Probiotics and Prebiotics and Gut Health.
GUT MICROBES
There are trillions of microbes that happily live in our gut. These friendly microbes do more than help us digest foods, make vitamins, and protect us from the not-so-friendly microbes – they have mood-boosting and stress-busting functions too!
Fun Fact: “There are more microbes inside our gut, than all of the human cells that make us. That’s right, we’re more than half microbe! So, how can they NOT impact our health?”
This is why GUT HEALTH is so important!
PROBIOTICS
Probiotics are the Rock Stars of the Gut Health World.
The microbes that live in our guts are known as our “gut microbiota”.
The microbes that we can eat are known as “probiotics”.
“Probiotics” are live organisms that you can eat, drink, or take as a supplement. They turn milk into yogurt, and cabbage into sauerkraut; and they are great for both your gut health and mental health.
Each probiotic works on a unique part of you body, so talk to a gut health specialist that can help you figure out the right probiotic for you.
For those with Irritable Bowels probiotics are particularly important. They can help regulate you poop, boost your immune system and get rid of toxins.
PROBIOTIC-RICH FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS
Probiotics can be found in yogurt, sauerkraut (and other fermented veggies), miso, tempeh, and kimchi. You can drink them in kefir or kombucha. Be sure to choose unpasteurized ones that will be refrigerated in your local grocer.
Of course, there are a number of probiotic supplements available too and for those of us with IBD or other gut health issues supplementation is recommended before fermented foods.
Fermented foods are absolutely important for your gut health and yet they can be too strong and cause quite the digestive upset if your system is too sensitive. I don’t recommend them until the last phase of your gut healing.
Be careful while in a flare. Probiotics can actually stimulate your immune system and make your symptoms worse for some people. Know your body and trust your body!
PREBIOTICS
While probiotics are the rock stars of the gut health world, prebiotics are the lesser known cousin that is equally important!
PREbiotics are the food for probiotics.
They are your friendly gut microbes’ favourite delicacies so they’ll happily grow, and multiply.
Prebiotics are basically foods that contain fiber.
Things like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Even dark chocolate (preferably with at least 70% cocoa).
Foods that are particularly high in prebiotics include jicama, asparagus, avocado, whole grains, and allium vegetables like onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots.
There’s more to Gut Health than the “biotics” but they are really important!
Do you take Probiotics or Prebiotics?