Extraordinary Health Magazine Extraordinary Health Vol 25 | Page 31

responsible for a variety of metabolic and developmental
processes such as brain function, food digestion and vitamin
synthesis. The truth is that when you feed yourself, you are also
feeding the trillions of bacteria—hundreds of bacterial species—
in your microbiome.
We like to call the microbiome a “garden of life,” since it’s filled
with a variety of flora, including gut flora, also known as intestinal
flora (bacteria) or gut microbiota, that requires being tended
to appropriately with healthy food, nutrients and lifestyle
choices in order to flourish and to support overall health.
In fact, scientists have reason to believe that the kinds of bacteria
that live in our guts determine whether some people have
extraordinary health and some have not-so-extraordinary health.
The good news is that the human microbiome can be influenced
by what you eat and your lifestyle habits because, like any
thriving garden, your microbiome needs to be properly cultivated,
fertilized, nourished and cared for.

Tend Your Microbial Garden
Tending your microbial garden can lead to greater health,
including healthy digestion which is essential because every
one of our cells, tissues and organs depends on nutrient
absorption and assimilation of food via healthy digestion—
and probiotics, enzymes and fiber are key players.
Before talking about probiotics, let’s discuss prebiotics. They are
specialized, indigestible plant fibers acting as “fertilizer” to promote
existing good bacteria already in the gut and serve as “food”
for probiotics—live bacteria promoting beneficial bacteria
population in the gut.
Probiotics support healthy digestion, synthesis of vitamins,
absorption of minerals, production of B vitamins and certain
enzymes, immune health and much more. When we don’t
get enough good bacteria—probiotics—there can be negative
effects on digestion and overall health.

Digestive enzymes break down large food molecules
into smaller units that can be absorbed by the blood
and into cells so the body is properly nourished, while food
enzymes are in raw, uncooked foods. In fact, most raw foods
contain the exact enzymes your body needs to digest those
foods. You require a variety of enzymes, too, since different
enzymes are necessary for full digestion.
Fiber creates a hospitable environment for friendly bacteria,
but you need enough good bacteria for maximum fiber benefits.
Fiber also normalizes transit time—how long it takes food to pass
through the digestive tract. Another fiber perk is that various
areas of the digestive tract absorb different, essential nutrients,
and fiber helps to move foods’ nutrients to those areas so that
your body can be properly nourished.
In short, probiotics, enzymes and fiber can lead to great
digestion, and when your gut functions well, then you do,
too. Among other things, a healthy gut is the gatekeeper
for life-sustaining nutrients and protects us from any threats
from the external environment. The digestive system is also
home to up to 80 percent of immune system cells—the first
line of defense for health.
Probiotics, enzymes and fiber—they help your microbial
garden blossom.

Support Your Microbiome With a Complete
Program Featuring Dr. Formulated Probiotics,
Enzymes and Fiber
It’s important to include all elements of the Dr. Formulated line—
the complete program—including probiotics, enzymes and fiber.
These three go hand-in-hand to cultivate, fertilize and nourish your
microbial garden. Dr. Formulated products have been designed
to fit your microbiome needs, including condition-specific
formulas for those seeking specialized support.