Everything Starts In The Gut: Vegetables and Gut Health

Everything Starts In The Gut: Vegetables and Gut Health

In functional medicine, it is often said that “everything starts in the gut.” It is estimated that 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in the gut with 70% of the body's immune cells lining the digestive tract—and, of course, it’s home to the trillions of cells that make up your microbiome  . . . and that’s just the start! 

In order to support a healthy microbiome, it is important to consume a diverse array of whole (minimally processed) foods including prebiotic, probiotic, and polyphenol-rich vegetables, herbs, fruits, nuts, and seeds, and plenty of plant fiber.  

If you have underlying conditions that make eating vegetables difficult (i.e., you experience excessive gas, bloating, and indigestion), it is important to work with an IFM trained functional medicine practitioner to identify and heal the root cause. When ready, start with small amounts of vegetables and then increase your intake slowly. (Cooked vegetables are often easier to digest.) Consider traditional methods of preparation, including fermentation, cooking with digestive herbs and spices, soaking, and so forth to help improve digestibility. 

To support digestive health stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol, and avoid microbiome disruptors (like antibiotics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, stomach acid-suppressing medications, and so forth. when possible). 

Learn More About Digestive Health

We’ve also created a special box of fresh vegetables to help improve gut health.

The Farmer as Part of the Healthcare Team

Our goal with Farmacy at the Chef’s Garden is for the farmer to become part of the healthcare team, providing you with the most nutrient-dense, flavorful, deeply nourishing foods possible to help support your health and wellness. We are putting “food as medicine” into practice, making it easy to quickly select vegetables to support your needs through our Health and Wellness Collection pages. We hope you will try our regeneratively farmed, harvested to order, farm-fresh vegetables shipped right to your doorstep and we would love for you to join our Farmacy at the Chef’s Garden family on Facebook


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