Probiotics are made of good live bacteria/yeasts that naturally live in your body – you have both good and bad bacteria at all times.
However, when you get an infection, there is more bad bacteria, knocking your system out of balance.
Good bacteria helps to eliminate extra bad bacteria, returning the balance.
Probiotic foods and supplements are a way of adding good bacteria to your body.
PROBIOTICS:
• Help to maintain the integrity of the gut lining
• Help to promote a healthy immune system
• Help us to absorb essential nutrients in the gut, including zinc, iron and vitamin B12
• Help to reduce occasional diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating
• Can help to regulate how you produce neurotransmitters, which impacts your energy, mood and sleep
Where do we get them from?
In FERMENTED FOODS like: Kefir, tempeh, miso, kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, sourdough bread, etc.
SUPPLEMENTS are another way to make sure you are getting enough probiotics.
How to choose?
10-30 billion is good for a daily prevention supplement (higher when addressing a certain specific need)
Ratio of lactobacillus to bifidobacterial? Depends on what they are for:
Lacto is for the small intestine (upper part of gut) – more of this will help digestion or immune issues
For colon (lower gut) type issues (like constipation) – you will want more bifido than lacto
I like to look for a good balance of both!
When to take them?
When you eat food your pH increases, making your stomach less acidic – and probiotics are more likely to survive in this alkaline environment. Plus, they are dormant in their capsules, and “wake up” with your food.
If only taking one dose, take in the evening because you are more likely to let them do what they do, as opposed to having in morning with caffeine - your morning tea/coffee might hurry them through your body too quickly!
For information on "PREBIOTICS" - please check out my earlier post on those here: Prebiotics
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