Our gut is our largest sensory organ.
Have you heard the term "listen to your gut"?
Well, it just so happens that the gut has it's very own "brain", so it can be very useful to bring awareness to the feelings in your gut and how they maybe impacting your health!
A useful exercise is to keep track of your meals, snacks and key moments. Jot down how you're feeling prior to, during and after your meal or snack.
For example : -
Dinner:
How are you feeling?
Anxious? Happy? Stressed? Tired?
What are the key moments in your Relationship? Work life? Or life in general?
Jot these down, you may make some interesting connections!
HOW CAN I SUPPORT A HEALTHY GUT?
So, what are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are the foods that feed the probiotic bacteria or stimulate probiotic gut bacteria in a way that improves health.
The best source are from a whole food plant based diet, namely, fruit and vegetables.
Another good reason to be eating more plants!
For all of us, making an effort to eat less processed foods and eat more plants can do wonders for our gut health!!!
PROBIOTICS, are by definition 'bacteria'
The concept that consuming bacteria can be beneficial to ones health has been around a long time! An abundance of good bacteria is important to gut health. These living organisms are beneficial to health when administered in adequate amounts.
Who should take a probiotic?
*Anyone that has been on a course of antibiotics.
*If you eat processed foods.
*If you live in an urban area.
Choosing probiotics is largely bio-individual. Probiotics are a preventative and not a treatment or cure for any condition. They won't fix a bad diet.
Our lives have become so sterile that most of us could probably benefit from a probiotic.
Do not take Probiotics if you have SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) or a compromised immune system.
One of the benefits of taking probiotics are having more regular and healthy stools! Healthy stools can mean a healthy gut!
Where do I get Probiotics from?
Getting probiotics from supplements is common, but you can also get them from fermented foods.
*Probiotic yoghurt (make sure to choose yoghurt that has active or live cultures)
*Kefir, a fermented milk drink.
*Sauerkraut, fermented cabbage.
*Tempeh, a fermented soybean product.
*Kimchi, cabbage is usually the main ingredient, but it can also be made from other vegetables.
*Miso, a fermented soybean paste.
*Kombucha, fermented tea drink.
*Pickles, cucumbers, or other vegetables that have been pickled in salty water and fermented.
There are many more foods that I have not mentioned above that are good sources of probiotics.
Things to consider when choosing probiotic supplements :
Consumer and practitioner brands :
- Practitioner brands are usually higher in dosage and should be overseen by a health practitioner.
- More is not always better, it might be more about quality.
- Everybody's microbiome is different and requires trial and error.