Hippocrates said that “all sickness begins in the gut.” That was a long time ago. Today, studies have shown that approximately 80% of all illnesses begin in the gut.
The gut (aka the second brain) includes the entire digestive tract; mouth, esophagus, stomach, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, colon, and rectum.
Taking care of your gut flora can help with acne, ulcers, vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections
1. Eat probiotic rich foods
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria. They limit the growth of harmful bacteria by creating immunity-building compounds and natural antibiotics in the gut.
Active cultures include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bifidobacterium
Probiotic-rich foods include:
- yogurt
- sauerkraut
- kimchi
- Kefir
- kombucha
- miso
- tempeh
2. Take a quality probiotic supplement
If you are opposed to the suggested probiotic foods, try a quality supplement.
Keep in mind, in order for probiotics to be effective, the culture must be alive. So check the expiration date. In addition, make sure the colony forming units (CFUs) are billions.
To maintain, store in the refrigerator.
3. Eat pre-biotics
Prebiotics are carbohydrates (fiber) that cannot be digested. They are a source of food for the good bacteria to proliferate in the gut.
Prebiotic foods include:
- onions
- barley
- cocoa
- garlic
- oats
- Beans
- wheat bran
- burdock root
- chicory root
- apple skin
- bananas
- asparagus
Dixie Lincoln- Nichols is a biological science educator, health and wellbeing consultant and Qigong instructor. Her work has been featured in media outlets like, Oprah Mag, SELF, Yahoo and more. She is the founder of Inside Outer Beauty Market, a multi-cultutal retailer curating and creating products to support the body inside and out. Visit the site at www.iobeautymarket.com