Bananas are a Pre-biotic

Most people have heard of Pro-biotics, but very few have heard of Pre-biotics.

What are Prebiotics?

Prebiotics act as a food base for probiotics.

Prebiotics are able to make their way through the stomach without being broken down by either gastric acids or digestive enzymes, and as they do so, they bring about positive enhanced changes in the gut.

Prebiotic compounds which are found in food items such as Bananas, Onions, Raw Chicory Root, Dandelion Greens, Garlic etc become nutrient sources, or "fuel," for the beneficial bacteria that live within your gut.

In other words, PRO-biotics feed on PRE-biotics and this increases the probiotics.

So why choose bananas?

There are several reasons that bananas are superior in many aspects compared to the other prebiotics.

1. Bananas are typically handy and easy to eat (most families have bananas available)
2. No cooking and no mess
3. Bananas are a Low GI (51) so they keep you feeling sated longer
4. Bananas can be eaten raw
5. Bananas can be blended in a smoothie
6. Bananas taste great
7. You can take bananas to work in their own skin
8. Bananas are easy to take on long trips or camping

Dr Kathleen Jade

According to Dr Kathleen JADE, boosting your probiotics during the day (morning, lunch or evening), can have tremendous physical and mental benefits.

Dr Kathleen JADE is a licensed naturopathic physician based in Seattle, Washington and served for many years as the Medical Director and Editor-In-Chief of Natural Health Advisory Institute.

Dr Jade equates these beneficial probiotics to beneficial pychobiotics.

So, what are pychobiotics?

Dr Jade says that "Probiotics can become Psychobiotics which means that probiotics can positively and beneficially enhance your brain function in a way that researchers say can boost mood, decrease anxiety, and ease depression, increase concentration among other benefits".

Dr Jade continues "It's hard to believe that simply ny increasing the beneficial probiotic bacteria in your gut, you are better able to handle stress, improve your mood, and for many people, even treat anxiety or depression."

"But an explosion of research into the fascinating world of the gut-brain connection is showing just that. We now know that if you can increase your beneficial gut bacteria (probiotics), then this will positively affect your overall body health and brain function."

Probiotics work together with prebiotics and these work best with fermented vegetables to allow specific changes to take place, both in the processing capacity and enhanced positive activity of the gastrointestinal system.

Prebiotics play a fundamental role in preserving good health by maintaining balance and diversity of intestinal bacteria, especially increasing the presence of "good bacteria" such as lactobacilli and bifidobacterium.

How does it work?

By increasing positive probiotic bacteria, your body is better able to extract vital vitamins and minerals from the foods you eat.

This extraction process can be enhanced if you take at least 1/2 teaspoon of SEA SALT a day as this helps your body make stomach acid. This is because stomach acid is required to break down your food in the first place. (NEVER use toxic table salt)

Surprizingly, by increasing stomach acid, the majority of people will also get rid of their acid reflux. more info

Remember

Because the health of our gut is closely tied to many other bodily functions, including mental health, Prebiotics and Probiotics working together are important for improving your physical and mental health. Remember to power start your day.

More info on your gut-brain connection.

Bananas

Bananas are one of the easiest and fastest Prebiotics to eat - and there is no need for cooking.

Power pack your day

In fact, if you puree your bananas in a blender to make a Banana Smoothie, you actually multiply the probiotic benefits since the Banana is now in much smaller pieces which means a much greater "surface contact area" for the probiotics to feed on.

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