PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS

“There are two absorption systems in your body. Food that is easily broken down is absorbed into your upper intestinal tract. If you cannot absorb a particular food, it goes to the lower intestinal tract (colon), where bacteria in your colon ferment it to smaller products that can be absorbed.

Your colon is loaded with good and bad bacteria. Bad bacteria such as clostridia that are kept in check by good bacteria. If you take an antibiotic that knocks off the good bacteria, the clostridia can overgrow and cause diarrhea.

The good bacteria break down soluble fiber to form chemicals such as short chain fatty acids that are absorbed into your bloodstream and travel to your liver where they block the liver from making cholesterol and help to prevent heart attacks. These short chain fatty acids also reduce inflammation, so they help to control the bloody diarrhea and ulcers caused by Crohn’s disease. They also reduce swelling and pain of arthritis, diabetes and psoriasis, and some studies show they may even improve your immunity to help you to kill germs.

If you wish to encourage the growth of good bacteria in your colon, you have two choices: probiotics or prebiotics. Probiotics are living microorganisms, the good bacteria, that live in the colon and reduce inflammation and help prevent and treat Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, arthritis, and perhaps even certain types of cancers. Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that cannot be absorbed in the upper intestinal tract and travel to the colon where they serve as a medium to encourage the growth of the good bacteria.

Prebiotics are found in certain foods that are not completely absorbed in your upper intestinal tract pass to your colon and form the food that encourages growth of the good bacteria. Soluble fiber is the part of these foods that is most likely to encourage the growth of good bacteria. Prebiotic supplements are available, but it is easier and cheaper just to eat plenty of the foods that provide this benefit. Good sources of soluble fiber are seeds, vegetables and nuts.”

(Taken from: DrMirkin.com) Great website with a lot of good info on health from a Dr.’s point of view.

Also note that if you are eating Paleo you are getting tons of soluble fibers which helps to grow the good bacteria in the colon!

Keep up the good diet!

WEDNESDAY

TECH: Handstands and Walking on hands (practice it against the wall and if you are brave, on midfloor)

WOD: ANA’S SPAN

AMRAP in 20 min:

1 Rope Climb

10 Pushups

15 V-sits

20 Box Jumps

BRING YOUR LONG SOCKS and GOOD LUCK!

Fancypants and Sheppy