Let us begin at the very start of our topic of discussion, why do we even need to care about our gut or intestinal tract? Most of us live a fast paced life with fast food making up a significant percentage of our weekly diet. Unfortunately, fast food is notoriously imbalanced with salt and saturated fats densely infused into popular options such as burgers and pizzas. These foods tend to also have processed ingredients that severely lack key multivitamins and minerals required for a healthy life. Overall, the general foods available to the average Indian expat in KL can be detrimental to gut health. The solution is simple, eat more Prebiotics, Probiotics and Polyphenol rich foods. 

What are Prebiotics? 

Prebiotics are foods that the small intestine cannot digest easily and passes through to the large intestines largely intact as they are either made up of very complex carbohydrates or fiber. These foods while indigestible by humans, are very actively digested by the trillions of microorganisms in a healthy gut. For example, common Prebiotics that Indians prefer are fruits such as apples and bananas, vegetables such as garlic, green vegetables, onions and tomatoes and not limited to but also involving legumes (peas and beans), oats and barley even. This is where Modern Store totally deserves applause for striving to not only stock various prebiotic ingredients, but also the top grade of these items.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are contrasting in that they contain live organisms, usually definitive strains of bacteria that directly add to the population of healthy microbes in your intestinal tract. Like prebiotics, you can take probiotics through both food and supplements. Probably the most familiar probiotic food is yogurt. Yogurt is made by fermenting milk with different bacteria, which are left in the final product. Other bacteria-fermented foods, such as kimchi, are also good sources of probiotics. Probiotic supplements also contain live organisms. A single dose may include a particular strain of microbe or blend of microbes. Like with prebiotic supplements, probiotic supplement companies market products to specific conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome. When in Modern Store, do try the Farm Fresh or Nestle yogurts, whichever tickles your taste buds better. 

 

What are Polyphenols?

Polyphenols are micronutrients that naturally occur in plants that have many health benefits, including reductions in blood pressure, inflammation, cholesterol levels, and oxidative stress. There are more than 8000 types of Polyphenols and while they are marketed at exorbitant prices in so-called “Health Supplements”, the truth is, they are easily obtainable in Modern Store staple foods such as fruits, vegetables, teas and spices. Studies show that polyphenols are powerful antioxidants. In this role, they prevent or reverse damage in your cells caused by aging, the environment, and your lifestyle. Over time, this damage is linked to an increased risk of many chronic diseases. 

Human cells can’t always digest polyphenols. Because they aren’t absorbed efficiently, most polyphenols make their way to the colon, where they are digested by gut bacteria. Some examples of foods rich in polyphenols and available in Modern Store are cocoa and dark chocolate, grapes with their skins intact, green tea, almonds, onions, blueberries and broccoli. 

At Modern Store, we believe that everyone deserves to live a healthy life. We are located at your convenient location in Kuala Lumpur (Old Outlet and New Outlet) Malaysia, you can buy all your Indian groceries, vegetables and fruits under one roof. Modern Store Brickfields has now partnered with TheBig3 Online Indian Grocery to bring our products online. You can now shop for our products at our partnered online store – www.thebig3grocery.com.my and we will deliver directly to your homes. Stay Fit! Stay Healthy!

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