Guest Writer, Maggie Baker
*Affiliate links, including those from Amazon.com, may be present in any of my posts. You can read my policy in more detail at the bottom of this post.
Mainstream diet plans are ever-changing and consistently contradicting themselves. Finding what diet is best for your body can be a daunting task when trying to sift through the amount of new information available. Bacteria is often only thought of negatively and as a source of illness. Many people are unaware of the estimated 100 trillion “good” bacteria that are essential to our survival. Probiotics are nothing new and already exist inside our bodies working to keep us healthy in many different ways. These live microorganisms can be easily consumed by increasing your intake of certain prebiotic foods or taking specific probiotic supplements.
1. Balance The Friendly Bacteria in Your Digestive System
Your digestive tract
is responsible for a lot more in your body than just digesting three meals a
day. When your gut is healthy, it functions to filter out harmful bacteria,
your body's waste, and other potential toxins. Probiotics play a large and
complex role in your overall digestive health. Many things from poor food
choices to excessive stress and overuse of antibiotics can all cause an
imbalance in a delicate community of microorganisms in your gut that are
working hard to keep you healthy. Antibiotics, especially, kill off whatever is
making you sick as well as any helpful natural bacteria in your gut. There are
many different fermented foods to eat that can help boost your immune system
and recalibrate the balance of bacteria. These include numerous varieties of
fermented soybeans, dairy, and vegetables.
2. Improving your mental health
For years there has
been compelling evidence that there is a gut-brain axis, a direct connection
between your mental health and the health of your gut. Research has linked
several psychiatric disorders to changes in your microbiome, and it has also
shown that specific probiotic strains such as Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacterium
longum may help improve symptoms of mental health disorders like depression
and anxiety.
3. Improved Immune Response And Reduced Allergies In
Children
Not all probiotics
are the same, but several strains may specifically work to boost immunity and
reduce the risk of certain infections like the common cold. There is even some
evidence that certain probiotics can be useful for alleviating skin conditions
like severe acne, rosacea, or eczema. It may be especially useful in reducing
inflammatory responses in children like lactose intolerance, asthma, and other
allergies.
5. Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
Not only do
probiotics aid in digestion and mental health, but there is a decent amount of
evidence that suggests a relationship between unbalanced gut flora and diseases
such as obesity and diabetes, heart disease, some cancers and even Alzheimer's.
Certain probiotics can help reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, and
inflammation throughout the body. The naturally occurring bile in your stomach
needed for digestion is mostly made of cholesterol. Adding probiotics to your
gut may help prevent the bile reabsorption, thereby keeping it out of the
bloodstream as cholesterol. Some recent studies proved that regular consumption
of the probiotic L. acidophilus
could reduce their risk of coronary heart disease by up to 10%.
6. Reduce Candida infections in different organ systems of the body.
You may have an
overgrowth of candida in your gut if you notice an increase in mood swings or
yeast infections or have trouble dealing with seasonal allergies and digestive
issues. Candida is a type of naturally occurring yeast in your body but can
quickly overgrow if your gut health is thrown off balance most commonly by
antibiotic use. Although you may not receive a candidiasis diagnosis from some
doctors, the alternative community agrees that one of the best ways to
rebalance your gut flora is through diet. The purpose of an anti-candida
diet is to starve the excess harmful bacteria
by removing the foods and beverages it’s most likely feeding on.
With the popularity
of probiotics increasing, there is a wide variety of options. However, you
should be aware that not all probiotics are the same, and there is no clearly
stated daily intake value to go by. Your best bet is to increase the number of
fermented foods incorporated in your regular diet instead of trying to find the
supplement with the most organisms. If you have any pre-existing immune
conditions, you may have a higher chance of issues. Doing your own research and
consulting with your doctor is the best way to ensure you are on your way to a
healthy gut.
Thanks so much for visiting Purposeful Homemaking. Stay connected so you don't miss a thing:
Be sure to check out my "Bee Kind" nature based character development unit and my ebooks as well: A Wife's Guide to Studying Proverbs, Topical Devotions for Pregnancy and Early Potty Teaching. Or, if you're looking for a way to get 30 raw fruits and vegetables in your diet every day, contact me here.
This post may involve product that was received in exchange for a review or contain affiliate links for which I will earn compensation should you choose to make a purchase. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Thank you for your support of Purposeful Homemaking.
No comments:
Post a Comment