Thanksgiving is past and I will be asked many times between now and the new year, “Do I need to take a probiotic?” This is because my clients know when we overdose on sugar, fat, and refined foods and when we overeat or eat in between meals for even just one day, our microflora is affected.
Probiotics are often associated with yogurt commercials and supplement bottles, but did you know that your body can make its own? That’s right! Your gut naturally creates probiotics, the "good bacteria," when you consume plant foods.
The Power of a Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet
If your diet is rich in whole, plant-based foods, you are already giving your body a healthy microbiome. These foods, especially fiber-packed staples like beans, provide the fuel your gut needs.
When the fiber found naturally in these foods ferments in your intestine, it encourages the growth of probiotics, which help balance your gut microbiome and support a healthy digestive health.
A balanced gut microbiome is essential for overall well-being, affecting everything from immunity to mental health.
When Probiotic Supplements can be Useful
The Standard American Diet (SAD) is low in fiber and high in processed foods, sugar, and fats. This diet depletes your gut of beneficial bacteria, making it harder for your body to function properly and fight infections. For individuals on such a diet, store-bought probiotic supplements can be beneficial. While they aren’t a substitute for a healthy diet, they can act as a helpful bridge toward better gut health.
Another time a probiotic supplement can be useful is after a round of antibiotics. Antibiotics wipe out both the good and bad “bugs” or microflora, and it can take one full year to build back a healthy microbiome. In such scenarios a probiotic supplement can provide a concentrated dose of beneficial bacteria to help restore a healthy gut microbiome. After one year, if you are following a wholefood, plant-based diet, you will no longer need the probiotic supplement.
The Take Home Message
The key to thriving gut health lies in your daily choices. A whole-food, plant-based diet naturally encourages the production of probiotics, allowing your body to cooperate with the natural physiology that the Creator has designed so we can function at our best.
Your gut health is an important part of achieving optimal health—feed it well and see the difference you can experience through the holidays!
Check out our other Holiday Success Tips:
Be Chewsy: The benefits of chewing well.
Skip the Sip: The benefits of staying hydrated between meals.
When Nourishment Turns to Toxification: Tap into the benefits of health digestion.
What the Japanese Have Right: How to eat sufficiently without overeating.
How to Beat Inflammation: How to ensure your body has all the tools necessary to nourish the body.
Blue Skies,
Dana West, RDN, LD, DIPACLM
Call us today at
to schedule a FREE INTERVIEW to Start a New YOU!®
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