You've heard all the quotes and sayings how all disease starts in the gut. And it's not completely wrong. Your gut is where your health lies, so if it's not taken care of, there are chances of destruction: infections, viruses, disease and illness. Toxins take a big piece of the blame.

We currently live in a society that just about everything we do come along with a list of toxins. Starting with the food we eat, to the water we drink, and even the air we breathe. The highest amounts of toxins are derived from glyphosate- commonly found in the pesticide Roundup, which you may know is all over most crops grown in the world. Those crops are making their way to your dinner table and are contributing to many gut issues, including leaky gut.

TIP: try to stick with organic whole foods as much as possible.

what is leaky gut?

Our bodies are pretty incredible - but toxins are getting the best of us. There is an intestinal lining which covers nearly 4,000 sf of surface. Did you even think there was that much space inside your belly? Unfortunately, with the amount of toxins that go into our systems, this lining gets large cracks and holes that allow partially digested foods, toxins and bugs from within the gut to leak and penetrate tissues beneath it causing inflammation and changes in the gut flora (good bacteria). This leads to problems within the digestive tract and more.

Let's just say it's time to avoid these toxins as best we can and furthermore clean out the ones that are getting in without choice.

for a healthy gut:

• take your daily probiotics
• eat fermented foods like kombucha, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, and other fermented veggies
• eat prebiotic foods such as asparagus, bananas, garlic, onions, and whole grains
• avoid sugar and sweeteners
• reduce stress
• avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily
• exercise regularly
• get enough sleep
• use toxin-free cleaning products

here are my favorite

gut loving smoothie recipes:

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender. Serving size = 1

gut love 101

1 ½ cups dairy free milk

1 apple

1 cup mixed greens

1 cup berries, fresh or frozen

½ avocado

½ cup cilantro

1/2 teaspoon turmeric

immune smoothie

1 ½ cups coconut milk

1 green apple

1 date, soaked without pit

1 cup kale, chopped

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

immune boost

1 ½ cups coconut milk

1 green apple

1 date, soaked without pit

1 cup kale, chopped

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

gutsy living 101

1 cup dairy-free milk

¼ cup aloe vera juice

1 cup spinach

1 pear

1 tablespoon ginger root

1 tablespoon raw honey or stevia (optional)

1 tablespoon flax meal

Dash of cayenne pepper

berry gut love

1 cup coconut milk kefir

½ cup frozen or fresh berries

1 cup spinach

1 tablespoon flax meal

1 teaspoon ginger root

Stevia to taste (optional)