It’s no secret that parents catch things from their kids. And each time the season shifts, kids get sick. As a mom, I know it’s never convenient to take a sick day. When it comes to ensuring your health, there’s nothing quite as powerful as a balanced microbiome. That’s referring to all the microscopic organisms living on and in your body. Your first step is as easy as shopping at Target.
Why you should care about your microbiome
Your unique microbiome houses nearly 100 trillion bacteria. They outnumber your human cells by a factor of 10 to 1. Different kinds of bacteria have different jobs within your body. About 85 percent of them are beneficial probiotics. These good guys help your body produce vitamins, absorb nutrients from your food, regulate your immune system, help you maintain your weight and even influence your mood.
Probiotic bacteria can also serve as placeholders, taking up room by colonizing within your digestive tract so that other harmful bacteria can’t settle in, multiply and create chaos for your system. Time-released probiotics are better because healthy bacteria can make it past your stomach acids to where they are needed.
Having a healthy, balanced microbiome could give you a stronger immune system, so your body is ready to fight off any coughs, sore throats or sniffles the kids bring home.
The care and feeding of your microbiome
Replenish the good bacteria in your gut. So often, we get fixated in macronutrients or micronutrients that we overlook the other elements – such as probiotics – we should be including on our diets. Every mom should be taking probiotics, because they are one of the best ways to support your health.
As these beneficial organisms move through the digestive tract, the very strains needed to maintain your system’s most ideal balance colonize within your system. And because 80 percent of your immune system is in your gut, optimizing your digestive health protects and promotes whole-body wellness. It all starts with a thriving microbiome teeming with good bacteria.
Many aspects of moms’ busy lifestyles are waging a silent war on these beneficial good guys. A diet high in processed or sugary foods, prolonged exposure to antibiotics and birth control pills, overzealous hygiene habits, environmental toxins, stress and other factors can all impact our gut flora. That’s why it’s so important to get as many of these good guys into your system as you can!
Good probiotic sources
You don’t need to shop at an expensive specialty store to stock up on probiotics. I find most of mine at Target, while I’m there shopping for other items. Fermented foods are good sources of probiotics. Choose a variety: pickles, sauerkraut, kimchee, miso and yogurt (with live or active cultures). Some soft cheese such as gouda and cottage cheese, also contain beneficial bacteria.
There is so much science about the value of probiotics to overall health and wellness, that these should be part of every mom’s diet. Even if you eat dairy and fermented products, you should consider taking a natural probiotic supplement for stronger support. The refrigerated, high probiotic count products (which typically cost around $70.00) used to be the gold standard. Now with new-time release technology, shelf-stable convenience is possible with equal or better results at less than half the price. You can also find these at Target! Hyperbiotics PRO-Women is an excellent way to enjoy the benefits of probiotics including promoting urinary and immune health, weight-loss support, better digestion, less bloating, and normal growth and balance of yeast. It’s full-spectrum “mom” wellness.
If you’re pregnant or nursing, I suggest the PRO-Moms formula because it’s formulated with key strains shown to support a healthy mom and baby. It also contains kiwifruit which acts as a prebiotic and helps with the dreaded pregnancy-related constipation.
There’s simply nothing better than knowing you’re addressing your overall health from the inside out. But not even a probiotic can do it all. You need to take care of yourself too so you don’t get run down. Take a deep breath now and then to calm your mind. Eat nutritious foods and get regular exercise, and try to get a full night’s rest or your immune system won’t function right.
You need to take care of yourself, especially because you have others depending on you.