How to Protect Your Brain's Future Health by Healing Your Gut
Ever wonder why some people get sick all the time and others never do? The difference could be bacteria in the gut!
A healthy person has trillions of them, about 100 different species, all doing important work.
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One of the most important things you can do to protect your health is to make sure you have the right kind of good bacteria and the right amount in your intestinal system, also known as your gut.
Scientists estimate 80 percent of our immune system is located in our gut. If we have enough good bacteria, we're much more likely to fight off colds and flu as well as more serious ailments.
Conversely, if we don't have the the adequate amount of intestinal bacteria, we're more likely to succumb to all kinds of ailments, including brain problems like depression, even Alzheimer's disease.
The problem is, many, if not most, people are sorely lacking in good gut bacteria. This is caused by a number of factors, but primarily eating the wrong kind of diet -- specifically, one that is too loaded with procesed food, especially sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Antibiotics are another huge problem. After all, we take antibiotics to kill bad bacteria that are making us sick. We sometimes forget antibiotics kill the good bacteria, too.
How do we fix it? In his book, Brain Maker, Neurologist David Perlmutter says we can put those good bacteria back in our gut by eating probiotic foods, ones that are cultured or fermented, or by taking a probiotic supplement.
He says we can further nurture the good bacteria with prebiotics. We can get those by eating certain foods or by taking a prebiotic supplement.
Dr. David Perlmutter talks more about how to improve your health by maintaining a healthy bacteria balance in your gut, on The 700 Club.