{"id":1730,"date":"2016-03-13T09:00:41","date_gmt":"2016-03-13T13:00:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/safaraf.com\/?p=1730"},"modified":"2016-03-12T12:21:24","modified_gmt":"2016-03-12T17:21:24","slug":"spring-into-health-table-talk-1digestion-friendly-gut-mindfulness-healthy-gut-bacteria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/safaraf.com\/?p=1730","title":{"rendered":"Spring into Health: Table Talk 1:Digestion Friendly Gut (Mindfulness & Healthy Gut Bacteria)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"saurkraut\"<\/a>Happy days for the Spring that has yet to have sprung. \u00a0All this to say that I am not sure from where on this great green earth you are reading this but here, in Great Barrington MA we have been enjoying some warmth and sun that has been a nice prelude to spring.<\/p>\n

We enjoyed a wonderful gathering at the Ramsdell Library in Housatonic, MA on March 5th.\u00a0 We had\u00a0the first of 4 part series,\u00a0Table Talk 1:\u00a0Digestion Friendly Gut.\u00a0 Here is a recap\u00a0with some\u00a0highlights from the discussion:<\/p>\n

Mindfulness<\/strong><\/p>\n

Overall digestive healthy gut begins with our understanding that it is not just the foods that we eat that give our guts the support it needs to function optimally, but the way we approach our lifestyle.\u00a0 Finding opportunities to be mindful in various aspects of your daily life creates the space for digestion to begin.\u00a0 We digest our thoughts.\u00a0 Practicing mindful based eating, yoga, stretches and gentle movements throughout your day can go a long way to supporting your gut.\u00a0 Beginning here and then looking at one’s diet is a good way to start.<\/p>\n

Bacteria\u00a0& Healthy Gut\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sometimes we think of bacteria and consider it as part of the “germ” family, those icky things that we want to dispose of when we are feeling unwell or keep at bay from our body.\u00a0 It’s often that we see the word bacteria\u00a0on the labels for cleaning products\u00a0that claim to ward off these pesky things we “don’t want”\u00a0hanging around our kitchen counters and bathroom.\u00a0 But bacteria gets a bad rap more often than a good one and its this stigma that I hope to change.<\/p>\n

When it comes to bacteria in our bodies, these micro-organisms can do us a lot of good.\u00a0 Bacteria is normally present in the intestine and it helps us digest our food and produce vitamins we need.\u00a0 There is the battle of bacteria that is always going on in our bodies with the good bacteria trying to destroy other disease-causing microorganisms, that is part of their job.<\/p>\n

Probiotics\u00a0is a\u00a0term used to describe strands of microorganism that live naturally in our bodies the bacteria\u00a0we want to keep around- the good guys & gals (not to discriminate :).\u00a0 The micro-organisms listed on products or on foods labeled probiotic usually have long, lengthy scientific names we can’t pronounce.<\/p>\n

The two most common and most studies of these larger kinds of microorganisms are Lactobacillus and Bifodobacterium.\u00a0 Within these are many different types of bacteria with other long, difficult to pronounce names.\u00a0\u00a0 Just to clarify prebiotic – is another term you might see, these are dietary substances like fiber from fruits and vegetables that favor the growth of beneficial bacteria over harmful ones they are like the food for the probiotic.<\/p>\n

Scientific studies often focus on these two microorganisms\u00a0to prevent or treat health problems.\u00a0 There are a lot of questions about which strands are helpful, how much to take, who is most likely to benefit from them as not all probiotics are the same.\u00a0 The other factor is when you go to the store to buy\u00a0 bottle of probiotics how do you know you are getting the specific kind you need and that it contains what it says on the label.\u00a0 The fact is you don’t, which is why seeking a professional nutritionist and informing your physician of any additions to your vitamin routine is so important.<\/p>\n

So, if you want to\u00a0boost your gut with healthy bacteria and get them without reading a label what can you do?<\/p>\n

Answer is: plant-based foods.<\/p>\n

Plenty of plant-based foods offer these in a natural source form.\u00a0 Here are a list of some:<\/p>\n

Fermented products that:<\/strong><\/p>\n