We have trillions of bacteria in our body, known as the microbiome. These are essential for good health and digestion. They help us break down foods and produce vitamins, proteins and other nutrients. They also keep us healthy by defending us against disease-causing germs.
If you have an unhealthy microbiome, you have an increased risk of developing a number of conditions including allergies and autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis or eczema. It can also lead to obesity, diabetes and even cancer.
How Do We Balance The Bacteria In Our Gut?
The best way to maintain a healthy microbiome is by eating a balanced diet containing lots of fibre, vegetables and fruit as well as avoiding unnecessary antibiotics and other medications when possible (see below). Even though we don’t always know what foods contain probiotics (beneficial bacteria), there are some that are better than others at promoting their growth:
- Fermented foods (e.g. sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir)
- Yoghurt with live cultures
- Cultured vegetables (e.g. pickles)
- Cultured meat (e.g. sausages)
- Probiotic supplements
Have You Heard About Prebiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help to maintain a healthy microbiome. A common misconception is that probiotics are the same as prebiotics, but they’re actually different. Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut by providing food for them (e.g. bananas). When you eat prebiotics, they pass through your gastrointestinal tract undigested and reach the colon where they become food for the beneficial bacteria that live there. Prebiotics are found in a wide variety of foods including:
- Cultured vegetables (e.g. pickles)
- Probiotic supplements
- Bananas
- Onions
- Garlic
- Asparagus
- Jerusalem artichokes
What About Supplements?
While probiotics and prebiotics are found in foods, they can also be taken as a supplement. You can find them in pill form or in powder form. A good probiotic supplement will contain both prebiotics and prebiotics, such as Seed probiotics. They can be taken on a daily basis to boost your levels of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
