Unlocking the Potential of Probiotic Foods and Prebiotics for Gut Health

Are We Overdoing It with the Good Bugs?

These days, it's hard to ignore the abundance of fermented products on café menus and supermarket shelves. The focus on gut health has reached unprecedented levels, which is actually a positive development. Naturopaths have emphasized the importance of gut health for years, and it's encouraging to see this gaining attention.

The Purpose of Probiotic Foods and Supplements

However, do we truly understand why we consume these probiotic foods, drinks, and supplements?

Allow me to share a surprising fact with you: No matter how much kimchi, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, yogurt, or other probiotic supplements you consume, they won't colonize your gut with new bugs. Many people believe that these beneficial microorganisms will happily settle in your gut, set up camp, and live there indefinitely. But here's a newsflash: That's not what happens. Within a week or two, they're all gone. Numerous studies over the past few years have proven this.

Let me provide some insight into our remarkable microbiome. The term "microbiome" refers to the collection of microorganisms, both good and bad, residing in our gut. It develops during the first two years of life, and each individual has a unique assortment of bugs. Every day, we discover more about how the microbiome impacts various aspects of our health, from hormonal issues to mental well-being.

Here's the key: Around the age of two, you establish your unique set of bugs, and from that point forward, you cannot acquire new species. However, you can completely disrupt, destroy, and eradicate species, leading them to extinction, and they will never return (unless you undergo a fecal transplant). That's why it's crucial to prioritize the care of our microbiome.

The Potential of Fecal Microbiota Transplants

As mentioned earlier, the only known method to introduce new species into the gut is through a fecal microbiota transplant. While this treatment isn't readily available in Australia yet, it holds revolutionary potential when it becomes accessible.

Now, let's shift our focus to those of us who don't have access to fecal transplants. Probiotic foods, drinks, and supplements do have a role to play, and I frequently incorporate various probiotics into my practice for different reasons.

These probiotic products elicit a positive response in the gut, creating a more favorable environment for the existing bugs to thrive. They can enhance gut acidity, helping the beneficial microorganisms compete against harmful bugs.

However, despite the benefits of probiotic foods, I believe that people are spending excessive amounts of money on these items when there are more affordable and effective ways to nourish our microbiome.

Embracing Prebiotics: Food for Our Good Bugs

The key lies in prebiotics—the food that our beneficial bugs love to consume. In a nutshell (with more details to be covered later), the solution is to consume more plant-based foods. By doing so, you'll create a haven for your good bugs. Aim to consume over 40 different types of plant foods each week. For instance, if you eat three different types of apples—such as Granny Smith, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious—they count as three distinct plant foods due to their varying nutritional and fiber content.

So, the secret lies in variety. Challenge yourself to incorporate as many different types of plant foods as possible to nourish those good bugs.

If you're interested in discovering the composition of your unique microbiome and learning how to nourish it specifically, feel free to get in touch. I'll be more than happy to explain the process.