Probiotics are live bacteria that allow the microbiome to flourish by keeping the balance of good gut bugs in the large intestine. Probiotics are important for digestion, a strong immune system, and intestinal health! You will find natural probiotics in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread. Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics, which are nondigestible components of food that feed the bacteria in our gut, like fiber. Supplements and/or food that...

Athletes often live in a “high-alert” state due to pressures to perform, balancing aesthetic goals with performance, maintaining good grades to be eligible to compete, navigating new social and living environments, finding work-life balance, and so much more. While some of these stressors are acute, meaning short term, poor stress management allows these stressors to fester and become chronic. Chronic stress triggers our sympathetic nervous system, which is "fight or flight". This system...

“Gut health” has remained a hot topic in the health and wellness space in the past decade. In 2012, The Human Microbiome Project revealed groundbreaking research into the bacterial ecosystem that exists inside of human beings. Scientists discovered more about intestinal diseases, the relationship of the gut-brain axis, and how the composition of our gut bacteria influence health outcomes in the mid-2010s than ever before. This research project opened a window into the complexity of the human...