Hippocrates is credited with saying that all disease begins in the GUT. He wasn’t too far off with that remark. Every time you chow down on food in the modern world, you possibly expose yourself to countless chemicals and hormones that end up in the food supply. So, how do PROBIOTICS help with digestion?
This is how probiotics help with your digestive woes
Our bodies have been perfectly designed over eons of time to help us maintain optimum health. There are MILLIONS of microbes living inside your body right at this very moment which includes healthy gut bacteria. This is referred to in science as the HUMAN MICROBIOME. Would you believe it… there are 10X more bacterial cells than human cells in your body..
Your microbiome usually plays an important role in your body and helps metabolize and create some vitamins (like vitamin D3). They also help you break down and produce energy from your food. Plus they can help boost your immune system by producing anti-inflammatory compounds that help keep your gut vibrant… hey that’s really important these days, right!
When your gut gets out of wack, it’s referred to as DYSBIOSIS. This happens when your gut wall becomes inflamed and it affects the stomach’s barrier. This is known around medicine as LEAKY GUT!. Your stomach has been compromised at this point and some nasty particles have busted on through.
This sets up a probable breeding ground for disease. Modern medicine is well aware that changes in the composition of your microbiome are associated with many diseases from diabetes to various autoimmune diseases. Recently I have experienced some issues with diverticulosis.
I eat a completely healthy diet and have totally turned my health around. I live off plants. BUT, I found out that certain foods don’t play well with your digestive tract. Popcorn and nuts to name a few of the culprits. They can get lodged in your intestines. I immediately purchased some probiotics, a special tea blend, and remembered to add Triphala back to my diet. I do feel better now.
What it comes down to… You need to keep your Microbiome in check. Probiotics are designed to fight back nasty bacteria that can get into your stomach. And what foods you eat matters. If you are always searching for antiacids, you may want to take an inventory of some of the foods your eating… and maybe take a little time to study up on nutrition.
The quality of your life comes down to your health. I have been on the wrong side of the track before and it sucks. So why not do yourself a solid and study nutrition… at least a little.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts. They are beneficial for maintaining a healthy digestive system. Wait… did you say bacteria? Bacteria come in two flavors… good and bad. You are probably well aware of bad bacteria like E Coli or salmonella. I had salmonella once and it kept me on the couch for 3 days… not even exaggerating!
There are all different kinds of healthy bacteria and they each have a different role to play by helping in specific areas of human health. They have names that are a bit too sciency, so I’ll leave that task to Dr. Google. If you purchase a probiotic supplement, they all contain a full gamut of healthy bacteria. Certain common foods also are chock-full of probiotics.
What Benefits can you expect from taking PROBIOTICS?
RESTORE THE BALANCE OF HEALTHY GUT BACTERIA An imbalance can lead to digestive problems, obesity, and allergies. Bacterial imbalances in your stomach result when harmful bacteria overtake the healthy bacteria. This imbalance could be caused by numerous factors like noxious chemicals or poor food choices.
Antibiotics are excellent in fighting off infections. But, they tend to kill off all bacteria. So, once the antibiotic runs its course, it is advisable to ingest some probiotics to restore the balance. However, you needn’t bother taking probiotics during your antibiotic treatment… it would just waste them.
THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM… DIARRHEA! Probiotics can help reduce the severity of diarrhea and induce a quicker recovery. Certain strains are more effective, but a decent probiotic supplement includes the most popular strains. It is also a good idea to have some when traveling to certain countries where you may encounter certain foods or if you dare to drink out of the tap… you should probably stick to bottled water.
ANOTHER WAY TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM! Yes, they can inhibit the growth of destructive bacteria. But, it also amps up the production of antibodies in your body as well NATURAL KILLER CELLS and other immune protecting cells.
POSSIBLE AIDE IN WEIGHT LOSS Some probiotic strains help prevent fat build-up in your intestines. It helps the fat move right along in the elimination process.
Probiotics can also help you feel more full for longer periods of time, burn calories faster and impede the storage of fat. Just be aware that not all probiotics help with weight loss. One strain may help you gain weight.
If you are really interested in weight loss, send me a private message. I have found the secret to natural weight reduction without starving yourself to death... and I tried for decades to get it off!
EXCELLENT FOR COMBATING CROHN’S, IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME, AND DIVERTICULOSIS. These are horrific conditions to deal with and probiotics can help lessen their awful effects.
What can cause an imbalance in natural probiotics?
- Diet plays a huge role in determining the balance of healthy bacteria in your body. The normal Western diet has strayed way too far from what I would consider normal food. Processed foods loaded with sodium and sugar are just downright harmful. On top of that, few people consume enough raw fruits and vegetables to maintain the proper alkalinity in the body.
- Medications may also disrupt your balance. Steroids, chemotherapy, antibiotics, and certain pain killers just to name a few.
- Infections. Harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses will wreak havoc on your balance.
- Environmental chemicals or chemicals in the food supply.
- Stress.
- Too much sugar will feed the toxic bacteria and decrease the healthy bacteria.
A little too much sugar for my taste!
Did you know that some foods contain probiotics?
YOGURT is well known for being an excellent source of probiotics. I am personally not a fan because I am all in on the effectiveness of a plant-based diet.
SAUERKRAUT is shredded cabbage that has been fermented and is heavy-laden in salt. It is a very popular side dish in Germany. In addition to probiotics, sauerkraut is rich in fiber and has vitamins C, B, and K… plus antioxidants. I like to rinse off the excess salt before I eat it. Too much sodium is no BUENO!
TEMPEH is originally from Indonesia ( and I thought it was Japanese!). It is a fermented soy product. It has a strong nutty flavor. It is also a source of vitamin B12.
KIMCHI is a Korean-style spicy cabbage dish. Sometimes they even bury a Kimchi pot underground for an extended period of time for the fermentation process. I had a hamburger in South Korea once with kimchi on top. I was not enamored with the flavor... but I finished my meal. I was all-in on trying some of the local cuisines… except I drew the line in the sand when it came to balut.
MISO is a type of Japanese seasoning. It is usually made by fermenting soybeans and a fungus called koji with salt.It can also be made with barley, rice, or rye. Miso paste is often used in making soups. It is a good source of fiber, protein, and various vitamins and minerals.
APPLE CIDER VINEGAR is also an excellent source of probiotics. You want to make sure the apple cider includes the “mother” since this is the source of the probiotics. It will look like a cloudy sediment on the bottom of the bottle. Braggs is always a good choice.
Tempeh
CAN PROBIOTICS BE BAD FOR YOU?
Some people may experience unpleasant digestive symptoms for a short duration. Sometimes when your “cleaning house”, it is going to really suck at first. If you have ever used a colon cleanser, it is a bad idea to stray too far from the commode.
Amines that are found in some fermented foods may induce a headache. I have never experienced a headache personally from the foods on the list above. I have tried every one of them at one point in time.
As always, some people will be allergic. There is always someone allergic to some food source. I broke out in hives once while trying a bunch of different dishes at the hotel I was waiting tables at during the Kentucky Derby. I ended up getting the Epi shot to revive me… that was scary and weird. I still do not have a clue to whatever food, spice, preservative, or whatever caused that.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If you want to run a tight shift in monitoring your digestive system, you can’t go wrong in taking a good probiotic. It seems that many people develop problems later in life… if not sooner… when it comes to digestive health. Most of us do not eat a healthy enough diet.
It wasn’t until I was in my fifties that I became a serious student in healthy eating. I was faced with some dire circumstances and I did not want to go down without a fight. I place a high value on my health and am wise enough to know the consequences of bad choices. I have already made some and I am doing my best to turn it around. I am doing quite well for my age and I want to continue to feel as young and vibrant as I can.
I am also a huge fan of TRIPHALA. I have previously written a post about it. It is an ancient medical secret from India and it is wonderful for your digestive system. Check it out if you want to learn about how you can do more to maintain your digestive health.
Thanks for reading, many blessings. Brian
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All information contained on this website, including information related to medical matters, health issues, treatments, and products, serves only for informational purposes. It is not intended to replace the advice of your own doctor or specialist.
The information on this website is not intended to diagnose health problems or prescribe medications.
