Probiotics

I have two kids in elementary school and they seem to bring home every sickness they come in contact with. Since they LOVE to share, I usually end up with whatever it is they have brought home to me, being the sharing and caring kids that I've raised.  Once I get sick, it seems to take a long time before I start to feel better. I decided this year I would try to be proactive about my health, and recently started taking probiotics. Your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep you and your gut healthy! They can be found in certain foods such as sauerkraut, kefir and fermented foods, one of the most common, "lactobacillus" is found in yogurt. When your body loses "good" bacteria (for example after a round of antibiotics), probiotics can help you replace them.  They help your body balance these "good" and "bad" bacteria to keep your body working like it should be! 

Probiotics can also help with:

-  Prevent and treat vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections

-  Improve digestion, diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome

-  Relieve gas and bloating

-  Boosts immune system

-  Speed treatment of certain intestinal infections

-  Prevent or reduce the severity of colds and flu

-  Support healthy skin

Hopefully, now that I've started taking probiotics, I will stay healthy and start out this year on the right foot.  Everyone wants to feel great and this is my first step to achieve the best me in 2016!