Probiotics: What are they and when do you need them?
Why is gut health important?
A healthy gut equals a healthy mind and body! In addition to its role in digestion, research has shown that your gut microbiome may play a role in immune health, metabolism, weight, sleep, and much more.
Good gut bacteria are essential in helping us digest the fibre we eat, synthesise crucial vitamins and support your immune system. When bad bacteria start to overload the good, you may start to suffer from symptoms ranging from minor indigestion to serious illnesses.
Bloating, gas, constipation or irregular bowel movements are just some of the consequences of poor gut health. Today's modern lifestyles can make it difficult to ensure your body's natural delicate balance of flora are maintained.
How can I improve my gut health?
Probiotic supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years. They help to balance your gut by providing a dose of healthy, good bacteria which can help restore disrupted flora and keep everything ticking over nicely.
Probiotics are “good” health-promoting bacteria found in some foods and probiotic supplements. They are effectively live microorganisms that promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria. We use them in support of treatment for various conditions of the gut: when there is a parasitic infection or bacterial overgrowth.
Meanwhile, prebiotics, the fuel for our good gut bacteria, take the form of dietary fibre found in fruits such as bananas, vegetables including chicory, legumes and other plant foods such as flax seeds.
We get them primarily from eating fibre-rich foods which promote the growth of the friendly bacteria. The daily requirement of fibre is between 30-40g. This is a lot!
How can we get this from food?
The information out there is overwhelming and confusing, isn’t it?
I have come up with this simple summary:
Eat 250g of “purple things” 2 -3 times daily
Contains anthocyanins (polyphenols)
Contains 1 -2g of polyphenols and 5 -10g of prebiotic fibre
Eat 250g of legumes 2 - 3 times daily
Contains 1 -2g of isoflavones
5 - 10g of prebiotic fibres
Eat 250g of root/tuber crops
5 - 10g of prebiotic fibre
Purple potatoes, yams, sweet potato
Drink 250ml of strong tea (2-3 tea bags for medicinal purposes) 2 - 3 times daily
500 - 1000mg of polyphenols.
Strong tea, Green tea
Drink 250ml of “strong broth”
Mushrooms, cook it down with oregano and garlic.
500 - 2000mg of polyphenol.
Fermented food: Fermented vegetables
For best results, have fermented foods as part of a healthy diet, along side good quality probiotic's.
Which probiotics are best to take and why?
Bifidobacterium
This strain is particularly useful for gut health as it may help promote regular bowel movements. Various studies have described B. Lactis as a "health-promoting” strain that may also be helpful with food allergies and even respiratory ailments.
Lactobacilus rhamnosus
Lactobacillus rhamnosus is more helpful with diarrhoea, bloating, bowel pain and keeping your immune system functioning.
We could offer you free advice on the best probiotic for your condition.
Would you like to find out more about the Lantern Clinic? You can book a FREE discovery call with Dr Margarita below.
