Did you know that some types of bacteria are good for you?
I know, it sounds counterintuitive - especially because we're told to get rid of "germs" all the time. Apparently, most digestive, emotional and autoimmune diseases start because we don't have enough good bacteria. There are trillions of bacteria living in our bodies (we're made up of 5 - 10 times more bacteria than human cells!). And most of it, about 80%, lives if our guts. No wonder gut health has been an extreme area of interest in the wellness world today. Some doctors even think that brain-based diseases like Alzheimers begin in your gut.
Since our guts regulate everything from our immune systems to our happy hormones like serotonin, here are a couple of ways to keep them in check:
Cut the sugar: sugar inflames the gut, which leads to issues such as leaky gut
Eat fermented foods: these foods, like kimchi, kefir and kombucha add good bacteria to your blood stream. (But if these sound too obscure, you can turn to cauliflower or asparagus, two veggies with strong prebiotic qualities).
Use non-toxic products at home: toxins from makeup, cleaning materials and plastics impact our gut health
And of course - we'd love to hear from you with any other bacteria knowledge!
Katerina Mountanos
Olive Oil Sommelier Katerina Mountanos, is the Founder & CEO of Kosterina Olive Oil, which produces 100% organic, extra virgin olive oil from Greece sold directly to consumers online. Katerina is an ecommerce expert and has built beauty, home and wellness businesses for Amazon, Jet, and Walmart. She founded beauty services company, Manicube, which was sold to The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden in 2015. Katerina is very passionate about olive oil, the Mediterranean diet and eating for health and longevity.
It was the story of this researcher who discovered oleocanthal, one of the polyphenol compounds found in extra virgin olive oil, that made me want to launch Kosterina. My goal is to educate the US consumer on the incredible benefits of true extra virgin olive oil and tune them into the difference between the good stuff and what they’re typically finding on the supermarket shelf.
Do you want to know how your lifestyle habits will affect your longevity? Last month I wrote about Blue Zones-- 5 areas of the world that have a higher than average population of centenarians (people who live to be over 100). And now the Blue Zones Project has a developed a quick test to determine your life expectancy.
Like our counterparts in Greece, we spent much of August unplugging, enjoying time with family and soaking up the Mediterranean sun. But now, we're back and ready for some EVOO!
