You might have noticed the lovely article I recently shared on my Facebook page highlighting the benefits of probiotics. Probiotics are a tool that are hugely helpful in the world of natural medicine for a multitude of ailments, and the emerging list of benefits of probiotics is in no way limited to the important benefits listed in the article:
- Healing your gut
- A healthy metabolism
- Being able to absorb nutrients from your diet
- Brain and mood function
- Convenient topping up of good bacteria in therapeutic doses
- Reducing the risk of sinus inflammation
- Protecting your gums and teeth from disease. Read more about that in my article on Keeping Your Mouth Healthy.
- Clearer skin
- Fewer sick days
- Probiotics are proven to provide these benefits
The gut is lined with hundreds of trillions of microorganisms that make up your intestinal flora. Throughout the course of a day (and certainly a lifetime) those bacteria change, grow, and deplete based on a host of outside factors like diet, lifestyle and environment. The one constant you can provide for your gut? Taking a probiotic.
Read more about the benefits of probiotics in the full article here: 10 Reasons You Need a Probiotic in Your Life
While I do take a probiotic on most days, and in certain cases would take more than one a day, as required, there is an honest imperative to look after this investment. If you planted a seed and didn't water it, give it some plant food and avoid putting poisons on it, would you expect it to grow? Well, the same can be said for probiotics. These little bacteria will do all the wonderful things described above if they are nurtured and encouraged to thrive in our digestive system.
How do you make sure your probiotics thrive?
I don't know about you, but leaving your healthy earth worm farm with a person who lives on chips and maccas, is a sure fire way to return to find all your worms starving to death! No, vegie scraps in that household! Well, in this scenario, your gut is the healthy earth worm farm, you just have to decide what sort of caretaker you are. The best, most caring thing you can do for your probiotics once you have taken them is to:
Get to know your prebiotic and colonic foods
These feed your good bacteria and ensure they multiply and live a good life. Your probiotics like variety, so feel free to eat your way through the list! Some to get to know include:
- Garlic, onions, Jerusalem artichokes and chicory root. Care should be taken here if you are fructose intolerant, as these are also high in fructose.
- Oats
- Legumes
- Beetroot
- Slippery elm
- Guar gum
- Pectin
- Psyllium husk
Protect your investment, eat your vegies and feed them well and you are one step closer to all the benefits above, and more bestowed by a healthy digestive ecology.
