Be Well: From Kombucha to Kefir – The Benefits of Fermented Foods

MSP Mag | February 08, 2018

Everything you need to know about probiotics and gut health from Minneapolis.St.Paul Magazine and experts at NWHSU.

After overcoming a scary, drug-resistant bacterial infection several years ago, I decided to take an active role in my gut health. I read up on the “good” and “bad” bacteria that live in our insides and started stocking up on probiotic supplements, kefirs, and yogurts. The first time I tried kombucha, nothing could prepare me for the sheer acidic blast of vinegar that hit my mouth. Nowadays, I rarely go without pairing the now-ubiquitous fermented tea drink with my lunch. It isn’t for status or show (it’s been called “the new soda” of the millennial generation)—I do it for the probiotics. (And the sour taste!)

What’s Your Gut Bacteria Telling You?

“Good gut health is linked to important immune functions, like reducing the risk of colon cancer, improving intestinal health, and mitigating the symptoms of lactose intolerance,” says Paul Ratté, ND, assistant professor at Northwestern Health Sciences University. In fact, it’s been revealed that the gut wall houses up to 70 percent of the cells that make up your immune system. “If your good and bad bacteria levels are out of whack, it can create a whole host of issues.” Chief among them: gas, diarrhea, bloating, and irritable bowel syndrome or disease—all telltale signs of an unhealthy gut. Read the full article on Minneapolis.St.Paul Magazine here.