Have you ever heard the expression, “Go with your Gut?”
It turns out, this might be one of the best health tips you can follow!
Taking care of your gastrointestinal tract has more benefits than just promoting digestive comfort. In fact, maintaining a balanced gut microbiome plays a role in supporting overall health.
Research suggests that gut health is linked to various bodily functions, including immune system health, hormone balance, cardiovascular health, and even skin health.
When gut health is compromised, it can have a broad impact on general well-being. Supporting a balanced gut microbiome may contribute to better digestive function and overall health.
So, how can you support your gut? One way is by considering the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics, which may help promote a balanced microbiome.
To better understand your digestive health, it’s important to learn how your body is responding and what your gut needs to thrive.
What is the Gut Microbiome?
The gut microbiome is often referred to as one of the most significant discoveries in human healthcare in recent years [1].
It is considered the largest “internal organ” in the body, yet its importance has only been fully recognized in the last two decades.
So why did it remain under the radar for so long?
The gut microbiome is not composed of human cells. Instead, it’s made up of trillions of microorganisms, with the majority being bacteria.
To be exact, there are about 100 trillion bacteria living in your gut, which is approximately 10 times more bacteria than there are human cells in the body [2].
Fortunately, these bacteria are beneficial and contribute to various aspects of your health. They assist in important bodily functions such as digestion, metabolism, immune system function, and hormonal balance. Additionally, studies suggest that the gut microbiome may influence bone and muscle health [3,4].
Emerging research also shows that certain microbes in the gut could play a role in conditions related to heart health and mental well-being, including anxiety and depression [5,6]. This has led to the exploration of probiotics as a potential support for mental health [1].
As you can see, your gut microbiome plays a critical role in overall health and well-being.
What Makes a Healthy Gut Microbiome?
Given its wide-ranging impact, it’s clear why the gut microbiome is vital for holistic health.
When you feel your best, your gut microbiome likely plays a role. On the other hand, digestive discomfort or other health issues may be linked to an imbalance in the microbiome.
So, what makes a “healthy” gut microbiome? Research has shown that diversity in the microbiome is a key factor [2]. A greater variety of beneficial bacteria can support better gut health.
Adding probiotics and prebiotics to your diet may support a healthy microbiome, which in turn could have a positive effect on digestion and overall wellness.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.
These beneficial bacteria naturally reside in your gut and help support important functions such as digestion, immune system health, and waste elimination. Your body already contains probiotic bacteria, which are essential for maintaining overall health.
However, certain factors—such as the use of antibiotics, high levels of stress, poor diet (including processed foods and refined sugars), and lack of sleep—can disrupt the balance of beneficial bacteria in your gut.
If your gut microbiome becomes unbalanced, incorporating probiotic-rich foods or supplements may help support a healthy, diverse microbiome.
What are Prebiotics?
Prebiotics are non-digestible food components that promote the growth and activity of beneficial microorganisms in the gut.
They serve as nourishment for probiotics, helping them thrive and maintain a healthy balance in your gut microbiome. A diet rich in prebiotic foods—such as apples, bananas, garlic, and onions—can support your gut health naturally.
However, if your diet lacks these prebiotic-rich foods, you may choose to supplement with prebiotics to help support a balanced gut microbiome.
Potential Benefits of a Pre+Probiotic Balance
If overall wellness begins with gut health, then probiotics and prebiotics play key roles in supporting balanced nutrition. These ingredients contribute to maintaining a healthy gut microbiome, which is essential for general well-being.
Research continues to explore the many ways our gut microbiome may influence overall well-being. Here are some of the potential benefits of maintaining a balanced and diverse microbiome:
- Whole Body Balance: A balanced gut microbiome is thought to help regulate various processes, including hormone levels, inflammation, and appetite, which contribute to overall well-being.
- Digestive Support: An unbalanced gut may be associated with symptoms such as bloating, gas, or digestive discomfort. Supporting your gut with prebiotics and probiotics may help promote healthy digestion and gut function.
- Immune System Support: A significant portion of the immune system resides in the gut, and gut bacteria are involved in immune responses. A healthy microbiome may support a well-functioning immune system.
- Healthy Aging: Research suggests that a diverse microbiome may be linked to healthy aging, supporting functions such as bone health, muscle maintenance, and cognitive function.
- Skin Health: Maintaining gut balance may help regulate factors related to skin appearance and help manage skin conditions related to inflammation.
- Weight Management: The gut microbiome plays a role in the body’s metabolism, including how it stores and burns energy. Some research indicates that a balanced microbiome may be involved in regulating appetite and body composition.
- Blood Sugar Management: Ongoing studies suggest that probiotics may help support healthy blood sugar levels, which can contribute to overall metabolic health.
- Cognitive Health: The gut microbiome is thought to have a connection with brain health, influencing mood and cognitive function. A balanced microbiome may support mental clarity and overall cognitive well-being.
Incorporating Probiotic Foods into Your Diet
To support your gut health, consider including more probiotic-rich foods and drinks in your diet. These may contribute to maintaining a balanced microbiome and digestive function.
Probiotic foods:
- Yogurt
- Cheese (blue, swiss, provolone, parmesan, gouda, aged cheddar)
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Miso
- Pickles
Probiotic drinks:
- Kombucha
- Kefir
- Drinkable Yogurt
- Apple cider vinegar
Note: Some of these foods may not be commonly found in all diets.
Additionally, certain foods, such as pasteurized cheese, may not contain active cultures due to the pasteurization process.
If you find it challenging to include these foods regularly, you might want to consider adding a pre+probiotic supplement to help support your digestive health.
Support Your Gut with a Pre+Probiotic Supplement
Introducing beneficial bacteria into your gut microbiome can support overall digestive health, but not all prebiotic and probiotic supplements are the same.
As research into the gut microbiome grows, more supplements are available claiming to support gut health. So, how do you choose a quality pre+probiotic supplement?
What to Look for in a Pre+Probiotic Supplement:
- The Right Bacteria: Your gut contains many types of bacteria. A good probiotic supplement should include strains that may help maintain digestive health without causing discomfort. Look for strains like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
- Diversity: A balanced blend of bacteria can support a varied gut microbiome. Including a range of beneficial bacteria may help improve gut health, especially for individuals with less diversity in their microbiome.
- Strength in Numbers: To support gut health, a probiotic supplement should contain an adequate amount of bacteria. Look for supplements with at least 1 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) per dose.
- Effective Delivery System: Probiotics must survive the journey through your stomach acid and digestive tract to reach the gut. Supplements using a delivery system like liposomal technology may help protect the bacteria during digestion, ensuring more reach your gut.
- Prebiotics + Probiotics: Prebiotics support the growth of good bacteria in your gut. For optimal balance, look for supplements that include both prebiotics and probiotics.
Manna Liposomal Pre+Probiotic contains a diverse blend of 40 billion CFUs of bacteria and prebiotic fuel to support digestive health. Thanks to our NanoFuse liposomal delivery system, more bacteria reach your gut compared to standard non-liposomal products.
While we can’t make any health claims, our team of experts developed this blend to help support digestion, metabolism, immunity, and whole-body balance.
FAQs
A good prebiotic and probiotic supplement should contain diverse strains of beneficial bacteria, a high number of colony-forming units (CFUs), an effective delivery system to protect the bacteria, and a combination of both prebiotics and probiotics to support overall gut health.
A balanced gut microbiome offers numerous benefits, including improved digestion, stronger immune function, better skin health, effective weight management, enhanced mental clarity, and healthy aging.
You can improve gut health by consuming a diet rich in probiotic and prebiotic foods, managing stress, getting adequate sleep, and avoiding processed foods and antibiotics when possible. Taking a prebiotic and probiotic supplement can also support a balanced gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome is a complex community of trillions of microorganisms, mainly bacteria, that live in your digestive tract. These microorganisms play a crucial role in various bodily functions, including digestion, metabolism, and immune response.
Gut health impacts the entire body, influencing the immune system, endocrine (hormone) system, cardiovascular system, skeletal system, brain, and skin. Poor gut health can lead to numerous health issues, including allergies, asthma, and autoimmune diseases.
- https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/11/unlocking-the-gut-microbiome-and-its-massive-significance-to-our-health
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5433529/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7933548/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6933299/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2022.903570/full
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-022-01479-w
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33803407/
- https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aac8469
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7333005/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7601389/
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/science/2018/11/02/immigrants-arrive-with-flourishing-gut-microbes-then-americas-diet-trashes-them/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26161741/
