Disclosure: This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. VSL#3 is a medical food and must be used under medical supervision.
Thanks to the fact that my husband is in a natural health field {chiropractic}, I learned about the perks of taking a good probiotic years ago. I kind of go around recommending them to people like they are magic pills; they're sort of awesome.
Probiotics are a mysterious thing to many, even though I think yogurt commercials and health-related media figures like Dr. Oz have done a good job of getting the buzzword out there for the masses. But even though you might have heard of probiotics, you might still have questions about how they're helpful.
So, what exactly are probiotics? Scientifically speaking, they are "a viable mono or mixed culture of bacteria which, when applied to animal or man, beneficially affects the host by improving the properties of the indigenous flora." (Havenaar and Huis in Veld, 1992.)
Um, say what?
Don't let all that fancy terminology confuse you. In short, probiotics are happy bacteria that help boost the natural, good bacteria that occur in your body. That can be confusing because we often think of bacteria as a bad thing. But not all bacteria need to be eliminated! It is because of bacteria that we are able to stay healthy and have a balanced ecosystem in our guts, as icky as that sounds.
Sometimes because of lifestyle, eating habits, illness and genetics, our body's ecosystems get thrown off kilter and we can overgrow certain types of bacteria that make us feel sick or cause unwanted symptoms. That's when supplements and friendly bacteria boosters can really come in handy!
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is one of those troubling disorders that lots of folks struggle with. Basically, IBS is a condition of the large intestine that can cause all kinds of very pesky stomach discomfort. There are certain triggers that can cause IBS to flare up like eating certain foods, stress and hormonal changes. The good news is IBS can be managed by making good dietary choices and -- that's right -- taking our allies, probiotics!
Except, here's the thing: Not all probiotics are made equal. Just like other products out there on the market, some probiotics are better quality or more complete than others.
VSL #3 is a great example of a high-potency probiotic that's worth taking. It's so potent, in fact, that it's considered a "medical food" {10 times more potent than your average probiotic!} meaning that you'll have to pick them up in the pharmacy section of your local drug store. No prescription is required, but they do need to be maintained at cool temps to keep those "good bugs" alive and active, so your pharmacist will have them refrigerated.
Along with maintaining a healthy diet, VSL #3 can improve the symptoms {like gas and bloating} that come with IBS. You know what else makes for happy tummies? Delicious food.
It's pretty awesome that registered dieticians like Patty Catsos now have cookbooks, blogs and recipes galore that are IBS-friendly. Whether you're cooking for family members who struggle with these disorders or bringing a dish to a party, it's nice to have tasty options to please taste buds and keep bellies happy.
This Roasted Red Pepper Dip is a great option to share with family and friends, whether or not they have dietary struggles. The recipe is quick and easy to throw together and has a variety of uses! We liked it as a dip, but it also works as a salad dressing and even a quick pasta sauce to toss together for a quick, simple meal.
What are some of your favorite IBS-friendly recipes? You can find some more at VSL3.com: http://www.vsl3.com/discover/ibs-recipes.aspy
Check out VSL #3 on Facebook & make sure to enter their GastroNomical Giveaway!
Roasted Red Pepper Dip
Created by Patsy Catsos, RD for VSL#3®1 cup roasted red peppers, jarred or home-roasted
1 tablespoon garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil
1 pound lactose-free cottage cheese
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
⅛ teaspoon white pepper
⅛ teaspoon Tabasco sauce (optional)
1. Place all ingredients in a food processor bowl or blender. Process or blend until smooth and creamy.
2. Serve chilled, with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables.
VSL#3® products must be refrigerated to maintain potency and is available at your local pharmacy. Look for VSL#3® in the probiotic aisle of your local drug store and bring the card to the pharmacist as it is kept behind the pharmacy counter in the refrigerator.
This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own. VSL#3 is a medical food and must be used under medical supervision.
