Living a healthy life is all about practicing healthy habits. Whether that’s working out every morning, swapping sugary desserts for tasty fruit, or just staying hydrated throughout the day, each of these things can add up to make a major impact on your overall health—including your gut health. In fact, if a healthier gut is what you’re after, specifically, there are a few things you can incorporate into your daily routine to set your digestive system (and, in turn, the rest of your body) on the right track—including one simple supplement.
Lisa Richards, nutritionist and creator of The Candida Diet, tells us one of the best things you can do every day to improve your gut health is take a simple daily probiotic. We spoke to Richards to learn more about what exactly probiotics are, how they can restore balance in your gut, and how to choose the right one. Find it all below!
Taking a daily probiotic
When it comes to gut health, probiotics can be a total gamechanger. These live microorganisms found in foods like yogurt, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut, and more work to repopulate your gut microbiome with good bacteria in order to restore balance and improve digestion. While integrating probiotics into your meals through foods like these is always a great idea, Richards suggests cutting the hassle out by taking a daily probiotic supplement to ensure you're always getting an ample amount.
"Probiotics are a great addition to anyone's health regimen despite age, gender, or health status," Richards tells us. "They reduce inflammation, boost your immunity, and maintain a healthy balance of flora in your gut." And, of course, all that means they can keep your digestive system in tip-top shape—perfect!
Choosing the right probiotic
Since gut health is all the rage these days, there are tons of probiotic supplements on the market to choose from. Luckily, Richards gave us her advice for choosing the best possible product for your gut. "There are three probiotic strains I recommend for men and women alike; L. plantarum, L. paracasei, and L. acidophilus," she says. L. plantarum helps to improve gas caused by irritable bowel syndrome, while L. paracasei reduces inflammation and boosts immunity, and L. acidophilus reduces abdominal pain and bloating.
Additionally, Richards urges readers to keep the amount of colony forming units (CFUs) in mind. "It is important to ensure your probiotic contains at least 10 billion CFUs of bacteria, and a number of well-researched probiotic strains." She also notes that you should "avoid probiotics that contain ingredients like sweeteners or gums that might inflame your gut." Finally, "look for a probiotic supplement that has some kind of mechanism for getting its bacteria past your stomach acid and to your gut." Got it!
Overall, whether you choose to get your probiotics through foods like fermented varieties and yogurt or you go with Richard's recommendation and take a daily supplement, upping your intake is one of the best things you can do to improve your digestion. Your body will thank you!
