We are not what we eat, we are what we absorb, and without a good complement of life enhancing bacteria we not only have a compromised immune system, our digestive system has little chance of extracting the nutrients, vitamins and minerals from food that our cells need. When our cells are starved of nutrition, they die, and that opens the door for illness in our body.
Enter the winter season. The cold chills from the outdoors combined with the ups and downs of temperatures from the indoors, we all know are contributing factors for winter colds or flu. So you’ve probably already invested in your health with additional supplements to boost your body’s natural defence. But, are they working? Is your body actually absorbing the vitamins and nutrients you’ve purchased?
Since taking Probiotic Foods twice a day I know that my overall health and wellbeing has improved, as well as my energy levels. I can’t remember the last time I had the flu or an upset stomach. I can’t live without them now!
Brooke, 33 Queensland
The bacteria in your gut, plays a vital role here. The good bacteria in our guts keep pathogens (harmful microorganisms) at bay, form the basis of our immune function, and aid digestion by helping your body break down food and absorb nutrients.
Once food has passed through the stomach and small intestine, most nutrients have already been absorbed, leaving complex carbs and protein. These then are fermented by your good bacteria in your large intestine and then released into fuel for your body.
A healthy gut should contain over 2kg of healthy bacteria. We believe that if your body has a strong immune system it won’t let disease causing bacteria, viruses, mould and fungus multiply and make a comfy home in your body.
How to assist your good bacteria to hold the fort this winter:
1. Diet.
A diet that feeds good bacteria and is high in antioxidants. Brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, resistant starch (e.g. sweet potato) and other nuts, seeds and wholefoods, preferable organically grown in nutrient and microbe rich soils.
2. Healthy fats.
Boost immunity with omega 3, 6 and 9 fats from a variety of sources—grass fed animal products, wild caught fish, avocado, coconut, olive oil, flaxseed, chia and hemp oil. Use the bones to create bone broth. It contains collagen, gelatin and important amino acids to strengthen the gut barrier and it’s also great for hair, skin, nails and joints.
3. Probiotics and fermented foods.
Get your good bacteria from a natural, certified organic food source and feed them and you with nourishing prebiotics. Probiotic Foods’ mother culture is supercharged with multiple bacterial strains, prebiotic rich and nutrient dense, covering all bases.
4. Vitamin D.
Boost your levels with regular sunshine exposure and a supplement is one of the simplest and most efficient ways to improve your immunity and prevent acute infections like the flu. Have your vitamin D levels tested so you know if you are low you can supplement.
5. Zinc, iron and colloidal silver.
Minerals are foundational for supporting the immune system. Research shows zinc can reduce the time you have a cold by about 24 hours if taken within one day of the first symptom.
6. Boost vitamin C and antioxidants.
From local fruits and veg in season and other natural forms like camu camu—an Amazonian rainforest fruit—and acerola cherry. These are rich sources of antioxidants and can help boost the immune system.
7. Add herbs and essential oils to your diet.
Oregano, thyme, garlic, ginger, clove, cinnamon and echinacea have powerful antimicrobial effects. Inhale tea tree oil, eucalyptus and peppermint oil and drink hot ginger with raw honey. Raw honey contains probiotics that boost immunity. The gut of bees contains a beneficial bacteria lactobacillus kunkeei, and is transferred to humans via raw honey.
8. Bio-fermented Turmeric.
A probiotic liquid and natural anti-inflammatory, turmeric provides support when you have inflammation. Combined with black pepper increasing the value of turmeric by over 2,000%.
Want to chat to us about your winter health routine?
Call our Gut Help Hotline on (07) 554 66 086.
DISCLAIMER: This blog provides general information and discussion about gut health and related subjects. Whilst every effort is made to present up to date information, the area of gut health and the microbiome are changing constantly. We welcome any comments or suggestions. By reading this blog, you agree not to use this blog as a substitute for medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. The author encourages you to consult a health professional before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition. No information contained in these pages should be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis, or determine treatment for a medical condition. The information is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional and is not intended as medical advice. Links to other (third party) websites are provided to you to expand understanding of the subject and are not an endorsement or recommendation by the author for the services, information, opinion or any other content on the site or as an indication of any affiliation, sponsorship or endorsement of such third party websites. Your use of other websites is subject to the terms of use for such sites. By reading this blog, you agree that you are responsible for your own health decisions. NO information contained in this blog should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent or cure any disease or condition.The contents of these blogs are copyright and Probiotic Foods is the acknowledged author.