Eating Well With Kim: Keeping Your Microbes Happy

Friday, Jan. 27, 2017

(WRDW/WAGT) -- Research shows that it is important to keep your microbiome healthy and diverse.

This area of research into the gut microbiome is exciting and evolving, but what is known so far is that each individuals microbiome helps to regulate their susceptibility to infectious diseases and can either contribute to or aid in the prevention of chronic illnesses. The microbiome can also influence your mood and play a role in obesity.

Feed your microbiomes!!! Plant material including fruits, vegetables, seeds, nuts, legumes, and whole grains make hungry gut bugs happy, healthy and strong- the fiber from these foods is what feeds our good bacteria. When we eat a diet high in processed food, we are essentially starving our gut microbiome and that can prove detrimental.

WE can include more probiotic foods in the diet and resist the urge to sanitize everything (I once had a pediatrician tell me "a healthy immune system is a challenged immune system"). Probiotic foods are foods that are fermented and contain healthy bacteria.

Examples include:

Good belly

Yogurt

Kefir

Miso

Kombucha

Buttermilk

Sauerkraut

It of course is best to use probiotic rich foods, vs. supplements. However, a time when a supplement may be helpful could be after a round of antibiotics. Always check with your MD and look for a reputable supplement company (USP).