If you know me at all, you know I’m nuts about guts! Gut health, that is. One often overlooked aspect of good gut health is getting plenty of those good bacteria moving through your system. I’m talking about probiotics.
Good gut bacteria is extremely beneficial for your physical well-being. Did you know that there are roughly 450 or so different species of bacteria right now sitting in your gastrointestinal tract? If you put all of those little critters on a kitchen scale, they’d add up to about three pounds. Now, I don’t know about you, but that seems like a significant enough population to be concerned about!
We need to be sure that at least 85% of those bacteria are in the helpful bacteria court—the probiotic side of the equation. Those probiotics activate T-cells (the cancer fighters) and trigger many immune system reactions throughout your entire body.
Your body is counting on 15% or less of your intestinal flora to be pathogenic, so it’s up to you to do what you can to keep things balanced in an optimal way.
Not convinced yet that you need to be getting more probiotics into you? Read this list of reasons why I recommend eating probiotics and then decide!
Reverse ulcers. Probiotics can actually reverse IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and ulcers. If you’ve had a gut inflammation of any kind, get probiotics into you asap.
Immunity boost. It is expected that probiotics prevent colds, allergies, and flu.
Better breastmilk. If pregnant women and nursing mothers take probiotics, mom’s breastmilk has enhanced immune protection for baby.
Relief from GS symptoms. If you’re suffering from gluten sensitivity (GS) or celiac symptoms, you may find relief from probiotics being added to your diet.
Beat the yeast. A healthy balance of probiotics in the system can prevent yeast infections.
Prevent cancer. Probiotics help to nourish certain enzymes in the body which can go on to reduce tumor production in your body.
Fight GMOs. We have such a corrupt food supply right now that GMOs are in the least suspected places. If you eat any non-organic meat or processed foods containing GMOs, you are consuming antibiotics. The intake of these foods kills healthy bacteria in the gut so you have to consume probiotics to ensure the balance is restored.
A doctor by the name of Natasha Campbell-McBride actually cured her son of autism by restoring healthy probiotic levels in his body, thereby relieving inflammation in his body. The diet she developed is known as the GAPS (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) diet and it is followed widely throughout the United States and Canada.
So how do you get all the probiotics you need?
Well, first off, you can take a supplement. This is absolutely crucial if you’ve been on antibiotics. I wish doctors would recommend that patients take a probiotic while on a round of antibiotics, but I digress.
Again, if you know me at all, I prefer to promote good health through the intake of good, wholesome food, so I’m a big believer in eating fermented foods which are, essentially, probiotics!
Some types of fermented foods include:
• kimchi
• miso
• kefir
• sauerkraut
What do you think? Ready to invite some healthy bacteria to the GI party? Let us know on our Facebook page!
Have questions about supplementing with a GOOD probiotic? Check out our ProActive ProBiotic for more info!
0 Responses
Where do you find kimchi, miso and kefir?
Hi Amy, You can typically find them at Asian supermarkets, but now more and more mainstream supermarkets are carrying kimchi, miso and kefir. Hope this helps!
Even Trader Joe carries kefir, at a very affordable price.
Be careful about your sauerkraut; they’re not all equal. Many commercial sauerkrauts are not naturally fermented, but pickled with vinegar and preserved with chemical preservatives. These are harmful, rather than beneficial. True sauerkraut is found only in the refrigerator case, and does not contain ingredients like vinegar, potassium sorbate or potassium benzoate, etc.
Real kraut will only list cabbage, water and salt.
Bubbie’s is real.
I am a physician and I always recommend my patients take a probiotic while on antibiotics. With certain ones I insist on it!