health. However, most registered nutritionists and dieticians agree that probiotics and other supplements meant to improve your digestive health encourage beneficial bacteria to keep your intestinal health in better balance.
However, as with most health issues, understanding what foods specifically trigger your digestion to go off-track can help you prevent it without the need for additional supplements. But, if you require some helpful supplements, here are some of the best ones that will provide your gastrointestinal system with more relief and help you lose weight.
1. Licorice Root
The licorice root contains ingredients that work to mimic cortisol, a hormone that becomes elevated in people when stressed. It is no surprise that people are more stressed-out than ever in today’s world. Cortisol breaks down your appetite and causes you to feel hungry, resulting in weight gain.
When you add licorice root to your supplement regime, you can help to balance those cortisol levels. You can find Licorice Root supplements pretty cheaply with Puritan’s Pride Puritan’s Pride or Nature’s Way. As a result, you won’t have elevated hunger pains due to higher cortisol levels, which will have a much more positive effect on your gut and weight.
2. Collagen Powders
Collagen protein powders are supplements that can be added to almost any liquid – coffee, milk, smoothies, you name it. The powders are fortified with amino acids, which are focused on building and repairing the tissues in your stomach.
Some popular brands with collagen powder include Primal Collagen, the grass-fed pasture-raised peptides with Orgain, and Native Path. They are high in protein which helps you feel fuller and eat less, resulting in losing weight. In addition, many of them are tasteless and are made without any additives or fillers.
3. L-Glutamine
The amino acid known as L-Glutamine is crucial in repairing intestinal lining and boosting your immune system. It is also a powerful antioxidant, which many people associate with weight loss since it helps to reduce fat.
You can get L-Glutamine by itself in NOW Foods supplements. Be careful not to take too much because it can result in the opposite effect and give you a leaky gut, so be sure you monitor your intake of the supplement until you are confident in the impact.
4. Wormwood (Artemesia)
Wormwood is an herb found in teas, and it helps eliminate harmful bacteria found in your stomach and digestive system. It is also another supplement that is very high in antioxidants, aiding once again in your weight and strengthening the tissue in your gut. Wormwood can be extremely helpful after a bout of food poisoning or diarrhea, in particular.
You can find wormwood in supplement form, such as with Oregon’s Wild Harvest herbal supplements, or as an herbal tea that you can add to hot water. Wormwood is an excellent supplement for leaky guts.
5. Inulin
Inulin is a fantastic prebiotic that feed good bacteria in your gut, and it can be found in some everyday foods, including garlic, bananas, onions, and asparagus. However, it is recommended that obtaining this supplement is best done through whole foods before taking it in pill form.
However, if you decide to take Inulin as an added supplement, it is vital to choose a higher-quality form since they are not all the same. Some of the better brands of inulin are in powder forms, such as Kos Organic Inulin Powder, which are unflavored and can be easily added to any food or drink.
6. Marshmallow Root
The marshmallow root is another supplement that you can find in tea or powder form as well as capsules. It contains antioxidants specific to help heal the lining within your digestive tracts. The root is also an anti-inflammatory and can work with other herbs like the licorice root to balance your cortisol levels. SEE ALSO
You can purchase marshmallow root supplements in pill form through Nature’s Way capsules, in tea form with Palm Beach Herbal Tea Co Marshmallow Root Tea, and just as a powder through Elanen Natural’s Marshmallow Root Powder. There are even some lozenges that contain marshmallow root extract since it helps with coughing.
7. Moringa Leaf Powder
Moringa leaf is an herbal powder you can use as a supplement within smoothies or protein shakes. It helps protect your tissues surrounding vital organs and also contains many antioxidants. However, the powder as a supplement can be tricky since if you take too high a dose, it is known to have a diuretic effect, so ensure you are drinking an adequate amount of water when adding this supplement to your diet.
Some highly rated powders include Terrasoul Superfoods Moringa Leaf Powder and Organic Veda, which can be in powder or capsule form. Another great benefit to this supplement is that it is an all-natural appetite suppressant, so it can reduce cravings and help you lose weight.
8. Probiotic Supplements
There are tons of different probiotic supplements on the market, but there is no objective evidence that these supplements are helpful for weight loss. However, they may help to provide some protection against gaining weight.
However, probiotics do act to help promote better health and help aid in how your body absorbs nutrients. They also help relieve cramps, bloating, gas, and indigestion. So, deciding on a specific one can be challenging, but nutritionists recommend a few:
- Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic
- MegaFlora ProbioticMegaFlora Probiotic
- Garden of Life – Raw ProbioticGarden of Life – Raw Probiotic
Now, you shouldn’t go out and purchase all of these supplements and start taking them since you don’t know which ones will work the best for your digestive health. Instead, it can be beneficial for you to consult with a doctor first and see what changes you could make to your diet specifically before adding supplements for your gut health.
Gut health plays an integral part in how the rest of our bodies work for us, so be mindful of your stomach and work to re-balance your health. Healthy guts promote healthier lifestyles, which can improve the longevity of life and promote more happiness!
