The importance of maintaining beneficial microbes in the intestines has been getting more and more attention. New research supports the value of bacteria-rich cultured and fermented foods, which are traditional in many cultures. Vegan probiotics supplements are helpful for those who can't consume yogurt, kefir, or cultured buttermilk because they choose to avoid foods of animal origin.
Recently, the American National Institutes Of Health has undertaken a comprehensive study of the bacteria in the human gut. Many, many different kinds of intestinal microbes have been identified, some with difficult names like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Scientists are identifying the different kinds and trying to determine the function of each. Both good and bad bacteria exist in the human digestive system.
Scientists say that there are far more intestinal bacteria than cells in a human body - as much as ten times more. This gives you an idea of how much activity goes on in the process of digestion and utilization of food. There are harmful, disease-causing organisms, like yeasts; these are held in check by beneficial microbes. Poorly digested food or damaged walls of the large and small intestine cause allergic reactions and inflammation. Beneficial bacteria produce secretions that boost the immune system, helping to reduce inflammation, flatulence, and constipation.
Many people groups still eat a lot of fermented and cultured foods and therefore have a better chance of maintaining a healthy population of intestinal flora. Western societies tend to eat less of these probiotic-rich foods. A great deal of the so-called 'good for you' yogurt and kefir products are filled with sweeteners like sugar and high fructose corn syrup; these sweeteners are hard on good bacteria but feed yeast.
Acidophilus and Lactobacillus, two strains of bacterium familiar to many because they are found in conventional yogurt, are only two of many beneficial bacterium under investigation. Yogurt and kefir, of course, are off-limits to vegans. Lactobacillus can be found in vegetable foods like kimchi or green superfoods (spirulina, chorella, blue-green algae). This good microbe is also present in kombucha, the popular fermented tea.
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.
Recently, the American National Institutes Of Health has undertaken a comprehensive study of the bacteria in the human gut. Many, many different kinds of intestinal microbes have been identified, some with difficult names like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Scientists are identifying the different kinds and trying to determine the function of each. Both good and bad bacteria exist in the human digestive system.
Scientists say that there are far more intestinal bacteria than cells in a human body - as much as ten times more. This gives you an idea of how much activity goes on in the process of digestion and utilization of food. There are harmful, disease-causing organisms, like yeasts; these are held in check by beneficial microbes. Poorly digested food or damaged walls of the large and small intestine cause allergic reactions and inflammation. Beneficial bacteria produce secretions that boost the immune system, helping to reduce inflammation, flatulence, and constipation.
Many people groups still eat a lot of fermented and cultured foods and therefore have a better chance of maintaining a healthy population of intestinal flora. Western societies tend to eat less of these probiotic-rich foods. A great deal of the so-called 'good for you' yogurt and kefir products are filled with sweeteners like sugar and high fructose corn syrup; these sweeteners are hard on good bacteria but feed yeast.
Acidophilus and Lactobacillus, two strains of bacterium familiar to many because they are found in conventional yogurt, are only two of many beneficial bacterium under investigation. Yogurt and kefir, of course, are off-limits to vegans. Lactobacillus can be found in vegetable foods like kimchi or green superfoods (spirulina, chorella, blue-green algae). This good microbe is also present in kombucha, the popular fermented tea.
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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