What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?

What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?

Our overall health is dependent on many things; many of them we think and know about – including getting enough sleep, feeding our bodies’ good food, making time for relaxation and not polluting our bodies with toxins and artificial chemicals.

However, one of the things that most people never think about as a major factor in our overall health are the trillions of microbes that live in our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. In fact, researchers have shown that these beneficial bacteria – often called probiotics, as well as a steady supply of nutrients to feed them – called prebiotics – are absolutely essential for our long term health and vitality.

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Best Fermented Foods for Probiotics

Best Fermented Foods for Probiotics

Gastrointestinal (GI) health is essential for overall health and well-being. The GI tract is responsible for not only the breakdown and absorption of nutrients from the foods we eat; it also plays a major role in our ability to rid ourselves of toxins (a process called detoxification) and comprises about 70% of our overall immune function.

One of the key players in these processes are the trillions of bacteria and other microorganisms that inhabit the GI tract – a system that is collectively called the gut flora. Keeping the gut flora in balance is vital for proper GI functioning, and one of the best ways to do that is to eat fermented foods that are high in probiotics.

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How to Grow a SCOBY at Home

How to Grow a SCOBY at Home

If you love Kombucha, and are not loving the price tag that comes along with store bought Kombucha, you may want to try making this fermented tea at home. The challenge that initially presents itself (besides patience) is where to get a SCOBY or a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast. Cultures for Health offers a starter kit as well as supplies but if you’re in the mood to do things the old fashioned way (sort of), keep reading…

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How to Make a Batch of Kombucha at Home

How to Make a Batch of Kombucha at Home

Kombucha is one of those beverages people either love or maybe not so much.

Here at Natural Solutions for Healthy You, we love Kombucha. If not for the natural source of probiotics created through the fermentation process, then for the mad scientist feeling you get growing microorganisms in a jar on your kitchen counter (AKA the lab). It may not sound very appetizing to some, but if you love natural processes you may end up falling in love with the end product.

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Simple Natural Remedies to Relieve Acid Reflux

Simple Natural Remedies to Relieve Acid Reflux

Many (many!) people experience symptoms of acid reflux. However, what most people don’t know is that it is very rarely due to an excess production of stomach acid. Most of the time, it is due to too little stomach acid production – a condition often referred to as hypoacidity. The fix then for most people is not medications to suppress or neutralize stomach acid; the solution is to address the reasons for the hypoacidity.

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How Do I Choose a Good Probiotic?

How Do I Choose a Good Probiotic?

Probiotics are getting more and more press these days and they are good for just about everybody to take in order to obtain and maintain optimal health. Many people ask us, “How do I choose a good probiotic?”, and with good reason: the gastrointestinal (GI) tract contains more bacterial organisms (trillions) than there are cells in the entire human body.

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