5 Fun Ways to Love Up Your Gut this Valentine‚s Day

Here at Vibrant Health, we‚re all about taking care of your wellness ‚ mind, body and soul. And we‚re especially passionate about gut health. After all, a healthy gut - packed with the ‚good‚ bacteria ‚ can work wonders on your digestive system and overall wellness!

 

Want to show your gut some extra TLC? Here are five fun ways to love up your gut this Valentine‚s Day. And no, you don‚t have to give up chocolate!

 

Start Your Day with a Gut-Friendly Smoothie

 

Breakfast in bed is a great way to celebrate Valentine‚s Day ‚ whether you‚re single or hitched. Start your day with a nourishing smoothie like this Chocolate Peppermint Smoothie ‚ made with Chocolate Maximum Vibrance for an extra dose of probiotics.

 

Want to take it up a notch? Impress your sweetie with a Valentine‚s Day themed smoothie bowl like this bright pink Very Berry Smoothie Bowl ‚ complete with frozen berries, pomegranate juice and our Vanilla Maximum Vibrance.

 

Book a Relaxation Massage

 

We now know that the gut and brain are closely linked ‚ and it‚s even been dubbed our ‚second brain.‚ That‚s why it‚s important to keep our stress levels in check! In fact, studies have shown that stressors can have a direct impact on gut microbiota.

 

While stress can be a normal part of life, too much of it can have a negative impact on our health. Choose stress-reducing activities this Valentine‚s Day like booking a Relaxation Couple‚s (or solo) Massage. I mean, do you really need another excuse to treat yourself to a day of pampering?

 

Treat Yourself to a Bottle of Kombucha

 

Skip the bubbly, and instead treat yourself to a delightfully fizzy bottle of kombucha this Valentine‚s Day. A fermented tea, kombucha is naturally packed with gut-friendly living probiotics (i.e. the ‚good‚ bacteria). In honor of the month of love, choose a red or pink variety like GT‚S Heart Beet, Passionberry Bliss or Watermelon Wonder flavor.

 

Heat Things Up (in the Kitchen)

 

It‚s time to heat things up (in the kitchen, that is) with a scratch-made dinner. First you‚ll want to stock up on gut-friendly ingredients ‚ like fiber-rich fruit and veggies, whole grains, extra-virgin olive oil, wild-caught fish and fermented foods (think: kimchi and miso).

 

Then throw on a flirty apron, and prepare a healthy dinner for your significant other, BFF or yourself! We love this recipe for Baked Miso Salmon with Ponzu Sauce and Lentils by Root + Revel.

 

Have Your Chocolate (and Eat it Too)

 

You may have heard dark chocolate is good for your overall health, but did you also know it can support your gut health too? According to new research presented at the American Chemical Society, good bacteria (such as Bifidobacterium), flourish on chocolate ‚ growing, fermenting and producing anti-inflammatory compounds. Win, win, win.

 

So go ahead and eat your chocolate this Valentine‚s Day! Just be sure to go for the real deal, like Hu Kitchen‚s Chocolate Bars made with organic cacao.

 

Note: These suggestions are meant to act as a guide. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider when implementing any drastic changes to your diet or healthcare routine.

 

DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by a competent health care professional. You should not use this information in diagnosing or treating a health problem. No claim or opinion in this blog is intended to be, nor should be construed to be, medical advice. If you are now taking any drugs, prescribed or not, or have a medical condition, please consult a competent physician who is aware of herb/drug interactions before taking any herbal supplements. The information presented herein has not been evaluated by the FDA or the Department of Health and is not intended to diagnose, prevent, cure, mitigate or treat any disease or illness.