You’re ill, you’re on antibiotics, and to top it off, your medication has led to an upset stomach and a persistent yeast infection. In that case, most doctors will advise you to pick up a box of probiotics from the local drugstore to intersperse with your thrice-daily medication.
But growing research proves probiotics are a champion for more than restoring gut flora killed off by antibiotics. Probiotics transport good bacteria into your gut to knock out the bad bacteria causing trouble in your digestive system. Your digestive system can’t afford to get sick, considering it’s the four-star general watching over your circulatory and endocrine systems.
Naturopathic doctor Sarah Giardenelli from Ashburn’s NoVA Medical & Urgent Care Center says people benefit from taking regular, long-term probiotics. “People should take probiotics to support immune health, prevent respiratory tract infections and prevent some allergic reactions,” Giardenelli says. Living with low-grade health problems such as allergies and infections disturbs overall body resistance and in turn increases the chance of serious illnesses.
But get this. Just like when you figure out the best way for your body type to lose weight, what probiotic works for you is most likely different than what works for your best friend. There is not one probiotic to solve all problems. In fact, under the probiotic umbrella lives a number of strains including the most popular variety: lactobacillus acidophilus. “We do know a lot about different types of probiotics. Some are linked to lowering cholesterol and some to weight loss, but we need more research,” Giardenelli says.
The good news is in the 11 years since Giardenelli began practicing medicine, the increase in media attention and research has boosted probiotics’ popularity. But many people still don’t understand what probiotics do. “Probiotics help redistribute healthy flora in a person’s system, which leads to a strengthened immune system. They are good for lowering weight and cholesterol and decreasing inflammation in the gut. Inflammation leads to chronic health problems like autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.”
Another area of eye-opening research, says Giardenelli, is how the relationship between gut flora and the nerves in your gut can affect your mental health.
Giardenelli tells her patients to check out consumerlabs.com before buying probiotics. Consumer Labs is a third party that tests supplements for purity, quality, heavy metals, accurate labeling of number of organisms, price comparisons and provides overall reviews.
Until you can buy a box of probiotics to kick-start your health, you can start with eating these common foods found at your grocery store.
1. Fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi. These foods are tasty condiments for your plate and give your gut a healthy boost of good bacteria. An added bonus is the volume of vitamins B, A, E and C in sauerkraut.
2. Miso soup. Made from fermented foods, this delicious Japanese soup is a warm and wonderful appetizer for any winter meal.
3. Cultured milk products like kefir, yogurt and cheese are common foods most of us like to eat. Combining yogurt, milk, bananas, a dash of spirulina, and a teaspoon of probiotic powder is an incredible boost to your health first thing in the morning.
4. Tempeh: If you can find tempeh made from GMO-free soy, it is a scrumptious probiotic blast as an alternative to meat in your stir-fry.
5. Kombucha: A fizzy drink chock full of health benefits, kombucha is an acquired taste but well worth the growing pains.
