3 GUT HEALTH foods that are also BUDGET friendly
Did you know that in our Zing Wellbeing Program we also have a 7 day BUDGET health meal plan? (we also have dairy free meal plans, menopause meal plans, gut friendly, vegetarian meal plans, variety meal plans and LOTS more coming!)
So in celebration of this we are going to focus on how budget friendly foods can be extremely good for us!
And today we are looking at budget friendly foods that can help to balance our hormones.
And you can join the Zing Wellbeing program. which gives you access to ALL our recipes, meal plans, challenges, coaching and support here
Gut friendly foods
The idea that foods which are good for our gut are expensive makes me smile. With a huge upward trend in gut health anything in the space has had its price increased.
The thing is – making most gut health foods at home costs next to nothing. The most expensive thing you will need to invest in is a good quality glass jar in most cases.
3 GUT HEALTH foods that are also BUDGET friendly
1. Sauerkraut
Sure, some fermented foods can be like owning a pet – feeding them and looking after them can get a bit much. But to make something like sauerkraut at home just takes a cabbage, some salt and 2 goods hands to massage it all together.
There are varying species of naturally occurring bacteria on cabbage leaves which make it the perfect fermenting vegetable. These include some of the common bugs seen in probiotics such as Lactobacillus species.
For the little guys to do their job they need an anaerobic environment, which is why we seal the cabbage in a jar. Over time, the bacteria produce carbon dioxide and the acidic environment means that only the good bugs survive. These are the ones that we want to colonies our gut.
Find our DIY Sauerkraut recipe here.
2. Bone Broth
Making your own stock or broth at home is one of the easiest things you can do for your gut health – and also your taste buds. Broth is enormously healing, filling, and nutritious. Why do we eat chicken soup or comforting broths when we are sick? Because they are easy to digest and give our body nutrition whilst not taking any energy away from the healing process.
Bones are full of collagen, gelatine, amino acids and minerals in a form that is easy for your body to absorb including calcium, magnesium, glucosamine and silicon. Using bones will assist in bringing the junctions of the gut tightly together, treating leaky gut syndrome. Many of my clients have found that after drinking bone broths they have overcome food intolerances and allergies have dissipated.
Bones are also the perfect anti-aging medicine, great for joint health, reducing inflammation and cellulite, plus boosting the immune system. Plus, it really will make all the food you use it in taste better. The stuff from the supermarket or those little chalky squares just don’t compare.
3. Vegetables (no jokes!)
Gut health is all about bacteria! Gut health is key to mental health, immune system health and functioning, digestion, sleep and overall health and vitality. The thing about veggies is they have some really unique fibre in them called polyphenols.
These polyphenols feed our microbiome (the bugs in our tummy) and our microbiome is key to our entire health. Giving these good tummy bugs what they need to thrive helps us stabilise our mood.
The more colourful veg we can get in the better! You can eat 3kg of psyllium husk and it will not deliver any polyphenols. We need an array of rainbow foods as each bug in our gut has a different favourite food. Aim for 40plus different plant foods a week and you will reap the benefits of happy bugs.
Mel is a Medical Herbalist, Naturopath, Nutritionist, Iridologist, and Trainer.
MHlthSc(D&A), BHlthSc(Comp Med), AdvDip WHM, AdvDip Nat, AdvDip NutMed, Dip Iridology
After graduating as a Medical Herbalist top of her class and with a scholarship in 2011, Mel opened her private practice. She has since completed further qualifications in Nutritional Medicine and Naturopathy, as well as a Bachelor Degree of Health Science, in Complimentary Medicine.
In 2023 Mel completed a Master in Health Science in Drug and Alcohol Addiction.
Mel has extensive clinical experience with a range of hormonal conditions and transitions including menopause, PMDD, PMS, PCOS and the changes females with ADHD may experience with hormonal changes.
And you can join the Zing Wellbeing program. which gives you access to ALL our recipes, meal plans, challenges, coaching and support here
Important information about coaches – Zing Wellbeing
