A doctor who graduated from Harvard University has revealed the eight daily morning habits he does that ‘resets’ the gut – including a stinky toilet check.
Dr Saurabh Sethi, a gastroenterologist, often shares his advice and expertise with his 1.3m followers on Instagram (@doctor .sethi).
The 42-year-old previously revealed which sweet treat can be added to coffee to make it potentially one of the “healthiest” drinks.
Now, he’s shared the eight daily habits he does every morning to “reset” his gut, reports NeedToKnow.
First up: having a glass of water before coffee.
“This rehydrates you instantly after sleep and kick-starts digestion,” the doctor, from California, US, said.
“Aim for up to two cups before your first sip of caffeine.
“Get morning sunlight.
“Step outside for five to 10 minutes within an hour of waking up.
“Doing this resets your body clock and boosts serotonin for better digestion.”
He also suggests doing morning breath work, such as two minutes of deep belly breathing, which is best done before breakfast.
He said: “This activates the vagus nerve and calms the gut-brain axis.
“Also, eat a slightly green banana or have oats in your breakfast.
“A prebiotic boost feeds your good bacteria right from the start of the day.
“And use Greek yoghurt to pair with berries, chia seeds or flax seeds.
“Or eggs with veggies and kefir/lassi drink.
“Protein, fibre and probiotics balances blood sugar and fuels gut microbes.”
Dr Sethi also urges to eat without a screen.
He said: “Eating activates the parasympathetic system – digest – and scrolling triggers the sympathetic system – fight or flight.
“Let your gut and brain work together – no phone until you’re done.
“Take a walk after breakfast to help aid digestion and reduce post-meal bloating.
“It’ll take two minutes, though it makes a world of difference.”
And finally – do a poo check daily.
Dr Sethi added: “Your stool is a daily gut health report card.
“Look at colour, shape and ease.
“Aim for Bristol three to four.”
As a final tip, he suggests picking two to three of these daily habits to start with before adding more in over time.
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