Flex Australia – June-July 2017

38 FLEX | JUNE – JULY 2017

FOOD & SUPPS

I’ve been

hearing about

how bacteria

can help us. How

can I make sure

I’ve got the good

stomach bugs?

Studies on the bacterial
populations that live in our
gastrointestinal tract have
exploded in the past few years.
These masses of germs — which
are estimated to be at least three
times more populous than your
own human cells — are called
your microbiome, and they
have been foundtoinfluence
everything from mental health
and metabolism to the immune
system and heart health.
One key to keeping them on
your side and not turning into an
unruly mob of harmful bacteria
is to continuously add in more
good guys to keep the baddies in
check. And that means you should
be getting plenty of foods that
feature probiotics.Loadupon
naturally fermented foods like live
culture yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut,
kombucha, kimchi, etc.
Our GI tract should naturally be
more acidic, but factors such as
substances in our water, poor
food choices, antibiotics or other
drugs can make it shift to a more
alkaline environment, which is
not hospitable for the good
bacteria. The acidic environment
is essential for breaking down
foods into the nutrients your body
needs to absorb.Ifyou’renot

TENDING TO THE

BENEFICIAL BACTERIA

POPULATIONS IN YOUR

GUT CAN IMPROVE

YOUR HEALTH.

GUT

CHECK

getting these nutrients, you’ll start

to see deficiencies and decreases

in your overall health.

Another way to help those

beneficial bugs help you is by

feedingthemwhattheythriveon:

prebiotics. Foods that do this are

typicallywoodyanddenseraw

vegetables like asparagus, onion,

garlic,leeks,jicamaandkale

stems because they have high

amounts of a type of plant

fibre called oligosaccharides

that we can’t digest, but our

gut bacteria loves.

Keep your

gastrointestinal

tract functioning

properly with

both probiotics

and prebiotics

to maintain

overall health.

ASK THE DIETITIAN BY JIM WHITE

RADIUS IMAGES/ALAMY

ABOUT THE DIETITIAN

Jim White is an exercise

physiologist and registered

dietitian. See more at

jimwhitefit.com