Photo credit: Rachael Ray Show
Aired August 22, 2023
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Adding foods like yogurt, spices and fermented foods to your diet will always be a great way to improve your gut health (which can improve your overall health and even help slow down aging). But what about all the trendy new products that promise to help feed your microbiome and improve digestive health—from snacks to supplements and even devices?
Gastroenterologist and the author of "Gut Renovation", Dr. Roshini Raj—who has been our go-to expert on gut health for years—shares four new products that she recommends trying if you’re looking for new ways to boost good bacteria in your gut.
Please consult with your doctor before significantly altering your diet.
1. Barukas
"These have been called the healthiest nut in the world. They have more fiber than any other nut, can decrease gut inflammation, and they’re loaded with magnesium and other health-boosting minerals. They also have a ton of antioxidant power," says Dr. Raj.
"They come with a skin, and you can eat them with or without the skin, and they kind of taste like peanuts. You need to eat these roasted, and one of my favorite ways to eat them is in a trail mix with raisins and pumpkin seeds," she explains.
MORE: What Are Tiger Nuts + Why Are They Good For You?
2. Bellway Super Fiber Blend
"As a gastroenterologist, I can’t recommend fiber enough; it’s good for everything. Fiber itself is a prebiotic, which means it feeds the good bacteria in your gut. So many of us aren’t getting enough fiber, but the old traditional fiber preparations kind of remind you of your grandmother," Dr. Raj says.
"This is a powder that’s all natural; it causes less bloating, and it’s something that you can easily add to any drink. In this case, I’m adding it to juice, but you can also add it to a smoothie, or even just water," she adds.
3. Probiotic Air Purifier
This next one is not a food or beverage, but it's a new product that is incredible for gut health.
"Allergens, pathogens, and germs in your home don’t originate in the air, but are launched into the air from surfaces and any small movement can spread them. Traditional air purifiers work to remove those from the air by trapping them in filters or killing them with UV lights or chemicals, but they don’t eliminate them from their breeding ground. This air filter is different in that it disperses probiotics that ride these same air currents and spread them through the air and on surfaces. Once they land, they go to work, consuming the allergens, pathogens, and bacteria that live in your home," says Dr. Raj.
4. Prebiotic Beverages
"There’s a growing trend of beverages that contain prebiotics, which help your natural healthy gut bacteria grow. One of them is Olipop, which tastes like soda but uses gut healthy ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, cassava root (loaded with fiber and resistant starches that act as prebiotics), and Kudzu root (an Asian tuber that’s packed with resistant starches that act as prebiotic)," explains Dr. Raj.
"There’s also one called Mayawell that’s made of a prebiotic formula with organic agave nectar. I love the idea of reinventing soda, which is historically an unhealthy beverage, and making it healthy, because people love carbonation and bubbles," she says.
But, again, Dr. Raj reiterates that you don’t necessarily have to buy all these fancy new products for a healthy gut. In addition to the everyday grocery stores foods we already mentioned above, new research shows some things you’re probably already eating might even help, such as foods that contain polyphenols like chocolate, red wine and broccoli. So, don't hesitate to reach for those foods to help your overall gut health too.