Good Bacteria for Good Health

Everyone's talking about probiotics and gut health these days. It's a huge topic and definitly worth talking about. Millions of Americans are affected by digestive issues. It is seeming to become more and more common. Also, I recently saw something that said 95% of our serotonin is created in our gut. That's our feel good hormone! We NEED that! So, seeing that has gotten me to think a lot more about my gut health and probiotics.

I'm not on here to give the scientific low down on gut health or probiotics. I just wanted to share a little bit of what I do know. Hopefully it will help someone else see how important it is to keep their gut healthy.

Here is a list of benefits of good bacteria/probiotics:

boost the immune system

improves digestion- slows diarrhea and helps with constipation

helps with skin issues such as eczema

good for heart health

helps lower cholesterol

improves mental health--this is where that serotonin comes in

helps with weight management

Here are some foods that help you have a happy gut:

kefir

kimchi

bone broth

chocolate (sounds like a good idea!)

mangoes

saurkraut

kombucha

wild salmon yogurt

sprouted grains

apple cidar vinegar

coconut oil

garlic

I am not even sure what some of those are. I do eat a few of the things listed, but I am certain I don't eat enough to keep my gut flora balanced and healthy. Here is what I do though to make up for what is missing. I eat Sunrider's Vitadolphilus. Sometimes A LOT of it!! Why a lot?? Because I have UC and I am always on a mission to stay healthy! I have been known to eat it like candy just to make it through the day or an event my kids had or we had as a family. If you suffer from any type of IBD or autoimmune disease you know exactly what I am talking about when I say making it through the day. We do what we have to do, right?

So, whether I am trying to make it through the day or just working on a more healthy gut, this is what I eat. Each serving of Vitadolphilus supplies a minimum of 20 million LIVE culture bacteria to the the body. It is coated in a protective apple pectin coating which prevents it from being destroyed by stomach acids and becoming useless. This is so important when shopping for a probiotic. If it is not live and protected from stomach acid, it will NOT give you the benefit you need. Make sure you know the details about your probiotic and know it is doing what it is supposed to do. Don't just grab one from the shelf at the store and assume they are all the same.

Here is what Sunrider says about VitaDolphilus and how good bacteria becomes depleted....

"Based on the philosophy of regeneration, Vitadophilus is a simple, effective way to support and maintain the right levels of good bacteria in the body to support balace in the body, a stong immune ststem,and optimal health.....Colonies of good bacteria live inside our gut and help us to properly digest food and absorb nutrients, and they play a big role in overall immunity. However, these colonies can become depleted, and the decrease of these colonies can negatively affect the entire digestive system and result in constipation, abdominal disomfort, and suboptimal health. Good bacteria can become depleted for a number of reasons, including illness, gastric or intestional absorption disorders, autoimmune disease, chronic alcohol use, poor diet, antbiotic use and the misuse of certain medications such as laxatives."

It's easy to see why our gut health is so important!!! It will help us feel better overall, which helps our physical as well as our mental health, and who isn't looking for that?

By the way, exercise also improves our gut health. I know I for sure need to work on this area of my life!! This just gives me another reason to work on it.

I hope this helps you know a little bit more about the benefits and importance of a healthy gut, and it motivates you to work on yours. I am definitely working on mine!!