What Are Prebiotics Probiotics and Postbiotics?
We have all heard about gut health lately. People are spending a fortune on expensive supplements but still feel bloated and exhausted every single afternoon. We want to cut through the noise and explain exactly how your digestion and your nervous system work together. At Maximized Chiropractic we know you cannot heal your gut without looking at your brain.
What is the difference between prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics?
Let us talk about the big three words in gut health right now. Probiotics are the actual live good bacteria living inside your digestive tract. They are the busy workers keeping your immune system strong and helping you break down food.
But those workers need to eat. That is exactly where prebiotics come in. Prebiotics are the tough plant fibers your body cannot digest on its own. When you focus on Fibermaxxing and eating thirty different types of plants a week you are giving your gut bugs a massive buffet. We call this diversity of dosing. By eating a huge variety of colorful plants you ensure your microbiome stays incredibly resilient.
When your probiotics eat those prebiotic fibers they create a brand new byproduct called a postbiotic.
What do postbiotics actually do for the body?
Postbiotics are the real secret to gut health. They are powerful compounds like short chain fatty acids that actually do the heavy lifting for your immune system. They rebuild your gut lining and travel throughout your entire body to shut down systemic inflammation.
You cannot just take a postbiotic pill and expect magic to happen. You have to feed your good bacteria the right prebiotic fibers so they can manufacture those healing postbiotics right there in your gut.
What is the vagus nerve diet?
Your gut and your brain are in constant communication. They talk to each other through a massive pathway called the vagus nerve.
If you want to handle stress better you need to give this nerve the right fuel. The food you eat literally tones your stress response. We highly recommend a vagus nerve diet focused on Choline and Omega 3 fats to help your body naturally manage anxiety and fatigue.
What foods lower inflammation fast?
Your nerves are wrapped in a protective layer of fat called myelin. It acts just like the rubber insulation around an electrical wire.
You can build up this protective insulation by eating plenty of high quality Omega 3 fats. Wild caught salmon and chia seeds are fantastic options to help your nerves fire quickly and smoothly.
Your vagus nerve also needs a specific nutrient called Choline. Your brain uses Choline to make a powerful calming chemical called Acetylcholine. When your brain releases Acetylcholine it immediately acts as an off switch for inflammation and stress. You can find huge amounts of Choline in pasture-raised eggs and cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Eating these foods gives your body the exact tools it needs to calm down.
Can a chiropractor help with gut health?
You can eat all the broccoli and fiber in the world but your body will stay stuck in fight or flight mode if your spine is out of alignment. When you have physical stress in your spine it puts a harsh clamp on your nervous system. Your brain simply cannot send those calming signals down the vagus nerve.
We use gentle neurologically focused adjustments to remove that physical interference. This turns the power back on and shifts your body into rest and digest mode. Once your nervous system feels safe you can finally absorb all those amazing nutrients and let those postbiotics do their healing work.
How do I fix my fuel?
Suzie is available in the office for one on one nutritional counseling. She can help you plan a vagus nerve diet that actually works for your busy family and teach you exactly how to get those thirty plants a week.
Ask our front desk team about scheduling “a reset” visit at your next appointment. You will get a chiropractic adjustment to clear your nervous system and a personalized counseling session with Suzie to help dig into your nutrition!
