A “green” diet isn’t just good for the environment—it can do wonders for your health.
If you feel like the whole world’s going organic, you’re not far off.
Organic food is the fastest-growing sector in the global food industry. People around the world gobbled up $43.3 billion of it in 2015, and sales have been blowing up by double digits every year.
Why do people eat organic, despite the occasionally higher price tag? One big motivator is the planet and community—organic farming tends to be better for the planet, thanks to the lack of chemical pesticides, and farms are usually family and local rather than corporate and distant. Another huge reason for organic’s global takeover: health. Organic foods promise better nutritional benefits, fewer toxins from pesticides, and no hormones used in meat and poultry. One specific area of your personal health standing to benefit from going organic: your gut.
Risks of Choosing Conventional Foods
Buying non-organic foods is tempting thanks to the lower-on-average price, but it may come at a cost to your health. The standard American diet (known, fittingly, as SAD) is heavy with refined, processed and junk foods full of sugar, chemicals and other undesirables. SAD leads to a staggering array of health woes, ranging from obesity and diabetes, to heart disease and reduced cancer survival. Eating organic foods, specifically those rich in fiber, can help reverse the SAD curse.
Doctors also recommend avoiding foods with pesticides, which are frequently found in conventionally grown produce and packaged goods. What’s more, the government mandates that organic produce have levels of individual pesticides below a level deemed safe while there’s no regulation on the number of pesticides that conventional apple or tomato you’re buying has—and they can add up.
Harvesting Better Health with Organic Eating
Fortunately, digging into an organic diet can help you steer clear of such health problems. Choosing grass-fed organic meat, for example, helps avoid ingesting antibiotics, which scientists say can negatively affect our digestive and immune systems, especially in children. Eating organic foods in favor of conventional foods may also benefit your metabolism, boosting your energy level and helping you manage a healthy weight.
What’s more, your microbiome—the ecosystem of good bacteria living inside your digestive system—can benefit greatly when you choose organic vs. conventional food. Research indicates nibbling on more organic foods can improve the balance of those good bacteria inside us, which can lead to a better-functioning digestive system and other benefits.
Adding Probiotics to the Mix
Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that make up your microbiome and help keep you healthier. The benefits of probiotics, added to the smart reasons for eating organic, equal even better health than organic alone. Probiotic-rich foods such as sauerkraut, pickles, kefir, miso soup, sourdough bread and Greek yogurt can boost digestive function, immune system and overall health. However, a word of warning—watch out for yogurts that are high in sugar, which can undo the good work the probiotics are doing by mucking up your digestive system.
Adding probiotic supplements can take your gut health even higher. Choosing which is right for you can be confusing, thanks to the broad range of strains available. One that stands out: Lacrobacillus rhamnosus GG. One of the most looked-at strains out there, L. rhamnosus GG has been shown to rank high on the list of most effective probiotics, especially in improving digestive health. It also can boost your immune system, and help speed your recovery if you do happen to catch a bug.
Picking a Probiotic Winner
Then, there’s the matter of picking the right product. LoveBug not only uses the powerhouse L. rhamnosus GG, but their tablets are made using BIO-tract technology which enables the microorganisms inside the product to survive the rough-and-tumble digestive process and get past stomach acids, to do the most good for your gut.
Because every person is different and has special health concerns and needs, LoveBug makes specialized products targeted to different folks. Colds Suck is aimed at people looking to fight colds, with minerals added for an additional immunity boost. People looking to improve their digestive health can turn to Here’s the Skinny. Yeast is a Beast is their special women’s formula for those that suffer recurrent yeast infection and UTIs. There’s also probiotics especially for babies: Tiny Tummies, for kids 6 months to 4 years, comes in single-dose powder packets for mixing in food; and Little Ones, for children 4 years and older, with easy-to-swallow 6mm spheres.
*The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The contents of this website are not medical advice and are intended for general knowledge and informational purposes only. Consult with health care professional before using products based on this content.