Microbiome is a strange word that’s gotten a lot of attention as of late. Your gastrointestinal tract, which includes your stomach, small and large intestine, can be home to more than 1,000 species of bacteria. This population of bacteria is known as your body’s microbiome. Some bacteria are beneficial, they’re called probiotics, while some are bad bacteria that don’t necessarily provide benefits to our bodies. Having the right balance between the two is important for your health. Probiotics work for us and with us. Probiotic actually means, “for life.” These bacteria help us digest our foods and absorb nutrients. They even make nutrients for us like B vitamins and vitamin K and they support a healthy immune system, keeping us healthy.
You can support a healthy microbiome by eating fermented foods that contains probiotics. Luckily, these are foods that add a lot of flavor and fun to meals. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and some vinegars and kombucha are all good sources of bacteria. Consider beginning the day with some yogurt and fruit, try including a half a cup of kefir in your smoothies, or adding raw sauerkraut to sandwiches for a tangy bite. Be sure to check food labels for the words, “live cultures” to ensure that the bacteria weren’t killed during the processing. You’ll find them here at the list of ingredients.
To your best health!

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