The importance of beneficial bacteria in the gut has become widely known as new studies confirm what ancient cultures knew about the value of fermented and cultured foods. However, most easily obtained foods and nutritional products in America are dairy-based. For those who avoid foods of animal origin, vegan probiotics supplements may be the answer.
The national Institutes of Health in the United States has recently begun an in-depth study of the different microbes found in the human intestinal tract. Many different kinds of bacterium have been identified, both beneficial and harmful. Bacterium like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii have been discovered, isolated, studied, and found to have significant benefits to the host.
Most of the organisms, both good and bad, are found in the large intestine, where the bulk of digestion occurs. Beneficial bacteria suppress the harmful yeasts that cause problems if they become too prolific. The 'good guys' also protect the lining of the intestines, which keeps undigested food from passing through into the bloodstream. The 'leaky gut syndrome' is the cause of many allergic reactions to food. Good bacteria boost the immune system, helping it control inflammation, which is the underlying cause of many illnesses.
Although cultured and fermented foods play a major part in the diet of many people groups, western societies are less likely to consume them. Furthermore, many foods which could provide beneficial bacteria, like yogurt and kefir, have been turned into desserts with high-fructose corn syrup or sugar, neither of which help keep intestinal flora healthy.
Many consumers are familiar with Lactobacillus, a forms of good bacteria found in milk cultures. Dairy products, of course, are not in a vegan diet. However, Lactobacillus is found in kombucha, a fermented tea drink, in vegetable foods like kimchee, and in green superfoods - chorella, spirulina, and blue-green algae.
Asian people developed tempeh, miso, tamari, and shoyu, all fermented soybean products. Fermented vegetable products include kimchee, sauerkraut, and brine pickles. All of these and many more are rich in beneficial microbes. Dietary experts recommend including fermented and cultured foods in the diet on a regular basis.
Purchasing the right foods is complicated for vegans by the fact that food additives may be of animal origin, even if the main ingredients of a product are all vegetarian. Home-cooking meals are the best way to control what you ingest. However, there are products that exhibit the vegan symbol on their label to reassure consumers of their integrity. Some manufacturers use dedicated facilities to prevent cross-contamination with animal foods.
In these busy modern times, fewer people take the time to make meals at home. In addition, stress and lack of exercise - typical of modern life - are hard on our healthy flora. This is one reason why probiotic supplements have become popular. Fortunately, there are high-quality products available that have the vegan symbol on the label. This assurance is important to consumers who really care about the purity of what they eat. Using supplements also provides high concentrations of beneficial microbes to hasten the process of healing and to make maintaining a healthy bacteria population easier.
The national Institutes of Health in the United States has recently begun an in-depth study of the different microbes found in the human intestinal tract. Many different kinds of bacterium have been identified, both beneficial and harmful. Bacterium like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii have been discovered, isolated, studied, and found to have significant benefits to the host.
Most of the organisms, both good and bad, are found in the large intestine, where the bulk of digestion occurs. Beneficial bacteria suppress the harmful yeasts that cause problems if they become too prolific. The 'good guys' also protect the lining of the intestines, which keeps undigested food from passing through into the bloodstream. The 'leaky gut syndrome' is the cause of many allergic reactions to food. Good bacteria boost the immune system, helping it control inflammation, which is the underlying cause of many illnesses.
Although cultured and fermented foods play a major part in the diet of many people groups, western societies are less likely to consume them. Furthermore, many foods which could provide beneficial bacteria, like yogurt and kefir, have been turned into desserts with high-fructose corn syrup or sugar, neither of which help keep intestinal flora healthy.
Many consumers are familiar with Lactobacillus, a forms of good bacteria found in milk cultures. Dairy products, of course, are not in a vegan diet. However, Lactobacillus is found in kombucha, a fermented tea drink, in vegetable foods like kimchee, and in green superfoods - chorella, spirulina, and blue-green algae.
Asian people developed tempeh, miso, tamari, and shoyu, all fermented soybean products. Fermented vegetable products include kimchee, sauerkraut, and brine pickles. All of these and many more are rich in beneficial microbes. Dietary experts recommend including fermented and cultured foods in the diet on a regular basis.
Purchasing the right foods is complicated for vegans by the fact that food additives may be of animal origin, even if the main ingredients of a product are all vegetarian. Home-cooking meals are the best way to control what you ingest. However, there are products that exhibit the vegan symbol on their label to reassure consumers of their integrity. Some manufacturers use dedicated facilities to prevent cross-contamination with animal foods.
In these busy modern times, fewer people take the time to make meals at home. In addition, stress and lack of exercise - typical of modern life - are hard on our healthy flora. This is one reason why probiotic supplements have become popular. Fortunately, there are high-quality products available that have the vegan symbol on the label. This assurance is important to consumers who really care about the purity of what they eat. Using supplements also provides high concentrations of beneficial microbes to hasten the process of healing and to make maintaining a healthy bacteria population easier.
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