Soil Health Equals Gut Health

Carley Smith, aka “The Fairy Godmother” says there is a direct connection and benefit to consuming local produce and soil health.

“Probiotics are great, but it's always best if we can get it straight from our foods. So there's a few different ways that we can get probiotics straight from our foods. One is by eating fermented foods, sauerkraut, kimchi, even drinking some kinds of kombucha, but now they're adding in a lot of sugar. So you just have to really check the labels and be mindful of that. But the other way is by consuming local produce.”

Smith points to research that shows how soil health can directly benefit the human gut biome.

“Suggesting that perhaps the reason why gut health and more one of the reasons why gut health hasn't deteriorated over time is because we're not eating as much of that locally grown produce as we used to be come straight from the ground full of really important nutrients. And that soil is where we get a lot of our microbiome. Also one of the reasons why sometimes people experience allergies or if you do have seasonal allergies. I really recommend shopping from your local farmers market or getting produce from your local farmers. That's why or that's a great way to kind of populate your gut to your outside environment. “

Smith works with chefs across the country, teaching them how to incorporate more gut health-friendly foods and fermented foods into their menus. And a side note, the fairy godmother has been featured on several TV shows such as Dr. Oz