We all want to stay healthy and well, especially during these uncertain times. We’re taking our vitamin C and zinc, and trying to eat right. We’re staying home and getting to rest. However, we also need to think about our gut health, because it is essential for a strong immune system and healthy body.
Your Gut and Your Immune System
Did you know that a large portion of your immune system resides in your gut, or your gastrointestinal (GI) tract? Your gut contains approximately 70 to 80 percent of the cells that are a part of your immune system. So you can understand why it is important to eat right and take care of your gut.
Microbes in the lower intestinal tract not only help us digest food, but also fight harmful bacteria and regulate the immune system. (1) This is one of the many reasons why optimizing the good bacteria in your gut is one of the most important things you can do for your immune system, as well as your overall health.
When the gut becomes unbalanced with unhealthy levels of certain bacteria, probiotics can help restore the balance. They've been shown to secrete protective substances, which may turn on the immune system and prevent pathogens from taking hold and creating major disease. (1)
Symptoms of an Unhealthy Gut
How do you know if you have an unhealthy gut? You won’t feel as well as you should. When an imbalance of bacteria in the gut occurs, it can lead to various symptoms:
- Constipation
- Upset stomach
- Diarrhea
- Heartburn
- Bloating
- Gas
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Skin problems, acne
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are a type of beneficial bacteria that are found within the gut. Probiotics are often called good bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. (2) The seven strains of microbial organisms most often used in probiotic products are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Bacillus. (3)
The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most microbiologically active ecosystems that plays a crucial role in the working of the mucosal immune system. In this ecosystem, the consumed probiotics stimulate the immune system and induce a network of signals mediated by the whole bacteria or their cell wall structure. Probiotic bacteria have significant effects on the functionality of the mucosal and systemic immune systems through the activation of multiple immune mechanisms. (4)
Eating for a Healthy Gut
If you are not eating as well as you should, such as processed foods and simple carbs, this can negatively affect your gut and how you feel. Donuts, bread, cookies, pasta and fast food are not helping you. Adopting a yeast-free eating program is a great way to clean up your gut and get healthy. It’s not too late to sign up for Yeast-Free With Me, a 30 day support system that is designed to help you on the yeast-free eating plan. Join us and receive a FREE copy of Dr. Hotze’s Optimal Eating Program Cookbook with delicious recipes, guidance, emails and tips for staying on track.
Yeast is a fungus which lives and overgrows in our GI tract causing an imbalance in the normal bacteria. It causes us to have less normal healthy bacteria and more yeast. Yeast is capable of producing 180 toxins that can enter our bloodstream and cause negative health symptoms throughout our body.
In order to get rid of yeast, it is essential that you starve the yeast, kill the yeast, and replace the normal bacteria in the colon with good bacteria, or probiotics. The yeast-free eating program eliminates dietary sources of yeast, sugar and carbohydrate-rich foods that provide nourishment to yeast. It involves eating vegetables, fruits, lean meat and nuts, while cutting out the sugar and simple carbs.
Besides improving gut health and helping to boost your immune system, doing a yeast-free eating program has many other benefits. Click here for 10 reasons to eat yeast-free.
Probiotic Supplements
At Hotze Vitamins, Probiotic Blend was designed and clinically tested to be absorbed in your gut at maximum strength. Probiotic Blend is essential when it comes to your overall health and sense of well-being.
Why you'll love Probiotic Blend:
- Supports overall gastrointestinal health
- Aids in controlling yeast/candida overgrowth in the gut
- Promotes skin health
- Essential for the yeast-free eating program
- May boost the immune system and improve allergies
- Freeze-dried and clinically tested to ensure optimal absorption
- Vegetarian formula
- Dairy Free
- 4 billion strains per capsule plus FOS (pre-biotics)
Children need a healthy gut, too. We also carry a Chewable Probiotic Blend for Kids. It has 2 billion CFU per chewable tablet from 10 clinically validated probiotic strains.
We are Here for You
If you have questions about how you can optimize your gut health, call our Certified Holistic Nutritionists and Vitamin Consultants at 800-579-6545 and they will be happy to assist you.
Research
3. Probiotics
4. Beneficial Effects of Probiotic Consumption on the Immune System
