More Than A Feeling: Your Gut Needs To Hear This 💩

Friends! I bring you the healthy habits of tennis titans, and lots of gut stuff.

FIBER OPTICS

Here's a sexy topic: fiber.  I know you're not getting enough, and I know this because even I'M not getting enough on a daily basis, and it’s my business to know about Doing Business.  Fact: A staggering 95% of Americans are not getting close to the bare minimum of 35-40g/day while areas of rural Africa are crushing it with 100g or more.  Check out this sobering map of consumption by country. 

But we’re not total losers–in a related and even lamer story, the USA is actually WINNING at taking the most laxatives and in turn, causing a national shortage.  Yah.  But fiber is not just about keeping you regular, it's about staving off a range of diseases.  I am almost always pro-food vs. supplements, but fiber can truly be a challenge, so I’m digging what these guys* are doing with their “not your nana's fiber" approach.  

WELL PLAYED

A big shout-out to the king and queen of the court after Sunday's US Open finals.  Coco blew us all away with grace and focus beyond her years, and Novak is simply in a league of his own. His #HighwayToWell was a bumpy one: he suffered from all manner of inflammation and fatigue until he overhauled his diet to eliminate gluten and ramp up veggies and beans. Speaking of impressive fiber intake (this was really not intended to be the poop issue, but I'm here for your poop issues, so let’s go), here's an inside look at his daily diet and fitness plan.

HERE'S A TIP, MAKE THAT CHANGE

As we age, our natural gut bacteria die off, which can lead to health issues ranging from poor digestion and allergies to brain fog, chronic fatigue, and even anxiety and depression.  If you’re over it with probiotics being peddled at you nonstop, good news:  you can also get good bacteria from eating fermented, yummy, real foods.  Try raw pickles or pickle juice (from the fridge, not the shelf), sauerkraut, tofu, tempeh, and kimchi.  Just a few bites of raw sauerkraut before meals can make a world of difference to your underworld.  (Just don’t lick the fork and go back into the container- it causes contamination, and also were you raised in a barn?)

So yes you DO need some live cultures in there to maintain a happy balance, but check with your doctor; you may be fine to swap the pills for something tasty. Fermented foods fermental health. Yep, I did it.  

Be well, and also have fun, and Shana Tovah to my Rosh Hashana peeps.

xo,

Erica

Photo by Jannes Jacobs on Unsplash