Aside from these good bacteria, exist the 'bad' bacteria. Bad bacteria, such as E Coli, S Enteritides and C Jejuni, may cause gastrointestinal diseases if allowed to proliferate. This happens when the amount of good bacteria is much lower than normal. This lowers the competition for space and nutrition in the gut, allowing the bad bacteria to flourish and increase in numbers. For this reason, it is best to maintain optimal quantities of these good bacteria, an example of which is L Acidophilus. Probiotics such as Activatedyou, help to increase the numbers of these good bacteria so as to keep the more harmful strains from dominating the gut lining. Activatedyou repopulates your bowel with 30 different bacterial strains, that are important for a healthy digestive system.
How can you get more good bacteria in your gut?
1. Substitute yogurt for sour cream
Compared to yogurt, sour cream is higher in fat content and has much less protein. This alone is a good enough reason to ditch the sour cream and go for this much healthier option. Unlike sour cream, yogurt has probiotics that can help improve gut health. The two have the same consistency so you have nothing to lose. Here is one way in which you can incorporate yogurt into your meals.
Ranch Dip Recipe
You will need;
-1 packet of ranch dip mix
-16 ounces of greek yogurt
-1/4 cup of ripe olives or chopped onions
Directions
-Mix the yogurt and ranch dip mix in a medium-sized bowl. Blend the two ingredients together then add the chopped onions or ripe olives. Mix all the ingredients together then chill the mixture for about an hour. Serve your ranch dip with your favorite veggies.
2. Eat more fermented vegetables
Fermented vegetables are a healthy source of good bacteria. Kimchi is a popular Korean dish made with salted fermented vegetables. You can buy this food at the store or make your own at home. Making your own DIY kimchi is very simple and requires just a few minutes to prepare. All ingredients are easily available at your local grocery store.
Kimchi Recipe
You will need;
-Purple cabbage
-Vinegar
-Peeled ginger
-Mashed garlic cloves
-Radish
-Black pepper
-Chilli pepper
-Honey
Directions
Wash and rinse your vegetables, chop them and mix them in a medium-sized bowl. Blend them together and add the remaining ingredients. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in the blender jar and seal the lid. Place the mixture in cold storage to allow fermentation to occur. You can choose to let your vegetables ferment for 3 to 5 weeks, or up to 7 months if you prefer. Once ready, you can serve your kimchi with scrambled eggs, tacos, fried rice, or even put it on your pizza.
3. Feed the good bacteria
Cell division is an energy-dependent process. Providing adequate nutrition for the good bugs allows them to multiply. This helps to create a healthy balance between the good and the bad bacteria. Once the population of good bacteria in the gut increases, the competition for food and space that results, will limit the proliferation of the bad bacteria.
Prebiotics are foods that selectively promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in your gut. By incorporating prebiotics into your diet, you will be a step closer to achieving more balanced digestive tract flora. Examples of prebiotics include Jerusalem Artichoke, chicory root, asparagus, dandelion greens, garlic, and onions, among others
Bad bacteria need to feed too to proliferate. Depriving them of their sources of nutrition is a good and effective way to regulate their numbers. These bugs prefer foods such as processed foods, sugar, fried foods, and artificial sweeteners. Avoiding these foods, therefore, will selectively starve these bugs, allowing the good bugs to flourish.
To maintain optimal gut health, you must replenish these much-needed good bacteria and provide them with constant nutrition to maintain their numbers. By adding yogurt to your recipes, trying out fermented vegetables, eating prebiotics regularly, and avoiding foods that promote bad bacteria, you will begin to experience a dramatic improvement in your digestive health
