The Biotic Woman

Since I became a Mom I have developed some special abilities that you can probably relate to. I have amplified hearing and can hear a baby cry a mile away, I seemed to have grown eyes in the back of my head and I have been known to run faster than a speeding car when it comes to catching a pacifier before it hits the ground. So I think I’m up for fighting some bad guys.

Bacteria is a bad guy that Moms are used to fighting when it comes to their kids. But, did you know that there are good bacteria and bad bacteria? There are trillions of bad bacteria fighting with good bacteria in an inner war raging inside your gut. These guys have a big impact on your digestive health which is a cornerstone to your overall well-being.  Digestive health not only affects immune function, hormonal balance and mental health but it also plays a role in anti-aging and even your weight.   

So who are the good guys? Probiotics: the healthy bacteria that live in our intestines or gut. Probiotics, which literally translates to “For Life,” can be found in many foods and is often a term used to describe specific live and active cultures that when eaten, provide improved digestive health. Probiotics aid in preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. They may even aid in weight loss. A new study has suggested that the guts of normal-weight people contain a different mix or balance of the types and amounts of bacteria that are found in the intestines of overweight folks. Probiotics  increase the production of cells that protect against infections boosting our immune system. They have also been shown to help in normalizing blood pressure.  

Here are some of the food sources that you can find Probiotics in:

• Yogurt
• Cheese with added probiotics
• Fluid milk with added probiotics
• Fermented milk such as sweet acidophilus milk

So what do Probiotics eat? Tiny fibers found in some fruits and vegetables known as Prebiotics. Prebiotic fibers are nondigestible or partially-digestible food ingredients that are often classified as dietary fibers and that promote the growth and activity of good bacteria in the intestinal tract. Prebiotics have numerous health benefits as well, from normalizing bowel function to aiding in calcium absorption and boosting the immune system. Prebiotics occur naturally in a variety of foods, especially high-fiber foods like certain fruits, vegetables and grains.

Here are some foods that are good sources of Prebiotics:

• Artichokes
• Bananas
• Barley
• Berries
• Dairy products
• Flax
• Garlic
• Greens
• Honey
• Leeks
• Legumes
• Onions
• Wheat and whole grains, such as oatmeal

So I can add beating bad bacteria to my list of special abilities by merely eating more of the foods I love like fruit and cheese with added Probiotics. I may not be saving the outside world but I am winning the inner war. And if I improve my digestive health, the outside world may even thank me for it!