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Probiotic-foods

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live micro-organisms similar to bacteria or yeast that are claimed to provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amount. Many traditional fermented foods contain “live and active cultures”, such as yogurt and buttermilk, and they may contain probiotics, however, probiotics are not live and active cultures but live micro-organisms. Furthermore, dead microbes are not probiotics.

Health benefits of probiotics

Digestive health

  1. The best case for probiotic therapy has been applied in the treatment of diarrhea. This includes diarrhea from the use of antibiotics and also diarrhea from an infection. Probiotics inhibit pathogenic colonization and enhance the resistance of the digestive tract to infections.
  2. Probiotics may help people with irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, and constipation.

Women’s health

A healthy vagina relies on a good balance of good and bad bacteria, just like the digestive tract. Studies have shown Lactobacilli, which contains probiotics may help in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

Immune system enhancement

Maintaining good intestinal flora can benefit a stronger immune system. Probiotics provide a positive effect on immune function by enhancing cell-mediated immunity.

Healthy aging

  1. Probiotics enhance the production of SCFAs (short chain fatty acids). SCFAs are the most important by-products of probiotic metabolites. SCFAs help makes intestinal pH more acidic, which facilitates the absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc.
  2. Probiotics aid the synthesis of essential vitamins, such as folate, Vitamin K, and B vitamins. The use of folate-producing probiotic strains can be considered as a new window in the specific use of probiotics.

What should you know about probiotics?

  1. One dose level can NOT be assumed to be effective for all strains, and a total count does not indicate the levels of each probiotics strain.
  2. Probiotics must be identified as specific strain and dose effective as well. Same species with different strains can have a different impact on our health.
  3. Health benefits can only be attributed to the strain tested for health benefits in human studies.
  4. Multiple strains are not necessarily better than a single strain.

How to choose a probiotic supplement?

  1. Check species, strains and doses of the probiotics.
  2. Check storage information and contact information.
  3. Review how many live microorganisms per serving are indicated on the food package and the suggested serving size.
  4. Check the studies that have been conducted on the product regarding health benefits.
  5. Vehicle/filler in the product must be considered such as capsules and powder, whether they are tested in another vehicle.
  6. For any product containing multiple strains of probiotics, information regarding the counts of each strain as well as the target health benefits of each strain should be provided.
  7. It is suggested to take your probiotic early in the morning at least 30 to 45 minutes before your meal, so the probiotics you are taking is able to reach your gut quickly.

Storage

  • Keep refrigerated to prolong shelf life; probiotics are living organisms that die at a faster rate when not refrigerated.
  • Another factor that can lead to rapid die-off in powdered probiotic products is moisture. To help minimize moisture damage, some manufacturers add a small desiccant bag in the container of the product. After opening, keep them away from moisture, heat, and light.
  • Check expiration dates.

Foods that contain natural probiotics

Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, tempeh, sauerkraut, miso and some fermented soy beverages are the foods that may contain probiotics. Both starter cultures (Lactobacillus delbrueckiibulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus) can be presented in the yogurt, and extra bacteria can be added after the fermentation process for health benefits, such as strains of other species of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. The results suggested that no differentiation of the different types of bacteria present in yogurt was conducted; therefore reporting the total number of bacteria in products containing multiple strains can be misleading.

Prebiotics

Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate specific changes in the composition and/or activity of the gastrointestinal microflora in ways claimed to be beneficial to health. There are “short-chain” and “long-chain” prebiotics based on research. “Short-chain” prebiotics such as oligofructose, are typically fermented more quickly in the colon and provide nutrients to the bacteria oin the right side of the colon. Longer-chain prebiotics such as inulin tends to be fermented more slowly, nourishing the bacteria predominantly in the left-side colon.

Some probiotic products contain a type of non-digestible carbohydrate known as fructooligosaccharides (FOS). FOS can be considered a prebiotic. FOS are so effective at increasing numbers of intestinal bifidobacteria that some researchers claim that taking a prebiotic is as effective at replenishing intestinal flora as taking a probiotic.

Foods that are rich in prebiotics include chicory root, artichoke, garlic, dandelion greens, onion, asparagus, and leek.

Healthy gut diet

A healthy diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, and fiber supports a healthy digestive microflora. Foods that are high in sugar, fat, and calories reduce the diversity of the microflora.

  • Add prebiotic foods to your diet
  • Add fermented food products to your diet, such as sauerkraut and fermented soy products.
  • Incorporate more vegetables in your diet.
  • Increase the consumption of fiber, specifically prebiotic fiber.
  • Limit high sugar and processed or refined food products.

Precautions

If you have short bowel syndrome, artificial heart valves or auto-immune disorders, etc., you should consult your doctor before taking pre/probiotics.

Do you know that you can use your navel to treat digestive issues and other health issues? Ancient Chinese Medicine practitioners have been using the navel both as a diagnostic tool and also a treatment center for thousands of years. We created this Magical Navel Patch that has many health benefits including the following:

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  1. Anti-aging and anti-inflammatory
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References

  1. A vegan or vegetarian diet substantially alterts the human colonic faecal microbiota. J Zimmer. B Lange. J-S Frick. Etal. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2012) 66, 53-60
  2. Folate Production by Probiotic Bacteria. Maddalena Rossi, Alberto Amaretti and Stefano Raimondi. Nutrients. 18 January 2011. ISSN 2072-6643.
  3. Sewankambo N. HIV-1 infection associated with abnormal vaginal flora morphology and bacterial vaginosis. Lancet 1997;350(9077):546-50.
  4. Kasper H. Protection against gastrointestinal diseases–present facts and future developments. Int J Food Microbiol 1998;41(2):127-31.
  5. Probiotics: Definition, Sources, Selection, and Uses. Mary Ellen Sanders. Clin Infect Dis. (2008) 46 (Supplement 2): S58-S61. doi: 10.1086/523341
  6. Videlock (2012). Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2012; 35: 1355–1369
  7. Dinleyici EC et al. (2012) Expert Opin Biol Ther. 12:395–410
  8. Moayyedi et al. (2010) Gut. 59(3):325-32
  9. Johnston et al. (2012) Ann Intern Med.157: 878–888.
  10. McFarland et al (2010) J Gastroenterol. 16(18):2202-22

Quote

Let food be the medicine, the medicine shall be the food.”- Hippocrates

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About the author: Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu

As a Holistic Health Practitioner, Registered Dietitian, TCM Practitioner, Energy Healer, Master Hypnotist, Reiki Master, Advanced Theta Healing Practitioner, Author and Speaker, Lucy Liu, the founder of optimalhealthsolutions.ca, has gained a good reputation in holistic health after many years of serving patients and clients as a holistic health practitioner. Lucy has developed a unique and comprehensive approach, which combines Western Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Energy Medicine, and Alternative Medicine together, to help others achieve optimal health by creating harmony between the body, mind, and spirit, and maintain long-term success for healthy lifestyle changes.
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