Hi blog buds!
How was your St. Patrick’s Day? Glad to know some of you might give AVOCADO a try in your future smoothies! I’m tellin’ ya, it’s GOOD!
Speaking of good things, you all know I’m kind of a freak when it comes to good digestion (almost as much of a freak as I am about getting to sleep on time!) When my digestive tract goes awry, let’s just say I’m not a happy camper. Luckily with the my current nutrition habits, poor digestive days are fewer than they used to be. But that doesn’t stop me from taking PROACTIVE action on a daily basis by taking probiotics every day.
In addition to the digestive benefits, I also like knowing that they give my immune system a boost.
Did you know that about 80% of your immune system is located in your gut?¹ So making sure you have lots of “good” bacteria in there is key to boosting your chances of defending against that coughing co-worker or sniffling friend. With the change of seasons at hand, now is the time that you’ll notice people getting those spring colds.
Yogurt seems to get all the credit for providing probiotics. Since I avoid consuming cow’s dairy, yogurt isn’t my go-to choice for probiotics anymore. Here are my three favorite non-dairy options:
1.) Ultimate Probiotic 12/12 Formula: I take one capsule of these each morning with breakfast (and if I think I’ll need an extra immune boost, like on a day I’ll be in a crowd of people, i.e., flying) I might even take two. Some say you should take your probiotics on an empty stomach for maximum effectiveness but I have a tendency toward nausea when I take things like vitamins on an empty stomach. Do what works best for you.
2.) Synergy Kombucha Tea – I drink this whenever the budget allows. It’s one of my favorite ‘health foods’ and this brand claims to contain Lactobacillus Bacterium and S. Boulardii. 
3.) Good Belly – my friend’s husband started taking this after his doc recommended it for some tummy troubles. I’d seen them at the grocery store, but passed them by because they were located by the yogurt. I mistakenly assumed they had dairy in them. Then I learned that they are DAIRY FREE! I just started taking these about 10 days ago and while I can’t yet speak to any immune boost, I can say that I have noticed an improvement in …um, ahem… regularity. 
Plus who can resist drinking out of a smiley face every morning?
Today’s discussion: Do you take probiotics? What are your favorites? Did you notice a difference when you started taking them?
Have a terrific Thursday everyone!
– Shari B. =)
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¹Dr. Joseph Mercola; “Enhance Your Immune System with the Benefits of Probiotics”; http://www.drmercola.biz/2009/04/enhance-your-immune-system-with.html (accessed March 18, 2010)
#1 by Roger OBrian on July 22, 2010 - 12:32 am
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Why We Need Probiotic Supplements
Our bodies are designed to function best with millions of friendly probiotic bacteria living in our intestinal tract. In the past, we replaced the probiotics in our system by constantly through eating organic vegetables grown in dirt that was rich with soil-based organisms or drinking raw milk straight from the cow. I myself remember walking into the garden, pulling up young carrots, brushing as much dirt off them as possible and eating them on the spot. Think of the probiotics that were going into my system before I could wash them down the kitchen drain or boil them for 15 to 20 minutes.
Today we need probiotic supplements because there are so many influences that prevent us from getting the probiotics our bodies need.
* Today, at least in the United States, many people eat a horrible diet composed of highly processed foods that are filled with chemicals and simple sugars and carbohydrates. Potato chips and Oreo’s are utterly devoid of anything living as are most of the boxed and prepared foods sold in the grocery stores.
* Because of the modern agricultural practices, such as the heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers, the soil-based microorganisms are no longer living in the dirt of most farms. We need probiotic supplements to replace what is missing in our food.
* The use of antibiotics (remember the “anti” means “against” biotics) directly kills the all bacteria in our intestinal tract.
* Drinking chlorinated water destroys our intestinal flora. The reason we put chlorine in the water is because it is able to kill bacteria and, unfortunately, it gets the good ones along with the bad when we drink it.
* The medical treatment of radiation and chemotherapy also destroys our intestinal flora as well as damaging our immune systems. Any course of chemotherapy absolutely must be followed with heavy doses of probiotic supplements.
* Farm animals are continuously fed antibiotics to keep diseases down. When people eat them they also are taking in these antibiotics which then harm the beneficial bacteria in their systems.
* Many people who are concerned with health use enemas and colonics for detoxification. These practices can wash some of the good bacteria out of their systems.
* Alcoholic beverages tend to harm probiotics by killing them directly, encouraging harmful bacteria and yeast overgrowth.
I’ve dedicated my life to natural healthy organic foods, supplements and helping to educate consumers on what we need in our bodies and what we should avoid at all cost. Most consumer don’t know most of the things that can keep them healthy. With the very unhealthy mass produced, genetically modified, chemically enhanced foods and supplements on the market, consumers need the proper information to start avoiding all those products. When there is enough demand for high quality foods and supplements, then we will be able to tackle America’s Health problems. Until then, it will be very hard to fight big business and stop them from adding harmful ingredients and making products by un-natural mean just to stretch them further and last longer in-order to protect their bottom line. We have the power as the consumer and it’s all about spreading small amounts of information like this article to help educate everyone. You can follow the link “My Name Above” to my store and also join my facebook fan page from the link on my store where you canpost information and take information to post in great blogs like this. I hope to write another article soon and keep posting great content in blogs like this.
Thanks and keep up the great work!!
#2 by Joan on March 18, 2010 - 3:10 pm
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Hi Shari,
Great post…didn’t know that 80%/gut info.
Yes I do I take it mostly in form of a pill, but also look for soy or coconut milk based yogurts when they are on sale so I can mix it up a bit.
I can’t say I notice a difference but then maybe I’m just not that observant.
.-= Joan´s last blog ..Guerrilla Gardeners =-.
#3 by Bernadette on March 18, 2010 - 12:14 pm
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I’m guilty of NOT taking probiotics
I always seem to be late to the party… I do drink Kambucha on occasion and I eat Greek yogurt probably about 5 times a week but mostly just because I like them and not for their benefits… I just don’t really think about it. My bad.
Don’t hate me because I lack good bacteria…
xoxo
#4 by Cindy on March 18, 2010 - 11:01 am
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Hey Shari…great info!
and YES. I do take probiotics in pill form now. I have a nature’s bounty brand and will probably keep looking for a better one but I do like it and feel good. I switched from yogurt to coconut milk kefir but just taking the pill is way cheaper than even the kefir. and you get a LOT more bacteria. so that’s what I do. Kombucha tea is a treat for me…I love gingerade.
(and grape, okay.. i like almost all of them)
I fully believe in the healthy gut philosophy!
thanks for the info!
have a great day!
.-= Cindy´s last blog ..A for Effort =-.