2,000 people ill in Havelock North with the gastro bug campylobacter – that’s bad bacteria winning!
Human bodies are amazing, we’re made up of thousands and thousands of different types of bacteria, some good and some bad. In the gut alone there can be between 300 and 1000 different types!
Campylobacter is particularly bad bacteria, it affects the digestive system causing diarrhoea, stomach and muscle pains, headaches and can lead to a course of antibiotics. Antibiotics although very effective are indiscriminate killers of bacteria and they kill both the good and the bad.
So what needs to happen? Rebalance.
Rebalancing the bacteria in your system by introducing good bacteria allows for a battle between the good and bad – which hopefully the good wins. Good bacteria come in the form of pre & probiotics.
Prebiotics are food for probiotics and can be found in insoluble fibre such as raw vegetables and fruit.
Probiotics are lactic acid producing bacteria that have a beneficial impact when eaten. Lactic acid producing bacteria can be found in live, not pasteurised or shelf stable fermented food and probiotic pills.
So here’s a few steps that can help you rebalance the bacteria in your system;
- Eat lots of raw vegetables and fruit – organic if you can
- Drink lots of water
- Avoid sugar – this is yummy food for bad bacteria
- Eat fermented food – this is live good bacteria
- Listen to and be gentle with your body - it will tell you what's working and what isn't
