The Good Bacteria Your Kids Need

Do you know that our health is determined by how healthy our gut is? There are trillions of bacteria that live inside our gut, being the good and bad bacteria, both having very big impact on our immune system, energy, and nutrient absorption. What is a good bacteria and how do we achieve it?

Before anything, we learn about the “microbiome”, the largest concentration of microorganisms. It is made up of trillions of tiny microbes that are bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Did you know that there’s a good bacteria and bad bacteria? A good bacteria acts as a medicine, creating antibiotics. Bad bacteria causes infection, making us sick, and even kill us. An imbalance of homeostasis in our bodies forms bad bacteria in our gut. A healthy balance in a person is 85% good bacteria and 15% bad bacteria. These bacteria can survive just about anywhere in our skin, mouth, and gut. But mostly, they live in our gut where it breaks down food and absorb nutrients in your body.

The good bacteria thrive in complex carbohydrates that are found in plants. Good food to watch out for are kimchi, tempeh, miso, kombucha, pickles, etc. A study shows that a diet high in fruits and vegetables decrease the growth of disease-causing bacteria.

Lack of sleep can have serious negative impacts to your gut health. 7-8 hours of interrupted sleep is advisable to ensure good bacteria in your body. Dr. Michael Breus, a sleep doctor, conducted a small study of nine healthy young men with decreased beneficial bacterias after just two nights of sleep deprivation.

Chewing slowly promotes full digestion and absorption of nutrients. This will help achieve a healthy gut. It is important to breakdown all good nutrients that you consume. Practice mindful eating!

Processed, high-fat, and high-sugar foods should be avoided to ensure a healthy gut. Cutting down on these will set a positive change in your digestive health.

Try meditating and doing some yoga stretches to soothe your body and mind. Resting is important for it is healing! Remember to take a break whenever you feel there’s so much on your plate and you don’t even have the time to breathe. Although being productive is important, rest is very vital to your health.