This time of year begs the question, how do you protect yourself from getting sick with the holiday rush fast approaching? With busy lives getting busier: shopping, going to parties, air travel to visit loved ones, and late nights at the office to meet deadlines - what do we do to make up for the lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, cookies and candy, cocktail party hors d' oeuvres, skipped workouts, and the "too many" nights eating pizza and Chinese food because "I'm too tired to cook"? If this sounds familiar then check out why you should consider taking a good probiotic versus vitamins to boost immune system health.
One of the most surprising things I have learned over the past several years is that our immune system begins in our GI Tract. Fifty percent of our immune system lives in our gut and 75% of antibodies are produced in the gut. So, when our gut becomes out of balance and unhealthy, our immune system becomes compromised. We have about seven pounds of bacteria that live in the large and small intestine. That means seven pounds of bacteria that can work for or against us.
Unhealthy or bad bacteria thrive on sugar. Sugar that is found in processed food, pastries and candies, alcohol, highly refined grain products, and dairy. Healthy bacteria thrives on fiber. Fiber that we get from legumes, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Medications, antacids, and processed food all upset the balance of your intestinal flora and can set your body up for disease. This in turn can also effect your metabolism and vitamin absorption. Many vitamins that you can buy at the local drug store have a very low absorption rate already, which means you are eliminating much of the vitamin content every time you use the restroom. So, even if you are taking supplements and vitamins to boost immune system wellness, as the gut balance gets upset, your absorption level decreases even more. That's why so many people feel like their vitamins "didn't work,"
The best thing you can do to protect yourself, is shore up your intestinal health. You can do this best through quality probiotics, not vitamins, to boost immune system wellness. Probiotics are healthy bacteria, that are ingested for the purpose of inoculating your intestines. Buy quality probiotics from a trusted internet source or specialty supplement store. There are three things to know when buying probiotics: make sure there are multiple strains of bacteria, there are over 10 billion Colony Forming Units (this number is debatable), and that it is packaged in a way that can survive stomach acid and intestinal bile. Just about every manufacturer will make fantastic claims in these three areas. You'll need to do your homework. Personally, I have found that this is an individual experience for each person's body. Everyone's stomach acid levels are different so you may want to try a couple different brands. When intestinal flora is balanced, you will notice that any digestive issues you might have been experiencing are greatly reduced. The one additional ingredient that should be included in the probiotic you choose, is a prebiotic. This is basically "food" for the healthy bacteria. When you buy it in a pill form, the bacteria are inert and come to life inside your body. They need something to feed on, which is the prebiotic, to grow and flourish.
Now some of you may be eating a lot of yogurt and think you are getting the amount of good bacteria you need. Many yogurts are full of sugar and don't have any live bacteria in it at all. If your yogurt is pasteurized, most of the good bacteria is dead. The strain in the yogurt needs to be a "live" strain and the best source for this is raw yogurt.
With all this being said, I am a fan of taking a good probiotic daily, and also supporting your nutritional deficiencies with a broad spectrum vitamin to boost immune system wellness. As I pointed out earlier, many vitamins and supplements are heat and chemically processed greatly reducing their absorption rate.
The closer you can get to nature, the more nutrition can be absorbed at a cellular level. If you can find vitamins and supplements that are in the form of whole food concentrates, they are packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and micronutrients. Micronutrients contain compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and phytoestrogens that have significant health benefits and are an essential component to optimal health.
Hi, I'm Anu Fergoda and helping people feel better is my passion. Although I am not an expert in nutrition, diet or exercise, after gaining 26 pounds in one year, being chronically fatigued, and prematurely aging, I decided to take my health and well being into my own hands. After 8 years of wading through mountains of expert articles and opinions, and trial and error, I discovered simple and convenient solutions that worked for me, my family and our busy life. Click here to get your free report on Reviving Your Health Naturally
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