Most people have a ‘gut feeling’ and it’s not a good
one! Digestive issues are one of
the most common complaints that I’ve heard in my years as a community
pharmacist. In fact, as many as 1
in 3 Americans have some sort of digestive disorder, from bloating and
heartburn, to more serious issues such as Crohn’s Disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. This means big business for the
pharmaceutical industry (and lots of gas for our atmosphere)!
The missing link that most people make is the connection
between a healthy digestive tract to many other, seemingly unrelated health
issues. An unhealthy gut can cause
anything from skin issues to allergies. Not only is the digestive tract where
we absorb the necessary nutrients our body requires, it’s also known to support
a healthy immune system and is critical for our mental status. The healthy bacteria in our gut produce
a large percentage of the neurochemicals that our brain uses for such things as
memory and mood.
Often, a simple approach one can take to improving that ‘gut
feeling’ is by taking a probiotic.
Probiotics, meaning pro-life, are supplements that contain various
strains of organisms that live in our digestive tract. They’ve been recommended for years to
help women protect themselves from yeast infections. But, there are a huge range of other benefits to taking
probiotics, such as supporting your immune system, digestive health, oral
health, and brain chemistry just to name a few.
When choosing a probiotic, there are a few things to
consider, such as how many and which strains the probiotic contains. Also, will the product deliver
what it says on the label through the stomach, and to the intestinal tract
where it is needed. It’s important
to choose a high quality product from a reputable company. Personally, I take Nutriclean
Probiotics from nutraMetrix, but there are other great probiotics out there from
other companies, such as Metagenix and Integrative Therapeutics.
Next time you complain about gas or bloating, think of me
and take a probiotic. Better yet,
take them every day to help promote optimal wellness…Brian
Here’s a link to some of my favorite supplements to promote
wellness:
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