The Power of Plants

The trees, flowers, shrubs are all waking up from the long winter months so let's talk about the Power of Plants this month and why we should be embracing a plant-based diet.

Plant-based eating has become a much more recognised term over the last few years.  It’s meaning is to incorporate as much variety as you can of whole foods into your diet i.e. fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, herbs, spices, wholegrains and pulses.

The benefits of this are many and today’s blog is to explain why!

Plants contain fibre which is an essential food source for your gut microbes, as well as being high in vitamins, minerals and polyphenols (antioxidants). 

It’s the microbes in your gut that produce mucus which acts as a protective barrier inside your intestines.  70% of your immunity resides in your gut. This barrier protects our bodies from incoming invaders like viruses, parasites and pathogens. 

A healthy gut will provide you with a robust immune system, improved digestion, balanced mood, more energy, better skin and sleep. 

The gut, also known to us as the second brain, is a two way connection via the vagus nerve. It is a network of neurons and neurotransmitters that alerts the brain when something is wrong and is responsible for 95% of the production and storage of serotonin. 

Healthy Gut = Healthy Brain

What is often not understood is that you have many different gut microbes, trillions in fact, that benefit from feeding off the different fibres we eat. 

Having a serving of broccoli every day will feed a particular set of microbes that happen to like broccoli as their food source, however, there’s a whole community in there (your microbiome) of different microbes which all flourish off different fibre sources.

They are literally lying their dormant, waiting for the one food that they use as their food source, so they can eat and thrive to the benefit of your overall health.

This is why it is key to add a variety of produce to your diet.  Don’t stick with the same fruit and vegetables every week.  Try and introduce a new vegetable or fruit that you’ve not had before. 

Try some different nuts and seeds.  Incorporate some kefir (fermented milk), kimchi (Korean fermented vegetables) or live natural yogurts into your daily routine. 

Fermented foods are like rocket launchers for your microbes, but they don’t hang around in your gut, hence the need to eat them daily. 

I like to think of my gut microbes like plants in

the garden.  Each one has different requirements when it comes to how much water it needs, what type of soil it prefers, what nutrients help it thrive and how much sun it requires. 

Your gut microbes are no different. 

Think about each individual piece of fruit, veg, nut, seed etc as a unique  fertiliser for each of your gut microbes.  Every single one will benefit a different type of microbe.  This will ensure your microbes flourish and you have a healthy gut as well as a healthy immune system.

When you next go shopping, ask yourself ........

Am I buying foods to feed my microbes?  

Am I adding in some new whole foods?

Am I checking the ingredients of packaged foods to ensure they are not ultra processed?  If you don’t recognise the content, they probably are!

If you look after your gut microbes, they will look after you.  Feed them well!

May 2024