I didn’t know much about probiotics prior to my early 30s, to be honest. I mean, I knew about them and that most yogurts contained them…but other than that I paid them no mind. However, as you know by now, my son developed some pretty intense health issues when he was a toddler which is what propelled me forward onto this journey of health-discovery and probiotics played a pretty major role in his recovery. From that point on, my household has had probiotics served daily in as many forms as possible.
Before I jump deeper into my probiotic love affair explanation, I’ll give you a little background on what they are and why they’re so beneficial. Probiotics are living microorganisms (friendly bacteria and yeasts) that are really beneficial for your digestive system and gut microbiome. They basically keep your gut healthy which in turn keeps your immune system functioning optimally and even so much as helps keep your mental health more balanced. Yep….something a lot of us don’t grow up being told by our doctors is that gut bacteria plays a substantial role in our mood and mental health.
Probiotics have also been shown to help with allergies, acne and skin flare-ups, low immune function, constipation, bloating, irregular bowels, and weight gain because all of these things can and are often be attributed to poor gut health. If you are ever prescribed antibiotics, then probiotics are essential in helping your gut bacteria go back to normal afterwords. For women, probiotics can help ward off yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and those dreaded UTIs. Not bad, eh?
Again, it’s not usual for an allopathic doctor to address any of these issues as a dysfunctional gut problem. Instead we get acne creams, antacids, and a bunch of other stuff that just never gets to the root of the problem and we end up normalizing feeling like crap. If probiotics can address any of these symptoms, why not give them a try?
Simply put, probiotics can help get you back to feeling like you’re supposed to….and I love them for that.
….now back to my story….after getting tired of the run around from my son’s doctors I ended up finding an integrative pediatrician who immediately recommended that he start taking probiotics specifically formulated for toddlers. Within two weeks his health made a drastic turn for the better. His eczema started clearing up, he stopped having constant stomachaches, and we had a major respite in the upper respiratory viruses that seemed to plague him non-stop. Watching such a significant change in my kid was eye opening and a game changer for me and how I viewed probiotics and so many other things we put into our bodies.
My son is 17 now and he’s been taking probiotics since age two. His sister is 14 and also has had probiotics in her life since infancy. I take them every day as well. We get our probiotics from food sources like yogurt, apple cider vinegar, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi. We also take probiotic supplements (since there’s only so much yogurt or sauerkraut we want to eat in a day!) and we drink kombucha. These whole food sources of probiotics are bioavailable and really make a massive difference in how we feel and how we manage to ward off illness.
When my kids were very small, you can imagine there was no way I was getting them to eat fermented foods without some serious pushback. I did try to expose them to sauerkraut (not fans), although they did like pickles (yay) and yogurt was fine as long as there was no added sugar (I am so mean). Adding probiotic supplements to their apple sauce was always an option but could get messy. It wasn’t always easy to get them to have the most beneficial amounts of this gut loving stuff, but it was worth it. Thankfully, as they’ve gotten older, it’s been so much easier getting them to take their supplements…and we have so many more alternatives now than we had back then!
As a matter of fact, I can now send my kids to school with kombucha drinks for their lunches that taste amazing and keep them away from the vending machines. These newschool probiotic filled drinks don’t taste vinegary like the oldschool stuff that I’ve been drinking for years making them totally kid-friendly! Two of my favorite brands are Koe Kombucha and Sunny Culture which makes organic kombucha drinks and shots with immune boosting and anti-inflammatory ingredients like turmeric, ginger and elderberry. I love the Sunny Culture shots if I start feeling a little under the weather or have a tickle in my throat. They give me the exact boost I need to stay healthy. So good and so good FOR you! Definitely a great probiotic alternative if you’re just not a fan of fermented foods or taking capsules.
In a nutshell, probiotics support a healthy gut which in turn supports so many of your body’s functions. I will never understand why we aren’t told from day one to make sure that we have a diet rich with these beneficial bacterias. Imagine how much healthier we would feel and be if we had these amazing little microorganisms on our sides all the time! ….and now we can!
That’s all for now….I’ve got some yogurt and kimchi to go eat! 😉
(Oh and no I’m not a doctor, just very fortunate to have worked with an incredible group of integrative doctors that understand all aspects of health and wellness…just sharing what I’ve learned and has worked for my family. Hope it helps someone else too!)
**As an affiliate, I make a small portion of sales made via some links in my posts.
**header photo by Andrea Piacquadio @pexels
