7 Benefits Of Slow Cooking: Gut Healing Advantages You Need To Know

Discover the unique benefits of slow cooking. Unlock the power of your slow cooker to create nutritious meals that support a healthy gut.

Create a mouthwatering, nutritious, home-cooked meal while saving time, using less energy, and saving more money (win-win-win!).

What Does It Mean To Have A Healthy Gut?

Gut health refers to the balance of microorganisms that live in your digestive tract. In the simplest view, a healthy gut has a favorable balance of good bacteria over harmful bacteria, preventing the harmful bacteria from taking over the good.

Why Is Gut Health Important To Your Overall Health?

Maintaining a balance of healthy and unhealthy microbes in your gut is crucial for several aspects of your health.

1. A healthy gut aids in the proper digestion of food so you can better absorb the nutrients that your body needs.
2. It supports a good immune system, with over 80% of your immune system residing in the gastrointestinal tract.
3. It improves mental health, as an imbalanced gut can in some cases lead to depression and anxiety.

Suggested Reading: 3 Gut Healthy Oatmeal Recipes That Will Keep Your Digestive System Happy

7 Key Gut Health Benefits of Slow Cooking

1. Improved Digestibility: Slow cooking breaks down the fibers and proteins in tough cuts of meat, making it easier for your gut to process. This is particularly beneficial for those with digestive issues.
2. Enhanced Nutrient Absorption: Slow cooking can improve the absorption of important nutrients in the gut by breaking down food slowly and thoroughly.
3. Gut-friendly Meals: The slow cooking process is perfect for creating a gut-friendly and delicious meal like bone broth, stock, stew, and soup. These meals often contain collagen, gelatin, and glutamine, which can help heal and protect your gut lining.
4. Reduced Inflammatory Ingredients: Cooking at home with a slow cooker allows control over the ingredients, helping to avoid processed foods that can cause inflammation in the gut.
5. Promotes a Healthy Microbiome: Slow-cooked, fiber-rich meals can support a healthy gut microbiome by providing the necessary nutrition for beneficial gut bacteria.
6. Supports Hydration: Slow-cooked meals often result in savory broths or sauces, which aid in maintaining proper hydration. Hydration is vital for overall gut health, supporting digestion and nutrient absorption.
7. Less Stress on the Digestive System: Because a slow-cooked meal is easier to digest, they put less stress on the digestive system. This can be beneficial for those with sensitive stomachs.

The Science of Slow Cooking

Slow cooking is a method used to cook food over a long period of time, typically at low heat. Slow-cooked meals are generally easy to make with their one-pot preparation and can be more cost-effective since they use cuts of meat that improve in texture and flavor when cooked for long periods at low temperatures.

The low temperature and extended cooking time help "pre-digest" the food while preserving essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This allows for superior nutrient absorption since your body can more readily take up the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that promote better digestion and gut healing.

Slow cooking also allows your body to digest your slow-cooked meals better since the proteins are properly denatured, and many anti-nutrients are destroyed during the slow cooking process.

Gut Healing Slow Cooker Recipes

Now that you understand the science and benefits, it's time to try out some home-cooked gut-healing recipes in your own kitchen! There are so many recipes out there that we love, but here are a few of our favorite recipes to get you started:

1. Golden Lentil Soup: Lentils are high in fiber and nutrients, and slow-cooking them in a soup can help make them more digestible
2. Beef & Broccoli: This dish combines protein-rich beef with nutrient-dense broccoli, and slow cooking can help tenderize the meat and make it easier to digest.
3. Chickpea Curry: Chickpeas are a great source of fiber and protein, and slow cooking them in a curry can help break down the fibers and make them more digestible.
4. White Chicken Chili: This low-fat, gluten-free, and dairy-free recipe from Kim's Cravings combines chicken breast, white beans, and green chiles, providing a high-protein and high-fiber meal that is easier to digest when slow-cooked.
5. Slow Cooker Chicken Bone Broth: This gut-healing chicken broth recipe combines bones, onion, apple cider vinegar, garlic, sea salt, and bay leaves for a nourishing and flavorful broth.

Tips for Slow Cooking Success

Here are some tips and tricks for getting the best out of slow cooking:

• Prep the night before: Cut up your ingredients the night before and store them in the fridge for easy morning assembly.
• Don't peek: For most slow cookers, opening it will slow down the cooking process and release heat, so resist the temptation to check on your meal.
• Use the right slow cooker: Make sure your slow cooker is the right size for the food you're cooking.
• Choose the right meat cut: Tougher, less expensive cuts of meat like chuck roast, brisket, and pork shoulder are ideal for slow cooking. 
• Don't overfill the slow cooker: Overfilling can cause uneven cooking and could even be dangerous.
• Set to low: Set you slow cooker to the low setting to use less electricity. 

Suggested Reading: The Ultimate Gut Health Grocery List: What to Eat for a Healthy Gut

Slow cooking is not only a time-saving during a busy day and a cost-effective way to cook a meal, but it also has numerous gut health benefits.

With its ability to improve digestibility, enhance nutrient absorption, and support a healthy gut microbiome, slow cooking is a one pot wonder if you're looking for easy ways to improve your gut health.

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