Building a Healthy Microbiome
After last week’s Memos on the importance of a healthy microbiome and immune health, let’s review how to have a healthy microbiome to protect your brain and boost your immune system.
First, eat a mostly plant-based diet: some raw, some cooked, some fermented. The raw will give you probiotics and fiber. The cooked, especially whole grains and beans, will give you fiber. The fermented such as sauerkraut and yogurt will give you even more probiotics.
Second, fast once in a while. I covered this in Memos from June, so you can re-read the Memos on fasting and microbiome health.
Third, reduce your refined carbohydrate and sugar intake. Simply put, they provide the bad microbes with the food they need to overtake the good bacteria. Good bacteria need fiber from foods or supplements, so make sure you’re getting 25–30 grams per day.
My knee replacement surgery is scheduled in six days, so I’ve been working on preparing my body to defend against staph infections. I’ll talk about that in Saturday’s Memo.
What are you prepared to do today?