Nutrition Under the Magnifying Glass – Part VI

The importance of the Microbiome

Probiotics are live microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast that can be added or created in many different foods and ingested in supplement form. Prebiotics are foods that nourish intestinal microflora and help keep it balanced, such as fibre. Daily consumption of probiotics and prebiotics, which together are called symbiotics, is essential to maintain a healthy microbiome. That’s why it is so important to consume vegetables and unrefined foods. A diet poor in pre and probiotics is what has led to today’s widespread severe intestinal problems. These problems affect not only the digestive system, but the whole body, such as in the cases of allergies, autoimmune diseases and even degenerative mental illness problems. In order to rebalance the microbiome, it is advisable to consume good quality probiotic supplements for a few weeks or even months. That said, we should also be eating fermented vegetables such as sauerkraut or kimchi and unrefined foods rich in fibre.

Vitamin D from the sun and cereals

Vitamin D is liposoluble, meaning it can be stored in the body for a while. So we do not need to worry about eating it every day. Ultraviolet rays on the skin actívate it, so it is a good idea to expose skin to the sun, for 5 to 10 minutes a day, depending on your skin type. During the Winter we may obtain vitamin D by consuming whole cereals because it is found in their seeds. On the other hand, too much vitamin D, which can occur with too much supplementation, can cause calcium to precipitate into your soft tissues.

Green leaves twice a day

Lettuce is one of the green leaves with the least nutritional value since it is mostly water. If you hate lettuce, don’t worry, you’ll be able to find another green leaf that you like and eat it daily, Plant, in particular their green parts, are the most important food on Earth, and are the basis for life as we know it. They carry out photosynthesis and provide the necessary oxygen. Only chlorophyll can capture solar energy and transform it into edible carbohydrates, among another things.

It’s a good idea to eat green leaves every day, preferably at the two main meals. You should choose from among those that grow near you and cook them or not, depending on your need and abilities. Remember that you can eat the leaves of plants whose roots we tend to eat, such as the leaves of the entire family of sprouts, carrots or turnips, among others.