What have you done for your gut lately?

​Most people are aware of the types of things that we need to do in daily life to remain healthy. Eating right, exercise, sleeping regularly, and having proper elimination are just a few of the activities that come to mind, but what if there was another important level that very few think about? That’s right, I am talking about yet another daily habit that can do wonders for you!! There is a tiny yet expansive world inside of each of us, populated by bacteria that have a powerful impact on human health, vitality, and longevity. These tiny organisms help us to live by making processes inside our bodies possible, and to simplify these amazing beasties, they are often divided into two main groups.

​Lactobacillus
 
These bacteria are generally helpful because they are responsible for many of the processing functions. When children are born, they receive them from their mother as long as they have had a vaginal birth. Some of these bacteria such as Lactobacillus Acidophilus, are related to breaking down sugars into lactic acid and breaking down momma’s milk. Lactic acid is one substance made in the body that is helpful in the fight against harmful strains of bacteria. There is also evidence that suggests that there are a few disorders that can be caused by a lack of these bacterial populations.
 
Modern advances have brought us the marvelous advancements in medicine with antibiotics, but studies have shown that antibiotics tend to have a harmful effect on the good or helpful populations of gut flora, so it might be necessary to supplement the bacteria by ingesting alternate sources of Lactobacillus. What can you do to combat these losses?
Many of these helpful strains can be found in foods such as yogurt, kefir and other fermented food types. There are also a number of pill based probiotic solutions available.
 
Bifido-bacterium
 
Scientists now believe that over 3/4 of our immune system is kept in our intestinal tract, with over 500 species of bacteria in the mix. With such a large population of bacteria living in us, it should be of little surprise that we depend on them so heavily for the various functions they serve on a daily basis. Many Bifido bacteria reside within the colon and large intestine. These bacteria play a heavy role in controlling elimination, aiding in digestion, and even have the ability to repair damage from carcinogenic sources in the body.
If you feel you are out of balance (not pooping as often as you should or too much are signs), you can also add these to your diet through similar sources as mentioned above.  A good thing to remember is everyone is different, so it may take you trying a couple of different kinds to find one that works for you.  Also changing your probiotic every few months can help your gut feel more balanced.  What I mean by that is to find a few different probiotics that work for you and switch between them every few months.
 
My next challenge is going to be a probiotic challenge!  If you want to know more about probiotics you should sign up! Interested??  Join my FREE group here!
 
 XOXO,
Jules
 
 
 
 https://www.wired.com/2014/04/missing-microbes-antibiotic-resistance-birth/