What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that promote a harmonious balance within the gut microbiome, crucial for overall health and well-being. These living organisms, primarily bacteria and yeasts, work symbiotically with the body to enhance digestive function, aid nutrient absorption, fortify the immune system and support mental health.
Found naturally in fermented foods, probiotics are an easy and delicious addition to your diet.
Common probiotic foods include:
- Yogurt
- Kombucha
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Kefir
- Tempeh
- Miso
What are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are non-digestible fibres found in plant foods that nourish and support the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. These dietary fibres are fuel for your gut microbiome, allowing for a balanced, healthy and happy gut.
Enjoy a variety of plant foods to boost your fibre consumption and feed your beneficial bacteria!
Common prebiotic foods include:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Wholegrains
- Legumes
- Onion & Garlic
- Dandelion & chicory root
Why are probiotics and prebiotics crucial for our health?
A healthy gut is the foundation of a healthy body. The gut microbiome is linked to almost every part of our wellbeing. It is vital for digestive health, immune regulation absorption of essential nutrients from our diet, regulation of inflammation and especially emotional and mental wellbeing. Fibre rich foods or prebiotics feed our gut microbiome ensuring how many and what kind of microorganisms are in our gut. In times of stress, antibiotic use or poor low fibre diets, these microbes can reduce in number leaving the digestive system vulnerable to bad bacteria.
Signs your gut microbiome may have more bad guys than good guys:
- Constipation or diarrhoea
- Bloating and gas
- Poor nutrient absorption
- Frequent infections and allergies
- Skin issues including acne and eczema
- Low energy
- Stress and Low mood
- Inflammation -muscle and joint pains
Gut-Brain Axis:
Did you know that 95% of Serotonin is produced in the gut?
The health and balance of our gut microbiome directly influences the regulation of neurotransmitters.
Serotonin influences our mood, sleep, motility of the digestive system and so much more!
Learn more about the gut-brain connection by checking out our latest blog on the vagus nerve
What if I’m not getting enough prebiotics and probiotics?
While we can support our gut health by healthy food choices there are many times where a probiotic supplement can be of helpful.
Many medications disrupt the GUT microbiome, and we’re not just talking about anti-biotic usage, even common medicines such as metformin, PPI’s (for reflux) antidepressants, steroid hormones and pain killers negatively affect our GUT flora.
Stress and lack of exercise, diets high in refined sugar, alcohol and other toxins in our environment all play a role.
Research is exploding in this area, with the discovery of specialised beneficial microbes for specific medical conditions. Each probiotic strain works in a unique way to support a particular area of health. This has opened the door to new treatments for a range of health problems.
Some of the conditions where a targeted probiotic treatment have been found beneficial include: Eczema, acne, osteoporosis, depression, iron deficiency anemia, IBS, low immunity, auto-immunity, yeast infections, restoration after antibiotic use and so many more!
Unfortunately, most people don’t get enough probiotics and prebiotics from their regular diets, especially in the case of low fibre consumption, which is increasingly an issue. When combined with stress and medication usage the microbiome is often out of balance.
While intestinal irregularity, IBS and gut issues are the most talked about symptoms of intestinal dysbiosis there are many other reasons why you will benefit from a GUT tune up.
At Malvern Natural Health Care our naturopaths are specialists in GUT health and detoxication and are here to help you with a personalized eating plan and where indicated a specific recommendation of a targeted probiotic supplement.
While adding more probiotics and prebiotics into your diet will support your overall health, wellness it can be hugely beneficial to get professional advice and guidance on diet and supplement options with your naturopath.
For those who wish to take a deeper dive into the science of GUT health we offer Microbiome testing and personal treatment plans to promote optimal health and wellbeing.
As you can see treatments go beyond a simple probiotic supplement or removing sugar from your diet. Our naturopaths take a complete look at each patient’s unique situation, considering both lifestyle and medical history to create a comprehensive treatment plan for each individual. Contact us today on 0395723211 to book in a consultation with one of our naturopaths.