Did you know?
Our gut bacteria influences weight. Many species of Lactobacillus promote weight loss. With 1,000 of species of bacteria in the gut, individual species may exert more influence than other families, so the real problem may be imbalance in gut bacteria species in which beneficial bacteria are outnumbered by harmful ones.
Consequently, the best approach may well be to take a multi-species probiotic to maintain a healthy balance in the gut. Soluble dietary fiber is rich in fructo-oligosaccarides (FOS) and galacto-oligosaccardes (GOS), two types of prebiotics, non-digestible carbohydrates that act as food for our gut microbes. These carbohydrates pass through the digestive tract intact, until they reach the large intestine where the microbes digest them and use them for energy.
Consumption of prebiotics can bring balance to the gut, and has been shown to increase numbers of probiotics. People who eat very high-fiber diets have a more diverse-i.e., healthier-population of bacteria in their gut. Foods that are rich in prebiotics include bananas, onions, leeks, garlic, Jerusalem artichoke and asparagus. Additionally, look for a probiotic supplement that also contains prebiotics.
