The month of September is celebrated as the Rashtriya Poshan Maah or National Nutrition month in India. Many people in our country do not get enough nutrition and are weak and unhealthy. This is observed more commonly in children (under 5 years) and women. Therefore, it is important that they get all the foods which are essential for a healthy body, like carbohydrates, proteins, good fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Why is it that some people, despite consuming a healthy well-balanced diet, fail to get the right amount of nutrients. It is probably to do with the fact that their intestine is not strong enough to digest all the food and absorb nutrients from it.
It is only recently that we have learned that the intestine also depends on enzymes, from probiotic bacteria, to help in the process of digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. Not only that probiotics also help to maintain a healthy intestinal environment, for proper absorption of nutrients and removal of toxins(poisons) from the body.
A decrease of probiotic bacteria in the intestine can slow down digestion and reduce the conversion of food into small molecules which can be easily absorbed by the body. In such a case, even when one is consuming nutritious and healthy food, the right amount of nutrients is not made available to the body.
As a result, one ends up feeling lethargic, weak, and dull and is not able to work properly. This affects physical and mental health of both children and adults.
What causes the decrease of probiotic bacteria in the intestine? The reasons are many and include a fast- paced life, stress, lack of sleep, antibiotics, pollution, and consumption of processed food. An unhealthy lifestyle can also reduce the probiotic bacteria in the intestine.
So how does one increase the number of probiotic bacteria in the intestine. The answer is simple – have a balanced diet, lead a healthy lifestyle, and include a probiotic product in your diet.
Just visit any supermarket and look for a probiotic food – be sure to read the complete name of bacteria, number of bacteria in the product and the scientifically proven health benefits. Just make it a part of your daily habit and you will notice the difference.
This Nutrition month, we at Yakult, pledge to improve intestinal health for the millions of people in the country and help them to overcome the growing burden of undernutrition.
Yakult Nutrition Dense recipe
Ingredients
- Yakult – 2 bottles
- Banana – half (1/2)
- Mango – one fourth (1/4)
- Apple – one fourth (1/4)
- Berries – Half (1/2) cup
- Carrot – one (1)
- Ice cubes
Method
Cut the fruits and vegetables into small pieces. Blend them in a mixer. Pour the mixture into a glass. Add two bottles of Yakult and stir. Add ice cubes and serve chilled.
You have a healthy, nutritious drink with is laden with vitamins and minerals.
Follow these five simple steps, to ensure that your intestine is as healthy as you.
- Include fiber rich foods as a part of the diet.
- Hydrate yourself, drink enough water to lubricate the intestine and ensure that the food passes easily through the digestive system.
- Avoid that lazy streak, be active and move to keep the intestine active.
- Avoid oily and greasy foods. Binging once in a while is fine.
- Power up on probiotics, the friendly bacteria that help in digestion of food, facilitate absorption of nutrients, and help in the removal of toxins from the intestine.