Probiotics is a word everyone knows now-a-days. I’ve been on my own learning journey when it comes to this wide world of probiotics. GAPS has taught me a great deal about the importance of probiotics and from where it is best to get them. Overall, I prefer getting my probiotics from a variety of fermented foods over popping a pill. However, there can be a right time to take a probiotic pill to support your health.
In the history of humanity we find evidence of traditional cultures consuming fermented foods with their daily meals. Fermented foods contain probiotics. Probiotics can also be called beneficial microbes. In our gut we have a variety of beneficial microbes and pathogenic microbes. Beneficial, as they sound, are the ‘good’ guys. Pathogenic are the “bad” guys. The beneficial microbes are tasked with keeping the pathogenic guys at bay and under control. When the balance shifts, and the pathogenic microbes start calling the shots, we see disease in the body. This can look like anything from IBS to eczema to constipation.
There are many things in our modern world that have led to a disruption of this balance in our guts: overuse of antibiotics, exposure (and consuming) pesticides on our food, generations of moving away from consuming fermented foods in our daily diet, and so on.
Food As Medicine
One of the things I love about the GAPS diet is that it is a food-first approach when it comes to everything, including probiotics. The supplemental world can be pricey and it is unregulated which means you might be paying for expensive pee. GAPS advises consuming lacto-fermented foods and fermented dairy (if tolerated) as an important pillar of the GAPS diet when it comes to healing the gut.
Fermented foods act like soldiers who stand against the lining of the gut. They protect it from further damage aka: becoming leaky/ leaky gut. If we don’t have these soldiers, daily, our gut becomes more vulnerable to damage.
So, fermented foods act like a probiotic. And, if they are made at home, are far more powerful than any high quality brand you can buy at a store. The reason for this is because even the high quality brands have been lightly pasteurized which kills some of the probiotic power. Some of our favorite homemade fermented foods are: kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, ginger carrots and pickled garlic. I consume kefir almost every morning in a smoothie and we sprinkle in sauerkraut and other ferments with lunch and dinner.
When to Take Actual Probiotics on GAPS
Dr. Natasha does recommend working up to a therapeutic dose of probiotics for those on the GAPS diet. She recommends this alongside consuming homemade fermented foods, daily. You can find her method for this and instructions on how to increase a probiotic pill or powder to its therapeutic dose in both of her books under the Probiotics chapter.
When my son, Raleigh, was on the GAPS diet I had him consuming the Smidge probiotic for six months alongside his fermented foods. This allowed for a wide diversity of beneficial bacteria to occupy his gut and change its environment. It was huge in helping him heal his eczema.
There is no shortage of probiotics on the market these days. It can be overwhelming to know which brand to choose. I’m going to list some of my favorites. This really is an area where you get what you pay for and if you are working hard to change the environment of your gut I would highly suggest investing in a solid product to do so.
Smidge – I recommend this option for those who have histamine issues.
Just Thrive – Use code: FindingForrester for 15% off
Prescript Assist – This one is potent.
Life Seasons – This strain specifically targets yeast – eczema and yeast go hand-in-hand.
Seeking Health – This is another good one for no/low histamine strains.
This is a good article with more probiotic options listed. I trust this source.
I have personally taken/currently take each of these probiotics and/or Raleigh has taken them in a rotating fashion. I can speak to each brand being a good brand.
I do NOT recommend something off the shelves at any random grocery store. I’m not saying there aren’t good probiotics in some stores but the majority, especially if unrefrigerated on a shelf, are likely going to do nothing for you. I recommend doing your do-diligence and researching what is best for you or your child.
If purchasing a probiotic is not in the budget right now I recommend consuming fermented foods daily – ideally, with each meal. I have a lot of highlights on my Instagram with step-by-step tutorials on how to make some easy ferments. Go check them out. This is by far the most cost-efficient way to get beneficial microbes in!
If you are needing a GAPS coach to help you navigate all of this I am taking new clients. It can be tough and tricky to know how and when to introduce and increase fermented foods and probiotics. Please contact me through my contact page for more info on coaching.
