As we all learned in elementary school science class, all
living things need nourishment to survive.
Probiotics are no different.
These trillions of beneficial little bacteria that live in
your intestines need food in order to thrive too.
Food for PRObiotic bacteria is called PREbiotics.
And the more you feed the probiotics in your gut, the
better they will survive and ward off dangerous pathogens
that you ingest, and the healthier your immune system will
be.
Now I've got some great news for you.
Many prebiotics come from positively delicious foods and
drinks. Here are some examples:
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1- Fresh fruits and vegetables--unpeeled
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Antioxidant compounds called phenols are found just under
the skins of fruits and vegetables, and probiotics LOVE to
eat phenols.
Plus fruits and vegetables also contain lots of soluble
fiber which helps you in two ways.
First, your beneficial bacteria feed off the fiber. Then
they produce short-chain fatty acids as wastes. These
short-chain fatty acids slow the growth of dangerous
bacteria such as E. coli.
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2- Trail mix
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A blend of nuts and seeds is the perfect prebiotic. The
nuts and seeds are great sources of fiber, protein and
dietary phenols.
Just make sure to stay away from mixes that have candies
or yogurt-covered nuts, as they add a bunch of refined
sugar (which ends up being food for the BAD bacteria in
your gut).
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3- Dark berry juices
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Juices that contain good levels of dietary phenols include
those made from blueberries, raspberries, blackberries,
cranberries, pomegranates, cherries, and purple grapes.
Just be sure you're buying real juice--not a "juice drink"
which can contain little or no real juice. Glance at the
label if you're not sure. If the first and second
ingredients are sugar and water, forget it.
The only exception is cranberry juice cocktail. Pure
cranberry juice is quite tart, and the added water and
sugar make it tasty without compromising the quality of the
phenols from the cranberry juice.
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4- Herbs and spices
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Practically every herb and spice contains dietary phenols
(and they're alkaline--another big PLUS for your body), so
spice things up all you want!
The herb with the highest phenol count is oregano, so if
you like pizza, you're in luck.
Fresh herbs and spices have more dietary phenols than
dried, but both are good food for your beneficial bacteria.
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5- Oats
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Oats are loaded with beta-glucan, which is a soluble fiber
and an excellent prebiotic.
But all oats are not created equal. Stay away from
instant oatmeal packets because they're typically loaded
with refined sugar. You don't want to turn your meal for
your good bacteria into a feast for the bad.
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6- Legumes
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Legumes include beans, lentils and peanuts. They're
loaded with soluble fiber (as well as protein and
minerals).
The dietary phenol count of beans is one of the highest
per weight of any food in existence.
So go ahead and make some split pea soup, a batch of
hummus or a pot of chili and feed your friendly microbes.
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7- Red wine
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Good news for you cabernet, shiraz or merlot lovers!
Moderate consumption of red wine (1-2 glasses per day) not
only helps reduce risk of cardiovascualr disease, but red
wine also has one of the highest phenol contents of any
food or drink.
That's because red wine is made not only with the pulp of
the grapes, but also the skin and seeds. White wine uses
only the pulp, so it's not beneficial like red.
And the ultimate:
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8- Dark chocolate
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Dark chocolate and cocoa powder are excellent sources of
probiotic-nourishing dietary phenols. (Skip the milk
chocolate because its processing decreases the phenol
content.)
The higher the cocoa content, the higher the phenols.
Now, this is not an endorsement for doubling up on your
chocolate intake if you already get plenty... but an
occasional treat of a nice piece of dark chocolate will
make your tongue AND your beneficial bacteria sing.
So now you have the best of both worlds.
First of all, Super Shield medical-grade probiotic formula
will help beef up the population of good bacteria in your
gut and keep your flora balanced.
- http://www.bluerockholistics.com/product/pro-ss.asp
Super Shield even comes with its own prebiotic. Each
Super Shield capsule comes with a healthy dose of
Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which are a type of fiber
found naturally in most plants.
FOS have been credited with providing health benefits like
lowering triglyceride and cholesterol levels, stabilizing
blood sugar, improving mineral absorption and insulin
response.
FOS are ideal prebiotics because they reach your large
intestine virtually untouched since humans don't have the
stomach enzymes to break them down.
That means a full buffet for the good bacteria to feast on
once the FOS reach your large intestine.
And second--now you know what foods YOU can eat to help
feed that army of friendly guys in your intestines and keep
them strong.
To your health,
Sherry Brescia
PS: The recipe book in the Great Taste No Pain system is
loaded with delicous probiotic-loving dishes featuring
prebiotics like fruits, vegetables and legumes. Check it
out here at:
- http://www.greattastenopain.com/great.asp
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About the Author
Sherry Brescia is a natural health researcher, president
of Holistic Blends, Inc. and author of the mega best-
selling Great Taste No Pain Health System.
She has over 20 years experience in the medical research
field, and cured herself from IBS in 1992 by changing her
diet and eating the way she now teaches in her Great Taste
No Pain system.
Sherry has made it her life's mission to help others with
digestive challenges by educating them about the role of
diet in overall health and the importance of an alkaline pH.
**The FDA has not evaluated all of these statements. The
contents of this email are not to be considered medical
advice and are for educational purposes only. If you are
experiencing health challenges, always consult your doctor
for medical advice and follow it even if it contradicts the
contents of this email.**
