Surely, you’ve heard about probiotics by now. You may have even Goggled “Do probiotics clean you out” to find this article today! It seems that awareness around the health benefits of these beneficial bacteria has suddenly been spiking lately. The shocking thing is, probiotics have been around for ages. It just took some time for science to catch up!
Did you know that probiotic literally translates to “for life?” It makes sense given just how essential these bacteria are. Not only can they push out harmful organisms that throw off your microbiome, they can also help your body to better digest certain nutrients like fiber. Probiotics also enhance the digestion of vitamins especially B vitamins and generally maintain balance in the gut.
Without a doubt, one of the most intriguing aspects of probiotics for many people are the detoxifying effects they can have. In this guide, I’ve broken down all you need to know about how they can aid your body in flushing out nasty toxins and creating overall balance and superior wellness.
As you may already be aware, these friendly florae are important for a wide range of key functions in your body. Some of these key functions include optimizing your digestion, balancing your mood, supporting your immune system, and boosting your metabolism <1>.
In fact, we rely on trillions of probiotics in the gut to maintain almost every aspect of our health and wellness <2>.
When you’re just beginning your journey to improved gut health, you may experience some bumps on the road while introducing these beneficial bacteria into your everyday diet. It is likely a modern lifestyle has led to a depletion of probiotics, knocking your microbiome out of balance.
Antibiotics in medications and food, excessive stress, antibacterial cleaners, processed foods, sugar, and even aging can all significantly lower the population of necessary probiotics in your gut <3>.
When you begin to replenish the friendly flora in the gut, you may feel some changes in your digestive system as the microbiome starts restoring a healthy balance. Don’t worry! These changes mark a positive shift that will bring about a slew of amazing benefits.
Eager to reap the perks of probiotics? Yes, good! We all want those benefits! Yet before you hop on the bandwagon, you should know about optimal types and sources of probiotics so you can fully leverage the benefits.
First thing’s first: Always opt for soil-based probiotics (SBOs). These are superior for several reasons, namely that they are more hardy overall and therefore more effective than traditional probiotics you might find in supplements or foods like yogurt.
SBOs are more likely to make their way to becoming resident-forming in the lower digestive tract and they’re also more resistant to the digestive acids of the upper digestive tract and stomach. This is where they really have a positive effect.
On top of that, SBOs are encapsulated by a natural shell that protects the spores against any damage. That means they are more likely to survive, traveling all the way down the lower intestine, where they can thrive.
My soil-based probiotics are developed in a safe, controlled environment. This powerful formula is designed to promote your overall well-being, immunity and beauty by improving your digestive health. Re-balancing your levels of friendly bacteria via consumption of broad spectrum SBO’s is the single best way to restore digestive health. This formula most closely reflects what would be found in nature, and how our ancestors obtained probiotics, by eating a small amount of soil found on wild or unwashed organic food that contains beneficial bacterium.
Fermented vegetables like kimchi and sauerkraut are also decent sources of probiotics. My Probiotic & Enzyme Salad, for example, is basically a raw kraut made with green cabbage. The cultured veggies are sealed in an airtight container for several days, and storing them that way creates an environment that allows the enzymes and lactobacilli to thrive. With just a few ingredients, it’s super simple to make, and it’s a flavorful companion to really any dish.
Clearly, probiotics can have a serious positive impact on the gastrointestinal tract. This is where food is broken down and important nutrients are absorbed. When the intestines don’t perform optimally, the rest of the body will suffer.
Toxins that accumulate in the body can come to rest in the intestines and the liver (the body’s filtering organ). For example, free radicals can build up, leading to damage to the organs as well as chronic illnesses like cancer and diabetes <4>.
This is precisely why incorporating probiotics into your diet can be so advantageous.
Heavy metals like lead, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium can build up in the body over time. Luckily, it has been found that certain strains of beneficial bacteria can bind to and flush these metals out of your system <5, 6>.
Probiotics play a key role in liver health. According to traditional Chinese medicine, the liver affects the health of both your skin and eyes. This has been backed up by several scientific findings that emphasize the need for the body to be continuously cleansed.
With a clean liver, you’re likely to notice a more youthful complexion — I’m talking minimal to no liver spots, skin tags or moles. Did I mention you’ll also have brighter, shinier eyes? In other words, by helping to detox your liver, probiotics can have some pretty impressive beautifying effects.
Things like thermal printer receipts, canned food liners, paper money, dental composites, and plastic water bottles contain an industrial chemical known as Bisphenol A and other resins. These chemicals can leak into our drinks and foods and cause a whole slew of concerning health issues.
Scary, right? Before you stress, note that probiotics can work to minimize the absorption of such chemicals and enhance excretion of BPA so that it won’t build up in your body and cause harmful health effects <7>.
Perchlorate is a naturally occurring and manufactured chemical that’s found in propellants like jet fuel, but also in food packaging (it’s used to control static electricity). Sometimes it even makes its way into our drinking water.
Sadly, the same ingredient has even been found to contaminate organic foods in high concentrations, which makes it quite difficult to avoid exposure. Why worry?
Well, it’s a known endocrine disrupter that can block the iodine receptor in your thyroid, thus potentially resulting in hypothyroidism or contaminant neurological dysfunction. Fortunately, a recent study revealed that certain probiotic strains can degrade perchlorate <8>.
Wheat contains a series of proteins that our bodies don’t have the genomic capability to break down by generating adequate enzymes. When those undigested proteins enter your bloodstream, they can easily wreak havoc on your general health.
Good news, recent research indicates that the body produces dozens of strains of bacteria that can break down glutinous proteins and lower their toxicity <9>.
Antibiotics, allergies, and stress are just some of the culprits that can cause a Candida overgrowth. This condition is linked to an imbalance of gut flora, and can lead to a slew of unpleasant health conditions, including asthma, IBS, and autoimmune disorders.
Probiotics fill your intestines with beneficial bacteria, thus crowding out the harmful Candida yeast (as it has less room to grow). Not to mention, probiotics give your immune system a boost, which is so crucial for fighting off Candida once and for all.
By now, you’re likely in awe of all probiotics can do for your health and how probiotics clean you out. I don’t blame you! These friendly bacteria don’t tend to get enough credit for their wide range of capabilities. Now the question is: How do you effectively kick start your probiotic diet while coping with any side effects?
Any time you make a change in your diet, there’s a chance you may feel the effects of that change. (Don’t worry: It’s a good sign!) Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can help your body to quickly adjust to your probiotic regimen and make it work for you <10>.
No question, the most efficient way of ridding your body of toxins is by drinking lots of water. Hydrating your body can also temporarily keep constipation and diarrhea at bay <11>.
Experts recommend consuming the number of ounces equivalent to half of your body weight every day. Feel free to add some lemon to boost the alkaline level, thus further helping to clean you out.
Our bodies are designed to stay in motion for a good portion of the day, so obviously, a highly sedentary lifestyle will negatively affect the performance of your body — including all your detox powerhouses (shout out to the lymphatic and circulatory systems)!
Since the lymphatic system doesn’t have a functional pump like the heart, it requires a lot of movement to transport toxins and other wastes out of the body cells <12>.
Any form of physical exercise you enjoy doing, whether it’s jogging, dancing, or power yoga, will help you to get things moving in the digestive tract. Why not get back in touch with your inner child? As it turns out, jumping on a trampoline can be especially effective for pushing lymph fluids around the body.
As you incorporate probiotics to clean you out, remember that probiotics are not the only piece of the health puzzle. Sticking to your plant-based diet, choosing seasonal produce and sipping on a daily Glowing Green Smoothie® are key. As well as getting adequate sleep, exercise, and incorporating digestive enzyme support. Here’s to a happy and healthy gut going forward!
In love and health,
Kimberly
References:
<1> Top Questions (and Answers) About the Human Microbiome
<2> Why We Need Probiotics (and why most are ineffective)
<3> Should You Take a Daily Probiotic?
<4> Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health
<5> Bioremediation and Tolerance of Humans to Heavy Metals through Microbial Processes: a Potential Role for Probiotics?
<6> Probiotic bacteria as potential detoxification tools: assessing their heavy metal binding isotherms.
<7> Effect of probiotics, Bifidobacterium breve and Lactobacillus casei, on bisphenol A exposure in rats.
<8> Breastfed infants metabolize perchlorate via Bifidobacteria.
<9> A New Reason Why Wheat and GMOs Can Destroy Your Health
<10> The Healing Crisis: Detox Symptoms
<11> The Importance of Hydration: 10 Tips for a Healthy Summer
<12> How Exercise Can Help With the Lymphatic & Cardiovascular System
