Our intestines are lined with billions of cells that help us digest our food and release nutrients. After the nutrients are released, small structures called microvilli, absorb the nutrients and transport them all around the body. In order to maintain a healthy gut, it is important to have a proper diet that is full of the right nutrients, including prebiotics and probiotics. Both prebiotics and probiotics are both two ways that we can cultivate our gut bacteria and keep them healthy.
Prebiotics can be found in foods such as garlic, onions, cocoa, leeks, asparagus, bananas, apples, oats and seaweed. These foods that your gut bacteria thrives on, keeps the bacteria happy and your immune system fighting.
Probiotics add more of the good bacteria to the gut. Foods with probiotics include yogurt, cheese, kimchi, kombucha, miso, brine pickles, tempeh, and sauerkraut. Probiotics can help with digestion, skin, lowering blood pressure, immune system, and decreases inflammation. Things that can kill probiotics in your gut can be lack of exercise, smoking, poor sleep habits, sugar, GMO foods, and stress.
Read more on prebiotics and probiotics.
