We have over 100 trillion bacteria in our gut microbiome. Our microbiome impacts a majority of our immune system. I’ve written previously about eating for our gut bacteria (Balancing Trillions of Friends), but it is vitally important to also promote diversity in our gut bacteria also.
Dysbiosis is an imbalance between the “good” and “bad” bacteria. Dysbiosis can happen from inadequate diet, lack of exercise, surgery, or antibiotic use. Adding prebiotics helps with dysbiosis. Prebiotics are food for the good bacteria. With prebiotics, the healthy bacteria can cultivate over time. Probiotics are actual bacteria strains. Each can contain different genus, species, and strains. Since we know that diversity is important, the more the merrier! But if you buy a particular probiotic bottle with a fixed number of strains, and you take it daily. It may not help as much as if you purchase 2-3 different probiotics containing different genus, species, and strains. Then you can alternate what you are providing the microbiome. It’s more efficient at promoting diversity.
To learn more about probiotics check out the Metagenics Video on probiotics. Contact your local health & wellness coach for more information!
