The Search For Vegan Probiotics Supplements

By Lelia Hall


The importance of beneficial bacteria in the gut has become widely known as new studies confirm what ancient cultures knew about the value of fermented and cultured foods. However, most easily obtained foods and nutritional products in America are dairy-based. For those who avoid foods of animal origin, vegan probiotics supplements may be the answer.

The American National Institutes of Health have begun to focus on learning more about the kinds of bacteria that exist in the human gut. They have identified many strains previously unknown, like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and hope to pinpoint their function in the body. There are also harmful microbes in the gut.

Most of the organisms, both good and bad, are found in the large intestine, where the bulk of digestion occurs. Beneficial bacteria suppress the harmful yeasts that cause problems if they become too prolific. The 'good guys' also protect the lining of the intestines, which keeps undigested food from passing through into the bloodstream. The 'leaky gut syndrome' is the cause of many allergic reactions to food. Good bacteria boost the immune system, helping it control inflammation, which is the underlying cause of many illnesses.

Many people groups still eat a lot of fermented and cultured foods and therefore have a better chance of maintaining a healthy population of intestinal flora. Western societies tend to eat less of these probiotic-rich foods. A great deal of the so-called 'good for you' yogurt and kefir products are filled with sweeteners like sugar and high fructose corn syrup; these sweeteners are hard on good bacteria but feed yeast.

Dairy foods, even if cultured, are off-limits for vegans, who eat no animal products. They may think that this eliminates Lactobacillus for them, but actually this familiar bacterium is found in kombucha tea and green superfoods like chorella, spirulina, and blue-green algae. The superfoods are also a source of Bifidum, another beneficial microbe.

Other forms of beneficial organisms are found in fermented soy products familiar to most vegans. Tempeh, miso, and soy sauces like tamari and shoyu are rich in probiotics. Fermented foods of European cultures include sauerkraut and pickles.

Vegans don't consume foods derived from animals and prefer products that are free from any contact with animal foods, down to the colors and flavorings used in preparation. Home-made dishes are, of course, the easiest to control. However, it's now possible to find products made in dedicated facilities, where no animal foods are ever processed. This prevents cross-contamination.

The facts are that eating out complicates things further for vegans, and stress and lack of exercise (symptomatic of a busy lifestyle) are hard on beneficial bacteria. Fortunately, probiotics come in supplement form, and some are made especially for vegans. This is a good way to get friendly bacteria in concentrated form, with millions of organisms and often several strains of different microbes. This makes maintaining a high level of flora easier than ever.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment