Gut Health and Pre and Probiotics

Gut health is a very popular discussion, and for good reason. Our gut is the first line of defense against many viruses and diseases. Therefore, caring for our gut health can have positive outcomes on disease prevention. Some diseases that have been directly linked to gut health include but are not limited to;

• Mental health

• Kidney disease

• Cancer

• Altzheimer’s

• Diabetes

• Heart disease

So how does our gut help fight against disease?

The cells in our gut, also known as microbiota, help influence our immune cells. When our immune cells recognize an invader or virus/bacteria in the body, they send a signal to either turn on or off inflammation and fight. The right types of microbiota in our gut encourgae proper signaling when necessary.

So how can Pre and Probiotics help?

The pre and probiotics can help encourage “good” microbiota cells in our gut. These cells help to effectively signal immune responses to fight against invaders.

How should I take probiotics?

Probiotics can be obtained through pill form or simply by eating foods such as:

• Yogurt

• Kefir

• Cheese

• Kombucha

• Pickles

• Sauerkraut

• Miso

• Kimchi

• Tempeh

Prebiotics are the fibers that feed the Probiotics and strengthen/ nourish the “good” bacteria. They can also be taken in pill form or can also be found in foods such as:

• Chicory Root

• Jerusalem Artichoke

• Jicama

• Garlic

• Onion

• Leeks

• Bananas

• Oans

• Flaxseeds

Taking prebiotics along with probiotics will help strengthen the gut microbiome.

For more information contact me: thelanutritionist@gmail.com