PROBIOTICS: THE NEW FRONTIER IN YOUR HEALTH AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE Did you know a healthy GI tract is the foundation for your own good mental and physical health? Intestinal microorganisms in the gut, called the microbiome, participate in a wide variety of systems in the body, including immunity (75% of your immune system is in your gut), detoxification, metabolism, neurotransmitter and vitamin production (vitamins B and K), as well as nutrient absorption. With approximately 100 trillion microorganisms living in the GI tract, it can easily swing out of balance with the wrong foods. Probiotics are living bacteria and yeasts that inhabit your digestive system.

These “good” or “helpful” bacteria keep your gut healthy and happy. Having the right gut bacteria has been linked to a variety of health benefits including enhanced immune function, healthy skin, and improved digestion. Other studies also show the benefit of probiotics for soothing irritable bowel conditions. The “good” probiotic bacteria help crowd out bacterial pathogens in your gut and help maintain healthy gut flora. Consuming prebiotic- and probiotic-rich foods such as organic fruits and vegetables, raw nuts and seeds and cooked legumes help the good bacteria thrive and cling to the wall of the intestines, while crowding out the “bad” bacteria.

While this is happening, the good bacteria also balance the pH in the gut and enhance your digestion. Because certain probiotics have different impacts on the body, it’s important to choose a probiotic that can help address your specific concerns. For example, certain probiotics, including Bacillus coagulans, Saccharomyces boulardii and a combination of several Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains, can be effective for diarrhea.

Several other strains, such as Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and the combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis, seem to be effective for fat loss. To incorporate a good probiotic product into your diet, select one with several different strains made by a company with manufacturing integrity.

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