{"id":701,"date":"2023-07-10T19:37:11","date_gmt":"2023-07-10T19:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/?p=701"},"modified":"2023-07-10T19:37:11","modified_gmt":"2023-07-10T19:37:11","slug":"how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/","title":{"rendered":"Preparing Your Body Right: How to Starve Bad Gut Bacteria"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>So, you\u2019re interested in improving your gut health. That\u2019s fantastic! Having a healthy gut is extremely important, and with bacteria greatly outnumbering the human cells within our body, it\u2019s important we pay attention to what\u2019s running rampant within us.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-705\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Starve-Bad-Gut-Bacteria.jpg\" alt=\"Starve Bad Gut Bacteria\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Starve-Bad-Gut-Bacteria.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Starve-Bad-Gut-Bacteria-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Maintaining a good balance of good and bad bacteria are essential for living a healthy life and reducing the risk of some conditions, including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Diabetes<\/li>\n<li>Obesity<\/li>\n<li>Poor mental health<\/li>\n<li>Poor mood<\/li>\n<li>Heart disease<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So how do we starve out the bacteria in our guts? Well I\u2019ll give you the rundown on how to make your gut a healthier home for your microbial friends.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fx-toc fx-toc-id-701\"><h2 class=\"fx-toc-title\">Index<\/h2><ul class='fx-toc-list level-1'>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/#bad-bacteria-and-the-meaning-of-starving\">Bad Bacteria and the Meaning of \u201cStarving\u201d<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/#go-mediterranean-and-fermented-not-western-and-sugary\">Go Mediterranean and Fermented, Not Western and Sugary<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/#get-some-sleep\">Get Some Sleep<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/#stay-hydrated\">Stay Hydrated<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/#exercising\">Exercising<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n\t<li>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/how-to-starve-bad-gut-bacteria\/#probiotics\">Probiotics<\/a>\n\t<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"bad-bacteria-and-the-meaning-of-starving\">Bad Bacteria and the Meaning of \u201cStarving\u201d<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-707\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bad-Gut-Bacteria.jpg\" alt=\"Bad Gut Bacteria\" width=\"640\" height=\"592\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bad-Gut-Bacteria.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Bad-Gut-Bacteria-300x278.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So in case you aren\u2019t aware, we have two types of bacteria: good and bad. It would take hours to list them and their benefits or consequences, so we\u2019ll just sort them by that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you ever wondered why probiotics exist, it\u2019s because it\u2019s used to support the good bacteria so they can continue working with your body to improve your health<\/strong>. However, if you have too much bad bacteria to the point where the good bacteria can no longer fight back, also known as dysbiosis, that\u2019s when you need an antibiotic. The bad thing is that antibiotics are indiscriminate, and so will kill off any good bacteria it comes across as well.<\/p>\n<p>Is there a way to keep the good while still killing off the bad? There is, actually. It\u2019s called \u201cstarving\u201d your gut bacteria.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cStarving\u201d refers to feeding the good without feeding the bad. This includes abstaining from certain foods that may feed bad bacteria, eating foods that support good bacteria, among other actions to dwindle them out.<\/strong> If bad bacteria can\u2019t thrive, it will starve and eventually be overtaken.<\/p>\n<p>What are some ways you can starve out your bad bacteria? Here\u2019s a few methods.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"go-mediterranean-and-fermented-not-western-and-sugary\">Go Mediterranean and Fermented, Not Western and Sugary<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_708\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-708\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Greek-salad-Mediterranean-diet.jpg\" alt=\"Greek salad - Mediterranean diet\" width=\"640\" height=\"422\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Greek-salad-Mediterranean-diet.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Greek-salad-Mediterranean-diet-300x198.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-708\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Greek salad &#8211; Mediterranean diet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>AKA, feed your good bacteria, not your bad. The \u201cWestern Diet\u201d refers to a diet that is high in sugar, fat, animal proteins, and is low in fiber. These foods decrease the total amount of bacteria in your body, including the good kind. So in the end, you have a lesser amount of bacteria, but still have the same imbalance. It\u2019s also been linked to having a greater chance of developing heart disease, diabetes, and yes, even certain cancers. You should also really cut down on the sugar, as that is only making things worse as well.<\/p>\n<p>What you want to do is this with the \u201cMediterranean Diet\u201d, which dictates <strong>a larger intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and a lower intake of red meat, meat in general, dairy products, and processed foods<\/strong>. It not only increases the amount of bacteria in your gut, but also supports the good bacteria that you need to stay healthy. You need to focus on high fiber especially.<\/p>\n<p>As well, you should think about having a glass of wine or some dark chocolate here and there, as they\u2019ve been shown to help increase beneficial bacteria. This does not work with other types of alcohol, however. It\u2019s mostly because of the fact that wine contains fermented berries, and fermented drinks or foods greatly benefit good bacteria. Other fermented foods include kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, and miso. They are rich in live bacteria and thus can help with your gut.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"get-some-sleep\">Get Some Sleep<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-709\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Sleeping-reduces-bad-gut-bacteria.jpg\" alt=\"Sleeping reduces bad gut bacteria\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Sleeping-reduces-bad-gut-bacteria.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Sleeping-reduces-bad-gut-bacteria-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re someone who values their sleep, this is for you. Sleep is highly beneficial for your body in general, but also for your gut health.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Dr. M. Andrea Azc\u00e1rate-Peri is a director at the Microbiome Core Facility at the University of North Carolina, and he claims that it\u2019s important for your body to wake up naturally.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe gut microbiota has a circadian rhythm like we do,\u201d he\u2019d said about the subject. \u201cOur gut microbiota will fluctuate in terms of composition and abundance based on our rhythm of when we eat and sleep. If that circadian rhythm is disrupted, we are going to have issues. We don\u2019t want to interrupt that cycle.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, if you have a day off, why not turn off your alarm whilst starving out the nasty bits in your gut?<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"stay-hydrated\">Stay Hydrated<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-711\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Stay-Hydrated.jpg\" alt=\"Stay Hydrated\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Stay-Hydrated.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Stay-Hydrated-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re trying to detox your gut, go ahead and drink some water. Drink more water than usual, in fact. Water is essential for your intestines to move properly. <strong>The more water you drink, the better your gut will be able to pass food through and absorb nutrients, and the faster you\u2019ll flush out that bad bacteria.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>You should also just be drinking tons of water in general. It\u2019s good for your overall health!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"exercising\">Exercising<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-712\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Exercising-to-kill-bad-gut-bacteria.jpg\" alt=\"Exercising to kill bad gut bacteria\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Exercising-to-kill-bad-gut-bacteria.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Exercising-to-kill-bad-gut-bacteria-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Like everything else in this list, exercising is important. If you don\u2019t exercise, but you want to support your body\u2019s microbiome for a little bad bacteria detox, <strong>you\u2019re going to want to maybe do a bit of jogging or at least a long walk or two.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This along with sleep have been shown to increase the diversity of bacteria in your gut. Remember that there are many different strains, and some may not be affected by certain diets like others are, but they\u2019re still just as important for your body. Sleep and exercise help to boost this diversity in your body, allowing your good bacteria to overpower the bad.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"probiotics\">Probiotics<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-713\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Probiotics.jpg\" alt=\"Probiotics\" width=\"640\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Probiotics.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Probiotics-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>This is very important. Antibiotics are only for if you\u2019re already sick with something, like bronchitis, and it\u2019s too much to be handled by your good bacteria in a timely fashion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Probiotics and prebiotics are something you should always be taking in order to strengthen your immune system and keep yourself from getting sick in the first place. Here are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/improve-microbiome-and-gut-bacteria\/\">best probiotics and prebiotics<\/a> we reviwed.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not to mention, many probiotics have particular strains that help with certain aspects of your body. If you have a certain problem like with stool issues, you can easily find a particular probiotic for it. Like I said in the diet section, you can also grab yourself one of the fermented foods I mentioned, as they\u2019re rich with live bacteria, and that is basically a probiotic in and of itself.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>So, you\u2019re interested in improving your gut health. That\u2019s fantastic! Having a healthy gut is extremely important, and with bacteria greatly outnumbering the human cells within our body, it\u2019s important we pay attention to what\u2019s running rampant within us. Maintaining a good balance of good and bad bacteria are essential for living a healthy life [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":705,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-body-image","category-food"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=701"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":714,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/701\/revisions\/714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/705"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=701"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=701"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.greenking.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=701"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}