The Skinny on Probiotics

I was talking with my mom this afternoon about probiotics and thought that this would be a great subject to write on.  I am a huge believer that everyone should consider being on a probiotic!  Here is the DL on the gut and the importance of plant foods first :).

The human gut is home to over 100 trillion microorganisms. We have so many microorganisms living in us that only 1 out of 10 cells in our bodies is our own. It stands to reason that the delicate balance of this microscopic flora would have huge effects on our health. 
 
Recent studies have shown promising links between having the right balance of gut flora and being skinny. It is known that diet also has a huge impact on the type of flora inhabiting our intestines. Combining these two facts can be the key to your weight loss. 
 
It seems that a diet high in plant foods has 3 ways it interacts gut flora:  first, the fiber only found in plant foods is digested by the good flora in your gut. This process releases propionate. You probably don’t care to know all the fancy names, but you should care about what this short chain fatty acid does for you. It has 3 main functions directly related to your weight:  it decreases cholesterol, slows your digestion by making you feel fuller longer, and inhibits the formation of new fat cells. The digestion of fiber from your plant intake also forms a second short chain fatty acid called butyrate. Butyrate inhibits the growth of cancer cells in your colon and has amazing anti-inflammatory properties. The third way plant foods work with your gut flora to curb obesity is by feeding good bacteria and starving the bad.
 
In a study of the flora in thin people versus obese people, it was found that skinny people have a higher amount of bacteroidetes in their colon and obese people have a higher amount of firmicutes. It is known that polyphenols found in fruits, green tea, and vinegar (a good selling point for the morning elixir with raw apple cider vinegar) promote the growth of bacteroidetes and suppress firmicutes.
 
Wow, that was a mouthful. To put it in plain English, plant food grows gut flora that makes you skinny while hindering the growth of gut flora that makes you fat. Sorry for all the big words, but some of you, I know, will want to check my sources. I have two links below that give more in-depth explanations and cite the pertinent research. 
 
So, the burning question is:  should I take probiotics or not? Well, the answer I believe is yes but it can be complicated. I have long told my clients that not all probiotics work the same for everyone. Just like bioindividuality when it comes to food, the same logic applies to the kind of probiotics you should take. Lactobacilis acidophilus is better after taking antibiotics and for preventing bladder infections in women. Lactobacillus plantaris is great for its anti-inflammatory properties and is best for people with inflammatory bowel conditions like Crohn’s. Most people will benefit from taking a probiotic, but equally important is to frontload your diet with a lot of plant-based nutrition.  That is the key to remember, a probiotic will help support your digestive system but you can never forget your fruits and veggies!  I take a probiotic and switch it out every other month with another of my favorites.  And just so you know it took me awhile to find one let alone two that worked for me. (My two personal faves are Garden of Life Raw probiotics, and PB 8)
 
If you have been following me long enough, you know how I feel about seasonally detoxing your body and resetting your digestive system. The fiber and polyphenols in your fruits and veggies will work with the probiotics and your morning elixir to do all the wonderful things that new research is showing to be true. And remember if you are having a hard time getting those fruits and veggies into your diet, add a smoothie as a snack or breakfast.  Delicious and yummy for your gut!
 
Nothing can replace eating a healthy diet loaded with a rainbow of fresh, clean plant food, but when things aren't feeling right, adding probiotics just might do the trick – and help shed a few pounds, too!
 
http://nutritionfacts.org/video/fawning-over-flora/ part 1 of three (follow the links to get to the research)
http://doctorklaper.com/answers06.html/