The benefits of ‘Prebiotics’ & ‘Probiotics’ for new mums

You will have often heard about the ‘good’ gut bacteria – Probiotics.   Probiotics are ‘good’ bacteria that help keep your digestive system healthy by controlling the growth of the harmful bacteria. Prebiotics are carbohydrates that can’t be digested by the human body but are necessary food for probiotics.  These are a few of the carbs our guts need to help the probiotics:  garlic, onion, leeks, asparagus, brown & red rice, orange & purple carrots, almonds (especially the skin).  You should cook & COOL red potatoes as it improves resistance to the bad bacteria. UNCOOKED oats are more resistant to starch and feeding the microbiome daily with good fats, protein & fibre.  By cultivating a healthy gut in a breast feeding mother, the baby will benefit massively!
Good bacteria in the gut can be killed off by poor diet & antibiotics.  If you need to take antibiotics then try and take some good Prebiotic supplements when taking the antibiotics or after to limit the damaging effects.  Non breast fed babies can be prescribed an infant pre-biotic  – rates of childhood infections have been found to drop in those children given a prebiotic supplement.  As always just try and maintain a varied diet with lots of colours on your plate!!