What does your gut intuition tell you about bacteria? That it is harmful and should be avoided at all costs? The human body hosts trillions of bacteria. We have more bacteria in our bodies than cells. What you may not realize is that we need certain probiotics or good bacteria. Probiotics have a proven track record for making people healthier.
Scientists have been studying probiotics for quite some time. We know that probiotics can restore good bacteria after antibiotics and treat a host of medical conditions such as high blood sugar, immune, inflammation, or GI problems (IBS, lactose intolerance, diarrhea, etc.), and obesity.
Research is ongoing to evaluate the positive impact of probiotics. The preliminary reports are good! So, serve up some good bacteria to reap the benefits.
There is not one bacteria that does it all; you benefit from a variety. Probiotics can be found in pills and foods and are considered safe by the FDA. There are minor side effects reported from probiotics which don’t last longer than a few days.
Probiotics are grown in dairy or an industrial medium in order to get on the supermarket shelves. The best choice is to choose either refrigerated food or those labeled “live & active cultures.” If probiotics are added to a food, check the nutrition fact label for sodium benzoate; it destroys good bacteria.
You can also eat foods rich in good bacteria naturally, getting in probiotics as well as fuel, vitamins & minerals. There are many foods that are rich in probiotics: acidophilus, milk, buttermilk, sauerkraut, kimchi, fermented soft cheeses (including cheddar, cottage, gouda, swiss and parmesan), kefir, kombucha, miso soup, pickled foods (from a brine or salt pickling), sourdough bread, tempeh, and yogurt.
Keep your good bacteria thriving by feeding it with prebiotics, the fuel favored by probiotics. These are easy to find in foods such as bananas, honey, leeks, legumes, maple syrup, oatmeal, onions and root vegetables.
It really is hard to believe that we have so much bacteria living both inside and outside of our bodies. Take advantage of the situation and be a good host. Keep choosing foods that have good bacteria and feed them well. The end result? Some great meals and a healthier body, which is not a bad way to live.
Jennifer Giffune, R.D.N. is a freelance author, professional speaker and nutrition counselor. Are you ready to make a change? Jennifer sees clients for nutrition counseling in Westfield. To make an appointment with Jennifer call (413) 579 – 5450 or email her at jen@jenthedietitian.com