At some point in your life, you’ve probably heard about detox diets or have thought about detoxifying your body. These detoxification strategies promise everything from significant weight loss, increased energy, improved health, or possibly even curing a disease. Unfortunately, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

The main problem with detox/intestinal cleansing products is that they not only remove the so-called “bad bacteria” from your intestines/colon, they also remove the “good bacteria” which is necessary for good health.

Probiotics (good bacteria) are important because they:

• promote digestive health
• assist in absorption of nutrients
• enhance the immune system (prevent disease by counteracting the bad bacteria)
• can prevent/reduce incidences of food poisoning, diarrhea, constipation and yeast infections

While there is some controversy in regards to the efficacy of probiotic supplements, most nutritionists and doctors would agree that probiotic foods should be a part of a healthy diet, and detox/cleanses should not be done without medical supervision. A healthy lifestyle includes not only regular physical activity and lots of water, but also a well-balanced diet full of lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and probiotic foods with very little added sugar.

What types of foods contain probiotics? Any fermented food will have some, such as: yogurt, kimchi, miso, tempeh, sauerkraut, and kefir. Try something new today! Have any good probiotic recipes to share? Comment below please!