Tag: Gut Health
Bodybuilder Hunter Labrada Shares Detoxifying ‘Gut Health Drink’ for Optimal Digestion
Men’s Open bodybuilder Hunter Labrada is back with another Tuesday Tip for fans. In a recent YouTube video, Labrada revealed a gut-health drink recipe he’s using to keep his waistline down in preparation for his next bodybuilding contest.
Labrada is seeking redemption following his seventh-place finish at the 2022 Mr. Olympia show. Having reflected on his performance, Labrada highlighted a few areas that held him back on stage. Most notably, he and his coach Ben Chow encountered problems with the peaking process for the contest.
Hunter’s father, IFBB Pro League Hall of Famer Lee Labrada, announced that his son would be participating in two shows before the Olympia this year. Hunter later confirmed the news and specified that he’ll be taking his talents to the Tampa Pro and Texas Pro. Should he follow through in Texas, he’ll have the opportunity to compete against the reigning champ Andrew Jacked.
Aiming for back-to-back victories, Labrada has kept fans updated on his training progress. He said he’s not chasing size this year and plans to minimize his waistline. The Open standout intends to accomplish this goal by implementing vacuum poses and a new diet. In his latest endeavor, he offered fans a recipe for a go-to gut health drink he’s using for digestion benefits.
Hunter Labrada Shares ‘Gut Health/Digestion Drink’ for Keeping Tight Waist
Maintaining a near-300-pound physique requires a substantial diet, and Labrada says he’s taking this gut health drink every morning to aid with digestion.
“Gut health/digestion and what I am doing for it in the morning. So, it’s no secret after last year’s competitive season that I wanted to do everything in my power to minimize my waistline and a lot of that comes down to how well your body is digesting its food. That process starts before you’re taking digestive enzymes with each and every meal. Before you’re paying attention to what food sources you’re eating and this that and the other.
It starts with what you do when you get out of bed in the morning and what first hits your stomach. I wanted to go over what I do every single morning and have been doing for quite some time I’ve come to really enjoy this not because of how it tastes, I’m not going to lie it doesn’t taste that great but because of how it makes me feel and how its left my stomach feeling. As I do this the longer and longer that I do it, the flatter and flatter I feel I’m waking up in the morning in terms of any kind of bloat or distention and I just feel better throughout the day. At the end of the day, it’s not what you eat, it’s what you’re able to digest and assimilate.”
Labrada’s Signature Gut Health Drink
Labrada shared the contents of his gut health beverage, which you can find below:
“That is the morning digestion drink. I’m going to shake this up and throw it in the fridge. I like to make it — the night before sometimes if I’m not being lazy then I get to roll out of bed and be lazy in the morning. Throw this in the fridge. Anyways, that is the Tuesday Tip on my digestion/gut health drink,” added Labrada.
Start with 16 ounces of water to hydrate the body.
Add 2 ounces of Aloe Vera gel to soothe and heal the intestines.
Squeeze juice from one whole lemon for taste and detoxification benefits.
Add one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to create an acidic environment in the stomach and aid in detoxification.
Include 10 grams of glutamine powder to boost immune system function, promote recovery, and heal intestinal damage.
Finish with a quality greens powder for added nutrients.
In addition to nutrition, Labrada has consistently offered useful tips via YouTube. The last time fans heard from the 30-year-old, he shared a guide on how to grow weaker calves. Labrada underlined the importance of training intensity, emphasizing the difference between training to pain versus total failure.
RELATED: Hunter Labrada on Gym & Bodybuilding Mindset: ‘It’s a Practiced Skill’
The 2023 Tampa Pro kicks off August 3-5, where Hunter Labrada will aim to earn an invitation to the Mr. Olympia event. If he’s successful, he’ll have the chance to face off against the reigning champion Hadi Choopan.
You can find the full video below from Hunter Labrada’s YouTube channel:
Published: 3 May, 2023 | 9:01 AM EDT
Intermittent Fasting and the Gut-Brain Connection: Unlocking the Secrets To a Better Overall Health
Do you sometimes feel sluggish, tired, and unable to concentrate on daily tasks? The connection between your gut and brain could be the answer to a healthier and happier version of yourself. Over recent years, there has been considerable research in this regard, and it is seen that there is a significant link between mental…
Fitness Model Diet: How to Improve Your Diet and Training With These Gut Healthy Foods
Keeping your digestive tract intact will be key to improved training and healthy diet.
Throughout the years, there has been a great deal of research done on maintaining gut health. Many stomach problems lead to distress and disrupt your fitness goals. Problems such as indigestion, constipation and bloating are often symptoms of bad gut health you will want to fix.
Many foods and supplements often claim to improve gut health. Although there is a lot more research to be done, we do know that there are supplements with ingredients that can help improve gut health. However, supplements are not often the only options given they are not often regulated and quite often supplement companies receive warnings from the FDA on the ingredients claimed. The human gut consists of helpful and harmful bacteria also known as microorganisms. By eating whole foods that contain fiber, Probiotics and Prebiotics, or a combination, you help maintain a healthy gut and overall health.
Whole foods are often a great option and one that is highly recommended for digestion and to maintain overall strength. Experts often suggest eating more foods that contain fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics.
Top Whole Foods
Fiber
Fiber found in foods, specifically plant food, help move food through your gut faster, becoming a consistent factor in your daily intake.
Probiotics
Probiotics are created through fermentation and are known as the good bacteria that helps fight infection-causing microbes that are sometimes in the foods we eat or that thrive when we’re sick. They help the immune system to break down toxins, produce essential vitamins and help break down food.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are plant fibers that we are unable digest but serve as food for healthy bacteria in the gut. Experts classify them as necessary for our body’s.
Here are some of the best ways to integrate these compounds into your diet.
Fiber Foods
Experts recommend 25 – 38 grams of Fiber per day. Most people are unable to consume Fiber naturally and we recommend a multivitamin to be consumed daily. Fiber will also be key to developing a consistent physique during intense training and dieting. To meet your daily Fiber needs, try any of these foods in addition to matching them with your meals and supplementation:
Barley
Stores usually have barley in the form of hulled and pearled. Barley is a rich source of B vitamin and contains beta-glucans. And you should be able to get them in a half cup of oat bran.
Raspberries and Blackberries
One cup of berries can provide up to 8 or more grams of fiber. Adding them to your daily protein shake will provide the recommended amount of fiber per day. Our experts recommend mixing them into any of the top protein supplements.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Yogurt and Kefir
Traditional Greek yogurt are fermented dairy foods that contain ingredients such as lactobacillus, streptococcus, and bifidobacterrium. These help break down sugers and are the good bacteria that can help with gut health and helps to enhance the body’s immune system. This will also be helpful with dieting and keeping a healthy physique.
A natural probiotic is kefir, a fermented milk beverage that is made with a culture of yeasts and bacteria,” Our experts point out the importance of choosing probiotics that contain little to no amounts of sugar and with products that include live/active cultures. Kefir is often mixed well with shakes.
Kimchi
Kimchi is another fermented food that has proven to be a great probiotic. Kimchi serves antioxidants such as vitamin C and Fiber. Kimchi is known well in Korean cuisine and served up with many diets for those that don’t often consume dairy.
Artichoke
1 artichoke is said to contain 7 grams of Fiber. They are low in fat, contribute to a healthy liver, and are a premium source of prebiotic that can be added to any of your meals.
Asparagus, Banana, onions, garlic
Asparagus, Bananas, onions and garlic have become an essential part of a fitness pro or bodybuilding diet. Asparagus contains a high source protein and is a great source of prebiotics. They have been shown to promote a healthy bacteria. Unlike ripe bananas, a green banana can be a premiere source of potassium and a prebiotic fiber that feeds our gut good bacteria for overall health. They are simple to freeze and add to shakes and smoothies for a boost of prebiotic intake.
Food to Avoid
The most important step to start on when maintaining gut health is to first start to eat more slowly. It is also crucial to avoid certain foods that will lead to gastrointestinal trouble. Some foods to avoid include:
Alcohol: sugary alcohol can create bad gut health and effect your overall health goals when dieting. Alcohol also contains a great deal of sugar and carbohydrates that are not digested well.
Sugary Drinks: High Fructose corn syrup, soda, juices are often times hard to digest.
Fried Foods: Fried foods keep gastric acid in the stomach which can lead to indigestion, heart burn and even weaken muscles.
Soda & Seltzers: Bodybuilders often avoid seltzers simply because they fill your stomach with gas and provides digestive discomfort. To add, they do not help when properly trying to maintain a consistent diet and timed meal plan.
Ensuring to stay away from harmful foods and products can make all the difference in the world. If you’re not providing yourself with the right fuel you won’t get the best performance or results. Utilize these tips to help take you gains to new heights.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6315993/#:~:text=In%20return%2C%20gut%20microbiota%20can,the%20colon%20%5B103%2C104%5D
Probiotics: https://generationiron.com/can-taking-probiotic-change-bmi/