Keep your immune system strong by improving your gut health. This Healthy Gut Vanilla Chai Smoothie is an easy and delicious way to pack prebiotics and probiotics into your daily routine! (gluten-free, vegetarian)

Gut health continues to be all the rage right now in the health and wellness world, and for good reason. A healthy microbiome in your gut can influence everything from digestion to immune health, so it's important to think about your gut health.

This is not to be confused with "healing your gut," which also happens to be the newest "it" thing with kooks trying to take your money. These people will try to convince you that you have leaky gut, then try to sell you their "gut healing" meal plan that eliminated grains, dairy, and just about anything else that can actually help with your gut health, while simultaneously making you believe you need to buy an $18 bottle of magical bone broth and other "healing" supplements. You most likely don't have a leaky gut, ok? So you don't need anyone's gut-healing diet BS.

No, this post is about adding nutritious foods into your routine that can help maintain a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in your intestines. Research has shown that keeping the bacteria in your gut happy can help to improve digestion and absorption of nutrients, synthesis of vitamins, immune health, GI health, and even help ward off certain chronic diseases, though much research still needs to be done.

One way to keep your gut healthy, and your immune system healthy, this season, is to get plenty of both probiotics and prebiotics in your diet. (You can read more about probiotics and prebiotics in this post.) This month's Recipe ReDux theme is gut health for immunity, so to help you out, I made you this delicious Healthy Gut Vanilla Chai Smoothie!

Note I did NOT say "gut healing" smoothie. No single food or recipe can magically heal your gut or anything else for that matter. This smoothie just contains some everyday foods to help you maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your gut to promote a healthy immune system. It's got probiotics from yogurt and prebiotic fiber from oats to help feed those good bacteria. And it tastes really good, which is pretty important, in my opinion.

If you want to boost the prebiotic fiber in you Healthy Gut Vanilla Chai Smoothie, even more, try adding ½ banana (the less ripe, the better), a bit of wheat bran, or ground flaxseed. Though I think this smoothie is delicious and filling just the way it is. If you're weary of the cauliflower, don't be! It's tasteless, and a great way to add antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber to your smoothie. If you don't have any cauliflower, a frozen banana will work in its place. Now get blending and drink up for the sake of those friendly bacteria in your gut!

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