Can a Probiotic Heal Your Gut From Alcohol Use?

Well, it depends!

One of the topics I share about often is the impact of alcohol on our gut health, which can contribute to a slew of different health effects -- everything from poor digestion and constipation, to skin issues, acne and even headaches.

One of the questions that I get often is, "Will a probiotic help to repair my gut health?"

Its not always a straightforward answer.

One of the tests I run on my of my clients is a stool analysis, which helps to me to learn more about the health of their gut microbiome. It gives me an understanding of what types of supplements can help them manage their symptoms and help them achieve their health goals.

Oftentimes when clients come to see me, they may already be taking a probiotic, but they're not sure if its helping or if its doing anything at all. Sometimes clients have been taking probiotics for years and yet their testing shows that they have very low growth of probiotics at all.

This is where personalized nutrition comes in! Each body is unique and what works for one person may not work for the next!

Especially if you've taken a probiotic and have had a negative effect, like an increase in bloating or digestive discomfort, it might mean that you need to take a different approach to rebalancing your gut microbiome.

One of my favorite ways to help improve your gut microbiome health is increasing your dietary fiber intake but increasing your intake of plant foods -- like fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Each day, you should be achieving a minimum of 25g fiber per day. 

Prebiotic fibers, a specific type of fiber that feeds healthy microbes, is found in foods like artichoke, asparagus, oats, leeks, onions, sunchokes, bananas, plantains and a few others. Consume a source of prebiotic fiber each day.

And when it comes to taking a probiotic supplement, don't feel frustrated if you've given it a try but haven't experienced any results. This is a sign that its time to look a little deeper!

That's why my online program, the Functional Sobriety Academy, helps you navigate your health, learn more about your own gut health, and helps you determine foods and supplements that can help you achieve your goals.