Most people aren't aware that 80% of our immune system is located in our digestive tract. When our gut lining is healthy, our immune system is strong. With that being said, it is extremely important to keep your digestive tract in a healthy state. Ways to ensure a healthy gut include a well balanced diet full of naturally occuring foods. Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and avoiding processed foods are essential to protecting the healthy bacteria that lines the digestive tract. Food irritants that commonly destroy healthy gut bacteria include gluten, dairy, corn, soy & sugar.

In addition to eating a healthy diet, supplementing with a probiotic can be very beneficial. Probiotics basically help replenish the good bacteria that is often times destroyed by bad bacteria in the gut. It's important to find a good quality probiotic that is gluten free and dairy free with several different strains of probiotic.

Another way to consume probiotics is to eat fermented foods. Any type of fruit or vegetable can be fermented, but some of the commonly known foods include sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, horseradish, and sour pickles. When foods are fermented, natural bacteria feed on the sugars and carbohydrates to create lactic acid. This process produces beneficial enzymes, Omega 3, and various strains of probiotics. Fermented foods can be purchased at your local grocery store, or better yet, made at home.

For more information about buying a good probiotic or to learn about additional ways to improve the health of you and your family visit our website here. Dr. Nikki Porteus is a family wellness chiropractor at APEX Wellness Center and strives to be a resource for the DFW community.