If you search for “probiotics” in the Mom Talk Facebook group you will find a seemingly never ending string of posts and comments.

Let me start by saying that this is a HUGE topic to cover – too much to cover in one little article but I’m going to do my best to deliver the important points.

“Our microbiome, found largely in our digestive system, is intricately connected to processes in our bodies that make us healthy – or make us chronically ill.”

If you find this information to be too much and you just want a ONE PAGE guide to rebalancing your gut health (just the quick facts about why it’s important and what supplements and foods you should consume) download the guide using the link below.

Good neurological health is dependant on gut health – that’s why as a Chiropractor I am very interested in healing the gut in the process of healing the body overall. Have you heard of the gut-brain connection? Your gut literally transmits signals to your brain (and vice-versa) allowing your body to function the way it’s supposed to. Any interference to this connection is detrimental to your health and can affect you in ways that you can feel (pain, indigestion) but also in ways you may never have thought of (depressive moods, low energy, chronic infections).

This is what I am going to cover:

Let’s jump in!

Part 1: Probiotics are bacteria.

The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”

The total bacteria living in your body outnumber the cells that make up your entire body by a ratio of about ten to one. 😮

90% of the cells in our body are non-human!!!!

70% of your immune function goes on in your gastrointestinal tract. Proper function of this system is vital to your health. If your immune system is not performing at peak levels you are more likely to get infections, inflammatory conditions and develop cancerous tissue.

Recent scientific evidence links healthy gut bacteria to the proper development of digestive cells, establishing their crucial role in human health and disease starting in utero.

Your gut microbes make B vitamins and amino acids (building blocks for proteins), help form new blood vessels, metabolize fibre, glucose and cholesterol and signal your body’s immune cells when a pathogen is present.

Gut health is linked to:

• immune function (think chronic infections)
• brain health/moods (think anxiety, depression, ASD)
• inflammation (think of chronic pain, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases)
• skin health (think blemishes, acne, rashes)
• good digestion (think IBS, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn)

Part 2: What things are preventing you or your children from having healthy gut bacteria? 

Here are just some of the reasons why most people in North America no longer have a healthy balance of bacteria in their gut.

Reason 1: Modern Birthing Practices. About one in four children born in Canada miss out on the benefits of having good gut bacteria right from birth. There are lots of good bacteria in the vagina and so it is important that babies get some of these bugs on their way into the world because it protects them from infections. The Canadian Cesarean Section rate is approximately 26%, which is an increase of 45% since 1998.

When the baby’s digestive tract and respiratory system remain sterile, infections in the gut, ears, nose and throat are more common.

Another early factor is formula feeding. Children who are formula fed miss out on receiving beneficial doses of bacteria from the mother’s nipples and breastmilk.

Reason 2: Over Sanitization. Antibacterial dish soap, surface spray and hand gel that kill 99.9% of bacteria are devastating your inner environment.

Humans are members of the animal kingdom, designed to live where dirt and bacteria are abundant. Our modern lifestyles creates incompatibilities between what our genes expect of us and what our world demands.

Ironically, we now eliminate bacteria from our environments thinking we are less likely to get sick. We do not realize that living in a sterile environment devastates our immune system.

Reason 3: Little or No Fermented Food. Fermentation is a process where bacteria eat the sugars in a food and enables the food to “go bad” in a controlled way. This keeps it from rotting and allows it to be stored longer than would otherwise be possible.

Traditional cuisines across the globe include fermented foods. Pickled fruit and vegetables, cured meats, unpasteurized cheeses and yogurts contributed greatly to most people’s diets until the last few decades.

In our society most of the fermented foods we do still eat, like pickles and sauerkraut, are pasteurized and then loaded with preservatives so that they can sit on shelves in your grocery store for weeks or months, eliminating any of the benefit.

Reason 4: Stressors! What we have been doing instead of building up our gut bacteria, is destroying it with stressful lifestyles.

Prescription medication like birth control, antibiotics and NSAID’s, and the consumption of inflammatory foods like grains, refined sugar, alcohol and vegetable oils are all detrimental to the delicate balance of our gut bacteria.

Part 3: This is about taking action.  

If you are limited on time and are having difficulty getting your hands on good quality fermented foods, taking a probiotic supplement will be beneficial.

There are plenty of probiotics on the market. Shoot for a brand that has several different types of bacteria with a minimum 10 billion per capsule. Take the supplement daily. For babies and children we recommend a probiotic powder that can be mixed into breast milk, formula, or pureed foods.

The best product we have come across is the HMF line by Seroyal. We have what we call our “probiotic family” of supplements – there is something for each member of the family including special formulations for Breastfed and Formula Fed Infants, Pregnant Women, Young Kids and Adults!

Another way to improve your gut health is to eat probiotic foods:

• Sauerkraut (unpasteurized and preservative free): This is pickled cabbage that can be eaten as a side dish or added to salads.
• Pickles (unpasteurized and preservative free): Whether you like them sweet or dill, pickles contain a good amount of probiotics for your system.
• Kimchi: Kimchi is a popular Korean dish that is made of fermented and pickled cabbage.
• Olives (in brine, preservative free): Olives in brine have large amounts of probiotics because the brine allows the probiotic cultures to thrive.
• Yogurt: Be careful, most yogurts are filled with sugars and syrups. The milk is pasteurized and then probiotics are added back into it. If you are going to eat yogurt, look for high fat and plain flavour varieties that have natural ingredients and say “live and active cultures”.
• Kombucha tea (fermented tea): Kombucha is a fermented tea that contains probiotics.  Our favourite is GT’s Organic Ginger Kombucha and it can be found at Costco!

One last note, when you are introducing fermented foods, do it slowly. Give your body time to adjust.

There you have it, the Ultimate Guide To Probiotics (or at least a really good start!) Make sure to download the one page Guide for a quick synopsis that you can refer to later on, or share with your friends and family.

East Coast Chiropractic | 520 Brookside Dr. Unit D-1, Fredericton, NB | 506.454.2004

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I’m Dr. Marie and I love helping moms and moms-to-be who think differently. My passion for chiropractic, exercise, food, and motherhood are what drive me to wake up everyday, to live life to the fullest, and to help others do the same. I grew up in suburban Toronto but always envisioned ending up somewhere quite different. My visions of the perfect place to live became a reality here in Fredericton. Before moving here I did my undergraduate degree at Western University in London, Ontario and then earned by Doctor of Chiropractic degree in Toronto. While studying for my dream job I also found my dream husband. Along with our newest addition, Zoey, we help families reach more of their health potential.

I’m Dr. Graham and I love being a dad. My daughter Zoey is my inspiration to be as healthy as I can be and to help as many families as I can do the same. I grew up in Fredericton, did my undergraduate education at UNB and then moved to Toronto to complete my 4-year Doctorate in Chiropractic at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. It was there that I met my wife Marie. I managed to convince Marie to move back east with me to start our practice and our family. We opened East Coast Chiropractic with a big vision and have been helping lots of families live happier, healthier lives ever since.

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