How to Improve Your Gut Health

Gut health has become one of the most talked-about topics in medicine, and for good reason. Your digestive system touches nearly every aspect of your wellbeing, from your energy levels and immune response to your mood and long-term disease risk. If you are looking for guidance on how to improve your gut health, you are in the right place.

Whether you are just beginning to explore what gut health means or you are ready to schedule a screening, the team at Aspen Valley Health (AVH) is here to guide you every step of the way. Right here in the Roaring Fork Valley, you have access to the kind of expert gastroenterology (GI) care that most communities have to travel hours to find.

What’s Covered in this Guide

• What is Gut Health and Why Does Improving it Matter?
• Signs You May Need to Improve Your Gut Health
• The Best Ways to Support and Improve Your Gut Health
• How to Discuss Improving Your Gut Health with Your Provider
• What procedures and screenings can help improve gut health?
• Connect with a Provider to Improve Your Gut Health

What is Gut Health and Why Does Improving It Matter?

When most people think about gut health and how to improve it, they think about digestion. But the role your gastrointestinal system plays in your overall health goes far beyond processing food.

Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, collectively known as the gut microbiome, that help regulate your immune system, produce essential vitamins and neurotransmitters and influence inflammation throughout the body.

Research has increasingly linked the state of your gut microbiome to conditions ranging from anxiety and depression to heart disease and autoimmune disorders. Simply put, a healthy gut is one of the most important foundations of a healthy life, which is why efforts to improve it are so critical to overall well-being.

The Best Ways to Support and Improve Your Gut Health

Your daily habits have a significant impact on the health of your digestive system. While no single change will transform or improve your gut health overnight, a consistent commitment to the following practices can make a meaningful difference over time:

• Eat a diverse, fiber-rich diet with plenty of vegetables, legumes and whole grains to feed beneficial gut bacteria
• Incorporate fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi to introduce beneficial microbes into your system
• Reduce your intake of ultra-processed foods, which are linked to inflammation and disruptions in the gut microbiome
• Prioritize sleep, since poor sleep is closely tied to gut dysbiosis and digestive discomfort
• Manage stress through movement, mindfulness or whatever works best for you, as chronic stress has a direct and measurable effect on gut function through the gut-brain axis
• Stay physically active, since regular exercise has been shown to increase microbial diversity in the gut
• Approach supplements thoughtfully, as probiotics and digestive enzymes can be helpful for some people but are not a substitute for a balanced diet or professional medical care

Lifestyle changes can go a long way to improve gut health, but they are only part of the picture. Regular screenings and a trusted provider relationship matter just as much.

What to Expect at Your First GI Consultation at AVH

Patients who visit AVH for GI concerns are met with the kind of attentive, unhurried care that is at the heart of everything we do.

At your first consultation, your provider will review your health history, discuss your symptoms in detail and work with you to determine the most appropriate next steps.

Whether that means additional testing, a procedure or a conversation about lifestyle strategies that can improve your gut health, you will leave with a clear plan and a team you can count on.

Dr. Alexandra Kovar and Dr. Chris Roseberry bring deep expertise and a genuine commitment to the patients and communities of the Roaring Fork Valley.

What procedures and screenings can help improve gut health?

When it comes to improving your gut health, there are a few screenings and procedures that are an important part of identifying potential underlying issues.

Robotic-Assisted GI Surgery: What Sets AVH Apart

For patients who need surgical intervention for GI conditions, AVH offers something truly rare for a community of this size. Dr. Alexandra Kovar is the only fellowship-trained robotic surgeon in the Roaring Fork Valley, and AVH is home to the most advanced robotic and endoscopic technology currently available.

Robotic-assisted surgery means smaller incisions, greater surgical precision and faster recovery times compared to traditional open procedures. Whether you are facing a complex hernia repair, colon resection or treatment for GERD, you do not have to leave the valley to receive exceptional care.

Serving You in Your Journey to Improving Your Gut Health

AVH is proud to serve patients throughout our region to improve their gut health, including Aspen, Basalt, Carbondale and Glenwood Springs. For far too long, residents of our valley had to travel to Denver or Salt Lake City for advanced GI care.

That is no longer the case. World-class gastroenterological services are available right here at home, delivered by a team that knows this community and is deeply invested in its health.

Connect With Our Care Team