Probiotics – chances are you’ve heard of them or taken them before and know they’re a good thing to include in your diet, but maybe you’re not sure exactly why… that’s where I ‘intervene!
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeast that support and nourish the local microbiome in your gut.
A healthy gut microbiome is imperative for health. Your microbiome works to:
· Break down and extract nutrients in the large intestine during the final stages of digestion; specifically, bacteria ferment fiber to produce “short-chain fatty acids” which contribute to the tight junctions in your gastrointestinal wall (it is very important to have tight junctions because it prevents toxins from your gut from ‘seep into your blood and lymph, which in turn wreaks havoc when you’re about to find out…)
· Help your immune system function optimally
· Create vitamins for us!
(This is just a brief summary by the way)
So what happens when you have a sad gut microbiome dominated by “bad” bacteria?
Well, you will probably suffer from fatigue, skin irritations such as eczema, IBS – bloating, gas, diarrhea, frequent infections, sleep disturbances and even autoimmune diseases and food intolerances!
I hope this demonstrates the extent of the problem!
By the way, prebiotics are simply “food” for probiotic bacteria, hence the term “pre.” Unless you eat few fruits and vegetables, it’s likely that you’re getting enough prebiotics in your diet.
You can of course purchase probiotics, but as with any nutrient, your body will absorb them better if they are provided in the form of food and as nature intended! (There are also ridiculous amounts of them on the market and it can be difficult to figure out which one is best for you)
Most probiotic foods are fermented, here are the main examples:
– Sauerkraut
-Kimchi
– Yogurt
– Kefir
– Tempeh (vegan meat substitute)
– Miso
– Kombucha
– Pickles/pickles although they are high in sodium
– Foods that indicate “live cultures” or “active cultures” on their label
Most supermarkets now carry the above foods. As an example of how you can incorporate them into your diet regularly: have a scoop of kefir in your daily oatmeal or a smoothie and some sauerkraut as a cold side dish. Probiotic bacteria are killed by heat, so if you cook with miso, you should use it at the end of the cooking process to retain the probiotic benefits.
I hope you found this short blog informative, if you would like to work with me on your nutrition, here to sign up for a no-pressure discovery call.