Keep Yourself Healthy

Kerry McClure – Practical Wellness

August 4, 2014 ·

There are several things I do everyday to help keep myself healthy, vibrant and full of energy. At the top is lemon water first thing in the morning, and number two, eating cultured foods for their probiotic properties.

Probiotics are friendly bacteria that help your body to thrive on multiple levels. In Greek, the term means “for life,” and the myriad of research surrounding these healthful microorganisms suggests that they are, in fact, an integral part of your well-being.

Believe it or not, we are more bacteria than we are human. The microbiome in our gut governs many of our body’s key functions and is crucial to our overall health.

A balanced microbiome regulates the immune system, metabolism, sustains the gastrointestinal tract, supports mood and brain function, produces crucial vitamins and nutrients, and helps us maintain a healthy weight.

So if you want to lose weight and feel better it’s essential that you balance the microbiome in your gut. One of the most effective ways to do that is by eating fermented foods.

Here are a few examples of fermented foods readily available to us in the U.S:

Sauerkraut — a version of fermented cabbage eaten throughout Eastern Europe, Russia, Austria, and Germany

Kimchee — a Korean version of fermented cabbage, carrots, onions, and garlic

Fermented vegetables — available ready-made in most stores and online

Kefir — a fermented milk drink from the north Caucasus

Yogurt — another type of fermented milk product eaten throughout central and west Asia, India, central Europe, and the Balkans

Here’s to continued good health…

Interesting articles for sources of this information and further reading:
http://www.theepochtimes.com/…/827537-the-healing-power-of…/

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/…/why-fermented-foods-are-good…