The field of Gut Biochemistry is exploding! Did you know that 70% of your immunity depends on the health of your gut? And by that I mean the population of a 100 trillion live bacteria that resides therein.
This ecosystem can be grouped three ways;
Opportunistic bacteria harm the body and cause disease and inflammation – you don’t want these.
Good bacteria work on the keeping the Opportunistic bacteria in check by starving them or killing them directly - we love these guys and want them thriving.
Transient bacteria are the live microbes we consume with healthy probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut. By nature, Transient bacteria do not hang around in the gut for very long and so they must be replenished regularly. If you’re not already doing so, take a daily supplement of probiotics or eat probiotic rich foods every day.
But, the buck stops here. The live populations of healthy bacteria must be (you guessed it!!) KEPT ALIVE and just like you and me, be fed. To ensure a thriving population of your immune boosting microorganisms, add prebiotic rich foods to your diet.
Fruit and vegetables provide lots of prebiotics – my favorite being inulin. Found in non-starchy root vegetables like onion, garlic and leeks, this giant molecule makes its way directly to your colon where your good bacteria “eat it” and do a happy dance! Inulin also regulates cholesterol and keeps your heart healthy.
Follow this simple, wholesome recipe from Allrecipes.com to incorporate more Inulin into your diet:
Potato Leek Soup III
Ingredients
1 cup butter
2 leeks, sliced
salt and pepper to taste
1 quart chicken broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
4 cups Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
2 cups heavy cream
Directions
In a large pot over medium heat, melt butter. Cook leeks in butter with salt and pepper until tender, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes.
Stir cornstarch into broth and pour broth into pot. Add the potatoes and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in the cream, reduce heat and simmer at least 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender. Season with salt and pepper before serving.
Zarmeen Patil, M.S.Biochemistry + Organic Chemistry Wellness and Food Science Coach, Owner of Let's Consider This, personalized nutritional coaching with an emphasis on eating for optimal health. Say goodbye to unwanted weight, relief from chronic pain and autoimmune diseases. Your body is ready to heal. I’m here to show you how. Let’s get started!