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.
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!
Sugar addiction is real. In our world today, sugar makes up over 18% of the standard American Diet - sneaking into everyday foods from yogurt to spaghetti sauce.
