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We asked healthy cooking expert and “Skinny Chef” Jennifer Iserloh for tips on feeling our best. Jennifer is the author of numerous best-selling health books including, 50 Shades of Kale, Secrets of a Skinny Chef, and Healthy Cheats. She’s also the instructor for our easy-to-follow online course, Gentle Cleanse, which features recipes and guidelines for gently detoxing with healthy recipes and making lifelong dietary changes to feel your best. Sign up for exclusive free tips and discounts for the Gentle Cleanse course!
If you’re lacking energy after the holidays, it may not only be stress or lack of sleep that’s slowing you down. Getting more energy could be as simple as getting good eats for your gut! That’s right, there are foods and meals that are especially healing for the colony of bacteria that live in your large intestines, called the microbiome. When your bacteria are unbalanced (more bad than good) it could mean lack of energy, poor digestion, weakened immune system and brain fog. Eating good things for your gut start by noshing on a plant-based diet!
Fiber and Prebiotic Foods
Fiber isn’t just important for weight loss and digestion, it’s crucial for our gut flora since that’s what they eat. And we can’t be our healthiest without them – since these good bacteria are responsible for manufacturing B vitamins, vitamin K, as well as strengthening our immunity, and breaking down complex carbohydrates. So how do you make sure they get what they need? It’s easy –  add plenty of prebiotic foods like carrots, asparagus, and artichokes. They are rich in a particular fiber called inulin, that the good bugs love.
Limit Gluten
Not everyone has gluten sensitivities but giving gluten a rest for a few days when you’re feeling slow, limiting gluten when you feel the drag is a good idea since gluten has been shown to activate allergies, and can be tough to digest for those with sensitive stomachs. Don’t go for the package gluten-free products since they can be loaded with sugar, unhealthy fats and salt. Enjoy naturally gluten-free grains instead, like millet, quinoa, and brown rice. If you want to learn the 101 on these grains while you go gluten-free follow my 3-day mini cleanse.