A Flexible 9-Step Gut Reset Protocol, From A Functional M.D.

In my functional medicine practice, I often recommend the following one-day gut reset protocol to my clients to help get their digestion and GI tract back on track. It's particularly helpful after a period of indulgences like special occasions and holidays. Some of the steps might even help address root causes of digestive upset.

A gut reset, also commonly referred to as a "detox" or "cleanse," aims to restore balance in the human microbiome and the GI tract (a major detoxification organ).

While research on the effects of short-term "detox diets" or "gut cleanses" on the body is limited, with most studies being too small or lacking robust clinical evidence, according to some studies, consuming certain whole foods and nutrients can modulate the removal of toxins from the body1.

Eating a variety of whole foods will provide an array of nutrients and phytonutrients that may help support the body’s intrinsic metabolic detoxification pathways at a mechanistic level, but additional clinical trial research is warranted to elucidate these effects further.

Indeed, detoxification is a 24/7 affair (because that’s how detoxification pathways work in our body), so while targeted periods of gut focus to reset digestive health are useful for many individuals, I’ll let you in on a secret: The gut reset principles below are broadly useful, each and every day, for promoting a healthy GI tract for life. After all, why care for your gut sometimes when you can nourish it daily?

Below, a nine-step routine for keeping your gut healthy and happy.

Just like you, your gut needs a period of rest and rejuvenation to function optimally.

Giving it a break can support antioxidant and anti-inflammatory processes, cellular cleanup (the fancy word here is “autophagy”)2 and even help shed water weight and ease bloating.

Studies are coming out all the time supporting the benefits of intermittent fasting3, which gives the body a break for a set number of hours each day so that your gut can repair, reset, and rest. Even a seminal research review in the journal 4Cell4 4identifies intermittent fasting as a key pillar of longevity nutrition (i.e., eating for a long, healthy life).

The night before you start your gut reset, plan to fast for 12 to 16 hours. To put this in perspective—a 12-hour fast means you stop eating at 7 in the evening and don't eat again until breakfast the next day at 7 in the morning.

In my opinion, drinking water, especially room temperature (sans ice) or warm water on an empty stomach, is one of the best things you can do for digestion.

As we know from Ayurvedic principles, warm water is gentle on the GI tract and stimulates digestion5, which naturally helps food move through the digestive tract and promotes the removal of waste.

I recommend you start your detox day with at least one full glass of room-temperature water before you consume any food.

In preclinical studies, high-sugar diets promoted metabolic disease, while the elimination of sugar provided protection from obesity and metabolic syndrome6.

To give your gut a break, start by avoiding refined sugars and added sugars in your morning meal (and really in general). Fruit sugars are OK (berries are best), but make sure they're accompanied by plenty of fiber and fat, so you don't spike your blood sugar (and then crash).

Try one of these green smoothie recipes or this MD-approved tofu scramble. These five-ingredient breakfast cookies are a great choice, as is a quinoa breakfast bowl.

In very early studies, researchers have found that the release of tea polyphenols have been shown to help to control the glycemic index and digestibility of starchy foods7.

A mid-morning cup of tea might help digestion when you've had a breakfast that's heavier in starch. Boil 1 cup of water, then add in 1 tablespoon of loose chai tea. Add additional gut-supporting spices like ½ teaspoon each of cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger.

You can also add nutmeg or clove. I like to strain the tea and add a splash of almond or coconut milk for creaminess.

The nutrients found in a clean bone broth can help soothe the gut. Bone broth contains the amino acid glutamine (among others), which has been shown to improve intestinal function in preclinical trials8.

Choose bone broth from high-quality, grass-fed animals or a vegetable broth, and add some extra vegetables to it for a filling, gut-friendly meal.

In addition to prebiotic fibers from vegetables, adding 1 tablespoon of fermented foods (like kimchi, sauerkraut, or some pickles) to your meals is another easy way to work gut-friendly bacteria into your life.

Other ideas: Stir 1 teaspoon or less (it packs a punch!) of miso in your soup, or sip on kombucha, non-dairy kefir, or kvass (a fermented cereal-based non-alcoholic beverage) with your meal.

Perhaps easiest, try incorporating a high-quality probiotic into your routine to further bolster your gut-centric diet.

Remember the intermittent fasting discussion before: Giving your gut a break is a big part of this gut reset protocol, whether you try it for over the short- or long-term. Try to limit snacking, and if you're feeling peckish, have another glass of chai or some vegetables with hummus instead.

Hunter-gatherer societies ate roughly 200 grams of fiber daily, while we get approximately 15 grams with a typical modern-day diet. We have a fiber gap!

The best source of fiber is from complex carbohydrates from fermentable plant fibers or "prebiotics," which support good bacteria (microbes) already present in the gut.

The following foods are especially rich in prebiotic fibers:

Add more cellulose fibers into your diet for contributing bulk to your stool. You can find these insoluble cellulose fibers in the tough parts of veggies and fruit (think of broccoli stalks, the bottom of asparagus, kale stems, and orange pulp).

Try to include at least one serving (extra credit for two or three!) of prebiotic food in your dinner. These spiced stuffed sweet potatoes are a great option, as is this sweet potato breakfast porridge recipe.

Unchecked stress has a negative effect on the gut (and whole-body health). When you're stressed, this can lead to increased inflammatory processes9, gut permeability, visceral hypersensitivity, and gut motility. To minimize stress:

Shortened sleep is associated with an imbalanced gut10. Getting adequate sleep—seven to nine hours a night (depending on the individual!)—helps overall physical and neurological health and has a significant impact on stress levels, which will give your body the rest it needs to reset your gut.

My gut health reset features a low-sugar breakfast, fiber-packed lunch, and prebiotic-rich dinner to support your gut's natural detoxification processes. If you can take away just a few of these changes, you'll be setting yourself up for long-term success. Remember: Eat lots of fiber, consume probiotics, add more fermented food to your routine, and get some sleep!

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on January 2, 2017. A previous version of this article indicated that a gut cleanse can remove toxins in the body. We have since clarified that statement to indicate that an overall gut reset can help restore balance in the gut microbiome.