Why Facial Plastic Surgery Pros are Pro-Probiotics

Are you familiar with probiotics? Scream queen Jamie Lee Curtis has made a new career for herself, promoting yoghurt as an excellent source of probiotics. These “good” bacteria have been in the spotlight lately, thanks to research showing the important work they do in your gut. Probiotics are essential to good digestion and your body’s ability to assimilate the nutrients in food.

Our founder, facial plastic surgeon Dr George Marcells, is also pro-probiotics. “A program of probiotics is an outstanding way to prepare your body for the stress of surgery and speed recovery afterwards,” he tells patients at our Edgecliff practice. “Science has shown us that probiotics can have a positive influence for lowering blood pressure and boosting your immune system.

Probiotics may be new to you, but they’ve been known to science since ancient times. In the First Century AD, a Roman naturalist named Pliny the Elder recommended drinking fermented milk to treat intestinal problems.

What the Heck Are Probiotics, Anyway?

Everything you need to know about probiotics is in their name. The word is derived from the Latin word pro (for) and the Greek word bios (life). This tells us that probiotics are more than simply helpful, they are downright essential to your body’s ability to function. In a nutshell, probiotics are microorganisms, good bacteria found in the human gut.

Probiotics are as natural as natural can be, and quite safe, too. According to the Mayo Clinic in the U.S., “probiotics are safe in the amounts you normally find in food.” The same cannot be said for probiotic supplements. “If someone has an immune system weakened by illness or medication, that person could get sick from probiotics,” says Dr Patricia Hibberd of Harvard University. Therefore, be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist to determine if probiotic supplements are right for you.

Now that you understand what probiotics are, let’s talk about how they keep you in the pink.

8 Ways Probiotics Keep You Healthy

Beyond the well-documented effects of probiotics on digestion, these helpful bacteria offer you a broad range of benefits including:

• Robust immune system
• Heart health
• Improved energy due to improved production of Vitamin B12 in the body
• Improved defence against eczema and psoriasis
• Decreased susceptibility to colds and flus
• Weight loss
• Relief from IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
• Improved production of natural antibodies

7 Probiotic-Rich Foods You Already Love

Once upon a time, when we ate fresh fruits and vegetables grown in healthy soil, probiotics were abundant in our food. Today, however, due to refrigeration and agricultural practices, our food contains mere traces of these vital bacteria. “As a matter of fact, some foods contain antibiotics that kill off the probiotics in our bodies,” reports Dr Marcells.

Fermented products (including yogurt) are rich in probiotics. So are…

• Some cheeses
• Kombucha
• Kefir
• Miso
• Kimchi
• Sauerkraut
• Pickles

And….

• DARK CHOCOLATE (Who knew probiotics could be so delicious?!)

“This list is just the tip of the iceberg,” notes Dr Marcells. “Many more foods are rich in probiotics.” The Internet is filled with information on probiotics, including tasty recipes that make getting your RDA of good bacteria a snap.

Dr Marcells Wants to Talk to You

Patients who visit us in Edgecliff always have lots of questions about procedures and how to prepare. Fortunately for them, Dr Marcells talks personally with each patient to provide answers and share helpful insights gathered over decades of practice. If you’d like to know more, we invite you to call our practice today and book a consultation. We’re waiting to hear from you.