Beware of Trendy Health Food – it May Not be Your Best Bet (Part 1)

Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 10:15am by Gina Laverde in Health

I am very inspired by our generation’s growing concern for health. We continue to test the norm, and find the answers that work best for us. But, BEWARE – as soon as people like us start thinking, corporations tend to jump on the bandwagon. Now that health is a trend – there’s so much opportunity to make a buck.

What can be cooler than yogurt these days? Companies that used to sell these creamy treats as a low-fat alternative to ice-cream are now claiming that this stuff actually boosts your immune system and controls your weight?

The idea behind the scenes is the pro-biotic. Pro-biotics are amazing little organisms that already live in your gut. They help ward off infection and balance out any bad bacteria and viruses. The word pro-biotic actually means pro-life. So, yeah – they are good.

But, what the yogurt companies do not reveal is that most of their “live and active cultures” are actually dead. And furthermore, the rest can easily die in your stomach acid as they make way to their destination. And even furthermore, since the sale of raw dairy is MOSTLY illegal in the U.S. – all commercial dairy has been homogenized and/or pasteurized. This process kills the natural enzymes and bacteria that live in the milk, and turns them into histamines. Have you heard of these guys? Histamines cause allergic reactions.

So, if the yogurt cultures were actually “alive” and the dairy “raw” the enzymes would act to assist in your digestion of the dairy, make it into your gut and flourish.

Before you spend your money and test your health on any pro-biotic you should know that many of the pills (like acidophilus) that are sold commercially contain mostly dead organisms as well. It’s very hard for a pro-biotic to make it passed your stomach. Some of these products claim to have seven billion or 30 billion per capsule – but, what you’d like is for a claim of how “alive” they are. The box should also contain info on how the bacteria are preserved (i.e. freeze-dried).

Pro-biotic foods, which have been used for centuries may be a better way of re-introducing that healthy bacteria into your system. Health food stores in my area can’t keep enough Kombucha Tea in stock. This fermented tea is actually very potent because it is able to sneak passed your digestive acids and settle in your gut.

Because of their potency, Kombucha and other raw pro-biotic foods may cause detox or die-off symptoms. In essence this is a good thing, but moderation is key. The Kombucha bottle recommends one bottle a day to keep healthy. When your body releases toxins, it can mimic illness – so drinking a whole bottle on your first taste can be really painful.

I encourage you to make all of your health decisions conscious ones – weigh all sides and introduce new remedies in moderation. Some books that offer a well-rounded view of the benefits of pro-biotics, and the truth behind them are: The Body Ecology Diet, by Donna Gates; and Nourishing Traditions, by, Sally Fallon. Both also have websites.

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