The Benefits of Probiotics

Intestinal flora is good bacteria that lives in your gut and improves your overall health.  The supplement form is called probiotics, meaning "healthful to life."  This good flora helps maintain the intestinal tract helping to relieve the leaky gut response of large food particles passing through the mucosa and causing an allergic response.  It also prevents the overgrowth of harmful pathogens like Candida, parasites, E. coli, H. pylori, and salmonella.  It can also ease the symptoms of food poisoning by supporting the intestines.  This good bacteria also aids digestion of foods such as dairy.  They manufacture short-chained fatty acids that are essential to your health.  They help produce B-complex vitamins while improving nutrient absorption.  All of this promotes a healthy metabolism and boosts the immune system.

Shopping for a Probiotic

1.     Chose a probiotic with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum.

2.     Look for probiotics at your local health food store or natural vitamin shop.

3.     Many probiotics are refrigerated to extend the life of the living bacteria.  Check the date to ensure maximum potency.

4.     Chose a probiotic with 8 billion to 50 billion organisms.  It is possible that you probiotic will not even have that many living organisms after transport to the store and purchase.   

5.     Freeze dried probiotics suspend the flora's feeding and growth, keeping them dormant until they enter your body.  These products are typically shelf stable and are good for traveling.

6.     The more strains of beneficial bacteria, the better.  Read the label and chose a product with a diverse amount of bacteria.

7.     Try a product with FOS, inulin, or other prebiotics.  This if food for the good bacteria and can help them multiple quicker.

8.     Take probiotics on an empty stomach, preferably before bedtime.

Check my favorite smoothie recipe that includes healing probiotics. When I had my parasite and battle with Candida, this recipe really helped me rebuild my strength and cure my digestive problems.

Here's a little more info on probiotics and how to chose them.

The Benefits of Probiotics

Intestinal flora is good bacteria that lives in your gut and improves your overall health. The supplement form is called probiotics, meaning “healthful to life.” This good flora helps maintain the intestinal tract helping to relieve the leaky gut response of large food particles passing through the mucosa and causing an allergic response.

It also prevents the overgrowth of harmful pathogens like Candida, parasites, E. coli, H. pylori, and salmonella. It can also ease the symptoms of food poisoning by supporting the intestines.

This good bacteria also aids digestion of foods such as dairy. They manufacture short-chained fatty acids that are essential to your health. They help produce B-complex vitamins while improving nutrient absorption. All of this promotes a healthy metabolism and boosts the immune system.

Shopping for a Probiotic

1. Chose a probiotic with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum.

2. Look for probiotics at your local health food store or natural vitamin shop.

3. Many probiotics are refrigerated to extend the life of the living bacteria. Check the date to ensure maximum potency.

4. Chose a probiotic with 8 billion to 50 billion organisms. It is possible that you probiotic will not even have that many living organisms after transport to the store and purchase.

5. Freeze dried probiotics suspend the flora's feeding and growth, keeping them dormant until they enter your body. These products are typically shelf stable and are good for traveling.

6. Them more strains of beneficial bacteria, the better. Read the label and chose a product with a diverse amount of bacteria.

7. Try a product with FOS, inulin, or other prebiotics. This if food for the good bacteria and can help them multiple quicker.

8. Take probiotics on an empty stomach, preferably before bedtime.

Spring has officially arrived. The change of season is a perfect time to cleanse your body from the inside out. A natural detox eliminates toxic stressors and increases nutrient dense foods. Ridding your body of toxins that have harmful effects can boost your immune system, improve metabolism, reduce sugar cravings, cleanse organs, increase energy, and heighten mental clarity.

Toxins can come from many sources, including processed foods, pesticide sprayed foods, hormone injected meats, chemical fertilizers, tap water, body products, cleaning supplies, environmental pollution, and stress. All of these can strain the liver, our major detoxification organ. Start to reduce these burdens by eating organic whole foods. These are foods that are unprocessed and unrefined, chemical free. Meats should be lean, free-range, hormone free and preferably organic. Avoid detox detractors such as caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol, trans fats, artificial sweeteners, and refined carbohydrates. Flush out toxins by drinking at least eight glasses of purified water a day. However, avoid bottled water in plastic due to hazardous plastic leaching.

It is absolutely necessary to increase your raw vegetable and fruit intake during a detox. Fresh, seasonal, organic produce contains potent antioxidants that will quench free radicals released during a detox. Green leafy vegetables are rich in chlorophyll that purifies blood and support the liver. Bitter greens such as dandelion, arugula, and endive are excellent choice because they also stimulate digestion. The key to a successful detox is efficient digestion and elimination.

You can support proper elimination by cleansing your colon with fiber. Fresh fruits with skin, especially apples, raw carrots, flaxseeds, and psyllium are great fiber sources. They help scrub the colon clean of unwanted toxins and stored waste. As you increase your fiber intake, be sure to increase water to keep everything moving efficiently. Probiotics, beneficial bacteria that support digestion and a healthy immune system, may also be supplemented. You can find a good probiotic at your local health food store by the supplements. The best probiotics are refrigerated to preserve the living bacteria. Organic kefir, yogurt, or cultured sauerkraut also contain small amounts of probiotics.

A successful detox combines nourishing foods with exercise and relaxation. Low impact exercise helps to excrete toxins, increase oxygen intake, and improve circulation. Relaxation is equally detoxifying. When you are stressed, your muscles tense, restricting your blood supply, making it difficult to eliminate toxins. Massage, acupuncture, yoga, or just reading a good book can aid relaxation.

As you detox, you may experience food cravings, headaches, fatigue, and brain fog. These are normal signs of toxins flushing out of your system. Make sure you increase pure water intake, fresh juices, and avoid all detox detractors. Those with severe illnesses, pregnant or breast-feeding women, should not detox. I recommend consulting your health care practitioner before beginning a detox program.

Good luck on your spring cleaning! May you have a renewed sense of well- being this season.