original Turkish name!
While many believe probiotics are helpful because they
take up domicile in the gut, the truth is that the vast majority
of probiotics we consume are just transient visitors, offering
friendly communication with our more permanent residents
and our immune cells.^27 Our immune systems work best in a
state of happy harmony with our microbiota, and probiotics
seem to foster this connection, essentially “tuning” the
immune system on their journey south. Probiotics can also
reinforce the precious gut barrier, “plastering up” any leaks
in the tight junctions between our gut epithelial cells. This
can prevent compounds like endotoxin from leaking into
circulation, a major instigator of systemic inflammation.
Both of these functions together help explain the anti-
inflammatory effects demonstrated by probiotics. The
downstream benefits are innumerable and support the
observation that people who eat more fermented foods tend
to have better health and quality of life.
Just remember: taking a probiotic supplement alone will
never fix the damage caused by a poor diet, but the current
data does show that consuming probiotic-rich foods like
kimchi, kombucha, and kefir can enhance the effects of a
high-fiber, low-carbohydrate diet as described in this book.
Though supplementation is not often necessary, it can’t hurt,
and it might help. In chapter 12 I will explain how to pick a
high-quality probiotic supplement, should you chose to go
that route.