Yesterday was Thursday, and I was supposed to send you a message about our…

We for You | Daily Reflection | *by Maryam* ❤️

Salam Alaikum dear sisters, 🌸
I hope you are all feeling well today.

Yesterday was Thursday, and I was supposed to send you a message about our physical bodies. I’m sorry to those who were waiting, I’m posting it today instead. 💖

Today’s topic: Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics - how not to get lost in these names?
And also about gut microbiota.

Over the past decades, science about the microbiome has grown rapidly.
Scientists estimate that the human gut contains over 100 trillion microorganisms, more than 10 times the number of human cells in the entire body. In fact, about half of the genetic material inside us belongs not to “us,” but to our microbes. This means that we are not only individuals, but in reality walking macroorganisms, carrying countless microorganisms inside us and even on our skin.
And our health depends on living in balance with this hidden “inner world” Allah SWT created.

🔬 2 Definitions everyone should know to understand ourselves:
• Microbiome (micro = small, bios = life) -ALL the microorganisms living in and on our body.
• Microbiota -microorganisms in a specific area, like the gut, vagina, or skin.

When example, the gut microbiota is out of balance, many chronic illnesses appear ⚠️ such as obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.

When your gut is healthy, it supports your mood and mental health. But when it’s imbalanced, it lead to anxiety, depression, and brain fog.

✨ Did you know that about 90–95% of serotonin - our “happiness hormone” is made in the gut, not the brain.

A weak gut = less serotonin → low mood, irritability, sadness.

That’s why I always recommend looking at symptoms and illnesses holistically, as part of the whole human being. 🌸 The body, mind, and even emotions are deeply connected.

So gut microbiota:
1. Supports metabolism and digestion
2. Protects and nourishes the intestinal lining
3. Shapes our immune system (innate & adaptive)
4. Produces vitamins B group, vit. K, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) (not vitamins, but vitamin-like in effect)
5. Helps metabolize food components, cholesterol, bile acids, and more
6. Regulates gut movement
7. Influences the nervous system
8. Balances blood sugar and lipid metabolism

🌱 Now about types of gut health supporters and how to use them if you are taking them as supplements:
• Probiotics - LIVE MICROORGANISMS (like bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, some yeasts).
👉 Best taken on an empty stomach (morning before breakfast or before bed).
👉 Found naturally in yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, and other fermented foods.
• Prebiotics - food for the good bacteria (fibers and plant compounds).
👉 Best eaten daily with meals.
👉 Found in garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, asparagus, oats, flaxseeds, and legumes.
• Synbiotics - probiotics + prebiotics together, often in supplements.
👉 Useful if digestion is weak, or during/after antibiotics.
• Postbiotics (metabiotics) -beneficial compounds made by probiotics during metabolism.
👉 You don’t need to take them separately -you naturally get them when you eat probiotic foods and feed your microbiome well.

💊 Many sisters ask: Should I take probiotics or prebiotics if I’m using antibiotics?
Antibiotics kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria, often disturbing gut balance.
PROBIOTICS are most important here: they help restore the “good bacteria” and reduce side effects like diarrhea, bloating, or yeast infections.
Take probiotics a few hours after your antibiotic dose (not at the exact same time). And continue probiotics for at least 1–2 weeks after finishing antibiotics.
*PREBIOTICS*(fiber foods) also help recovery, but they work best after or alongside probiotics -feeding the new good bacteria so they grow stronger.

📖 Reflection from the Qur’an:
Allah SWT says:
“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.”
(Surah Fussilat 41:53)

The microbiome is one of those hidden signs within ourselves. These tiny creations, invisible to the eye, live with us, serve us, and even shape our health. Truly, Allah’s design is perfect. 🌺

✨ And so, dear sisters, I wanted to remind you today: we need to live in symbiosis with our microbiota -caring for it with good natural food without additives and preservatives, rest and sleep well, manage stress and live in balance, because when it thrives, so do we.

🤲 May Allah SWT help us honor our bodies as an amanah (trust), keep us in balance, and guide us to choices that support our health, energy, and worship. Ameen🤲🏻 🌸