As my faithful readers know, sometimes I get tired of coming up with new blog content, so I arm wrestle other people into writing for me. And sometimes the content has nothing to do with finance, just something I thought was interesting.
Today, I welcome nutritionist Maureen West to tell us all about probiotics. “What does this have to do with finance?” you say. Well, there are few things worse for the pocketbook than being sick! Read on for tips from Maureen.
Feeling Less Than? Could Probiotics Help?
Probiotics – you’ve heard the term, but if you’re like most people I know, you aren’t too sure about the benefits, protocols or differences between the numerous brands, strains and strengths available.
Here’s a Probiotic 101 to get you started discovering if your body could use a boost.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are the tiny friendly bugs that naturally live in your gut and help keep it healthy and balanced… a big job! Because the GI tract is where 70% of your immune system resides, it’s incredibly important you have more of the good bugs than the bad ones.
Do I need probiotics?
Most people can benefit from probiotic supplementation, given our modern-day lifestyles of less-than-stellar eating habits, stress and antibiotic use (which wreaks havoc on the gut!); probiotics can increase the good bacteria, and help your body heal. They also help the body manufacture and absorb important vitamins and minerals for energy, nerve and brain function.
How do I increase my probiotic intake?
There are both food and supplement sources of probiotics that can recolonize your gut with good bacteria, and then help it stay balanced.
- Food sources include fermented foods such as sauerkraut, pickled vegetables, kimchi, kombucha, sparkling water kefir, coconut water probiotic drink, and organic miso. If you tolerate dairy, you can consider organic yogurt and kefir.
- You may need more than what food can provide. It’s fairly common to need a therapeutic dose in supplement form, especially if you have taken an antibiotic, are constipated, or suffer from allergic rhinitis, anxiety, chronic fatigue syndrome, acid reflux, or lactose intolerance.
How much should I take?
That depends on your specific needs. Probiotics have vastly different components, with different strains targeting and benefiting different parts of the body and affecting different health conditions. They come in a huge range of anywhere from 1 billion to 100 billion active probiotic cells. Like most things in health, there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s best to get advice.
Maureen West is a Certified Nutritionist based in Denver, CO. If you’d like to explore which probiotics would be most effective for you, making changes to your nutrition and/or improving your health, call, text or email Maureen at 407.921.9192 or [email protected]. Learn more at MaureenWest.net
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