Hi, my loves!
Ever since my “WHY MATCHA?” blog post a few weeks ago I’ve been feeling like starting a series called “WHY ___?” that talks about all of the health & wellness crazes that I am into + breaks them down into bite sized info for you guys to walk away with.
(I also have “What’s the Deal with Collagen?” from last year which fits into the series too! That seems like a favorite & a post that gets referenced a lot, for sure!)
Into it?! If so, let me know in the comments below some topics you’d like me to cover for upcoming posts in the series!
Today, we are talking about probiotics.
Specifically, we are talking about Silver Fern probiotics… my current favorite brand that contains 8 Billion CFU & is my go-to for about a hundred other reasons which I will list below. š
So, let’s break it down.
Whatās the benefit of taking a daily probiotic?
Well, probiotics are amazing. AĀ probiotic is a live microorganism dietary supplement that helps you maintain your digestive balance by fortifying your system with healthy bacteria. The bacteria it puts into our systems is essential for many vital body functions and the health of our tummies/digestion.
It can also identify & destroy overgrown and harmful organisms that live in the gut which will restore the growth of good microbes in the stomach and provide balance to our gut flora. It helps immensely with the digestion & assimilation of nutrients, helps reduce inflammation, and even converts the nutrients into more absorbable forms.
Let’s talk about some other amazing benefits:
1. A good probiotic fightsĀ against bad bacteria that convert macronutrients intoĀ unhealthy compounds like aldehydes, endotoxins, ammonia,Ā gas, hydrogen gas, and lipid peroxides.
2. Helps to “police” the immune system so that we stay nice & healthy with greater ease!
3. Reduces gas & bloating (HELLO, me in a nutshell. That is the main reason why I got into taking probiotics!)
4. Supports the growth of good bacteria which helps toĀ convert healthyĀ macronutrients (fibers, carbs, proteins, and fats) into crucialĀ nutrients such as amino acids, omega fatty acids, quinols,Ā B vitamins, GABA (for sleep), BDNF, serotonin, Vitamin K, short chain fattyĀ acids, and antioxidants.
5. Improves glycemic control & repairs intestinal damage.
6. Increases energy!!! Such a good one.
Why doesn’t our digestion just work perfectly fine on its own?
Often, our digestion is disrupted by diet and stress ā two things that I can CERTAINLY relate to having issues with. It can also be disrupted by travel, introducing new elements to your lifestyle and changes in routine.
Do all of those things sounds like all of our lives in a nutshell? Yes, I think they certainly do.
A few other things that can manipulate the gut flora and cause our good/bad bacteria to get out of whack are the use of antibiotics, the use of steroid medications, eating greasy/unhealthy/non-organic foods that mess with our microbiome, constipation, not eating enough, eating too much, getting too many colonics (I did that, whoops), medications, the list goes on.
Once the gut flora is imbalanced, digestion issues can go from bad to worse. I believe that I greatly disrupted my gut flora from my years of being a plant-based vegan who subsisted mostly on juice cleanses — THEN I got a parasite and took so many rounds of antibiotics my gut flora hardly even existed anymore.
It was nuts. So I learned about the probiotic life & I can’t even tell you how much it has enhanced my health and wellbeing since then.
Are all probiotics the same?
No!Ā A truly great probiotic will live to arriveĀ in the large intestine (and parts ofĀ the small intestine) where it will actĀ as a āgardenerā to the micro biome.
That probiotic will improve yourĀ microbiome by identifying andĀ removing the bad bacteria whileĀ nurturing the good bacteria to growĀ and thrive. Good probiotics removeĀ bad bacteria, support overall health,Ā support your immune system, andĀ provide complete digestive support.
Unfortunately, mostĀ probiotic supplements are dead on theĀ shelves and those that arenāt will die when theyĀ encounter the harsh acidic environment of theĀ stomach. Dead probiotics offer no probioticĀ benefits, but that is largely what you will find on the market.
Also, 90% of probiotics contain strains not listedĀ on the bottle. If a product hasnāt had strainĀ verification or DNA analysis then you have noĀ idea what you are actually getting. I LOOOOVE Silver Fern (100% been using it for about 9 months now, so you can trust my word on this) because they are DNA verified & sustainability verifiedĀ annnndddĀ they are pharmaceutical grade.
How many billions of strains should you try to get when looking for a probiotic?
Many probiotics promote dozens of strainsĀ with tens of billions of cfu, but these strains areĀ ineffective bacterial strains that offer you noĀ benefit. There isnāt a single scientific study thatĀ shows that more strains and more cfuās are moreĀ effective. Itās all about the quality of the strains,Ā not the quantity. (Silver Fern has 8 Billion CFU which is technically my favorite amount after taking several different amounts until I found my perfect go-to.)
Can’t you just eat fermented foods like yummy coconut yogurts, kefir, & kimchi and call it a day?
Well, first of all, I am a HUGE fan of fermented foods. I eat coconut yogurts like nobody’s business, and I put kimchi on my salads several days a week.
What I’ve learned from Silver Fern is that while these foods all provideĀ wonderful benefits for the gut and our health… none of these foods provide probiotics that willĀ survive to reach your gut and provide you any probioticĀ benefits.
So you’re better off taking a probiotic so the benefits go straight to the gut, and eat those foods for other nutritional reasons like their easy absorption, healthy compounds, etc!
Can probiotics help eliminate candida?
Well, I have certainly done my fair share of research in the candida arena. Even with this full-body rash I am experiencing right now, I keep thinking that it could be gut related and that the eczema on my stomach is coming from candida overgrowth on the inside.
In orderĀ to completely stop candida yeast overgrowthĀ new healthy bacteria must replace theĀ candida. In a healthy system, candida,Ā which is a normal part of your flora, is keptĀ in check by a healthy and diverse gut flora.
Having a healthy and diverse gut flora is theĀ only way to permanently control candidaĀ growth. Another issue that leads to candidaĀ overgrowth is a weak immune system. AnĀ effective probiotic can add diversity, strength,Ā and balance to the flora, which in turn willĀ keep candida in check.
Probiotics can even help with anxiety & depression, as it’s been proven that 95% of our serotonin exists in the gut. Crazy, right?!
There we have it, my angels! A full-blown breakdown of why probiotics are amazing for us & some commonly asked questions I’ve heard from you guys.
Thank you so much to Silver Fern for sponsoring this post & for being amazing — you guys will love them! Let me know if you try, and tag me on Insta #tbbmademedoit!
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