A philosophy we hold dear here at Latch onto Health is “Eat Whole Feel Whole.” We prefer to incorporate and supplement with whole food sources wherever and whenever possible. Sure, you could buy a bottle full of probiotic pills and, if that is the route you need to take, stay tuned for our recommendation. However, you can’t beat getting your probiotics from the source.

The Bad

Years of eating processed sugar, eating antibiotics and living in an antibacterial and pasteurized day and age have taken its toll. In the past, most foods were organically grown and free of pesticides, waxes, and coatings to make them look Instagram perfect on a market shelf. Foods were fermented to keep them from spoiling, which fosters good bacteria to grow, whereas today most foods are pasteurized, which eliminates all bacteria.

The Good

Probiotics are live bacterial cultures that effectively colonize our digestive system with good bacteria and help balance our microbiome.  You can find these bacterial cultures on the skins of organic fruits and vegetables and in fermented foods.

Probiotics are attributed to everything from helping to improve digestion to clearing skin and supporting the immune system. A clinical trial involving infants found that newborns administered symbiotic, a combination of probiotic and sugar, for a week were 40% less likely to develop sepsis (1) How incredible is that!

The Tasty

A wonderful way to support your gut is with fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi. Both are rich in probiotics and contain several forms of lactic acid (2) which helps boost the growth of the good bacteria in your gut while also making it taste delicious!

Kefir is a drink made by fermenting milk or coconut water using kefir grains. The fermentation process creates an abundance of probiotics as well as its classic tart and tangy flavor.  (3) Remember to choose one free of added sugars.

Miso is a Japanese paste, made from fermented soybeans, salt, and koji, most often used in traditional miso soup. It is a wonderful source of probiotics and a complete protein making it a powerhouse on its own.

When you’re at the store, look for a natural and whole food source of probiotics that is fermented, free of added sugars and enjoy by the expiration date.

Supplementation

Look for a supplement that has CFUs in the billions, is 3rd party tested and free of dyes, fillers or preservatives. It should be refrigerated or shipped with an ice pack to preserve the live bacteria. Here at Latch onto Health, we recommend Klaire Labs. Follow us on Instagram for a giveaway!

Take probiotic supplements on a cycle of 3 months on, then 3 months off. As with any supplement, talk to your doctor or primary care provider before incorporating it into your routine.

And remember, eat whole to feel whole. Quality probiotics from whole foods and drinks are a tasty and nourishing addition to your routine!

(1)  https://www.nature.com/articles/nature23480

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4058509/

(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28222814