(NC) Did you know that your gut health has a huge effect on the rest of your body? It regulates how well you can absorb the nutrients you eat, how well you can fight off disease and infection and even has an impact on your mental health. Here are some essential nutrients for maintaining a healthy gut:

• Prebiotics. This is material that encourages the growth of good bacteria in your gut. Your digestive tract is actually a habitat, a biome for a whole range of micro-organisms that help you break down food. Prebiotics acts as food for the beneficial bacteria in your gut, promoting their growth and activity.
• Fibre. Another non-digestible component, fibre is found in the plants you eat. There are two kinds: soluble fibre which slows down digestion and helps your body extract more nutrients from your food, and insoluble fibre adds bulk to stool, helping keep you regular.
• Antioxidants. There’s a type of molecule called a free radical that can cause damage to your cells and even DNA. Free radicals are unstable and looking to bond with another molecule. They usually contain oxygen atoms, which is why the chemicals in food that can help protect you from them are called antioxidants. They bond to free radicals before they can bond to your cells, neutralizing them.
• Sorbitol. This is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol contained in some fruits. It doesn’t contain ethanol, which is the type that can get you drunk. Instead, sorbitol can help support your gut and keep you regular by bringing water into it. It takes a long time to digest, and your body absorbs fewer calories from it than other kinds of sugar.

Getting these nutrients is important for promoting gut health. If you’re looking for a simple way to get everything you need, there’s a food that contains all four: California prunes. Research shows that eating about five prunes per day can help support the microbiome in your gut and promote regularity. When your gut is healthy, the rest of you is healthier, too. You can learn more about how prunes can support your gut health at californiaprunes.ca.