The 'Good' Bacteria

Let me tell you something about probiotics. We were best friends in biology lab. I know, right? It’s so embarrassing. I don’t even...Whatever. So then in college, I started crushing on all things junk food, it was totally delicious, and my probiotics were like, weirdly jealous. Like, if I would blow them off and binge eat tacos, my body would be like, “why didn’t you take your probiotics?” And I’d be like, “Why are you so out of whack?” So then, I started feeling sluggish and gained my freshman 15, I was like, “Probiotics, I can’t take you, because I think you’re a bacteria.” I mean I couldn’t purposely swallow a bacteria. Bacteria is gross, and like, causes diseases. I mean, right? It’s a BACTERIA.

All Mean Girls’ quotes aside (ok, maybe not an exact quote), probiotics are bacteria, but they are the good kind of bacteria. They line the digestive tract and give the body the ability to absorb important nutrients and fight infections. They act as our bodies’ army to help produce vitamin B12, butyrate and vitamin K2, crowd out yeast and bad bacteria, create enzymes to destroy pathogens, and stimulate secretion of important components of our immune systems. Without these little soldiers, we put ourselves at an increased risk for skin issues, yeast infections, autoimmune disease, digestive disorders, and common seasonal illnesses. We are capable of getting adequate probiotics in our diets through fresh foods from good soil and by foods that have been fermented. The issue we face today, is that most of our foods are soaked in chemicals that eliminate the probiotics. On top of that, many foods contain antibiotics that kill off the existing good bacteria in our digestive tract. Talk about a double-whammy! Luckily, we can make up for this deficit with supplemental probiotics. By adding these supplements to our diets, we can build a stronger immune system, improve digestion, reduce risk for cold and flu, enhance skin health, and boost weight loss. Health benefits are often strain-specific, and not all strains are necessarily useful. Since most dietary supplements do not undergo the strenuous testing and approval process that drugs do, choosing a trusted brand, such as Silver Fern, is very important. Silver Fern uses quality products formulated by a renowned microbiologist who specializes in probiotics. As always, consult with your physician before starting a probiotic regimen.

**Thank you Silver Fern Brand for sponsoring this post**