Bacteria Archives - The Paleo Network

Posts

4 things you must do after a course of antibiotics

Antibiotics are a touchy subject. There is a lot of overuse (you hear all the time about doctors prescribing them straight away, without even being sure what the issue is) and resistance is becoming a real problem.

Whilst I’d love to say I’d never take them, there are certain situations where antibiotics truly are a modern miracle. In fact, I took them not so long ago when I found out I was host to an unwelcome parasite. The problem with antibiotics, is that as well as killing off the infection, they also kill off all of the good bacteria in our gut.

With diminished good bacterial colonies in the gut, this can significantly reduce your immune system and mess with your hormone balance. But it doesn't have to be permanent. Here are some steps you can take to help your gut to repair as soon as you've finished the course of antibiotics.

1. Eat strict paleo

So perhaps you’re clean eating had lapsed slightly before your antibiotics – but now is the time to get back on the wagon. Ditch anything processed and eat real, whole foods, keeping sugar (from natural sources) and carbohydrates low whilst you’re healing.

2. Eat fermented foods everyday

Have some kombucha, sauerkraut, yoghurt or kimchi ready to go. Fermented foods will help to re-introduce probiotics to your gut – so make sure to mix up your fermented foods and eat them regularly. You can also look at probiotic supplements.

3. You've taken care of probiotics – don’t forget prebiotics

Soluble fibre such as that provided from root vegetables and peeled fruit is a great way to feed the good bacteria you need to re-establish.

4. Eat bone broth

Said to be able to resurrect the dead, bone broth is the ideal nourishment after your course of antibiotics. It will help support your liver and digestive system –so make sure you have a big batch ready to go.

Ok, so I've added a few more things…

5. Prioritise Sleep and Stress Management

Rest is one of the most overlooked components of recovery, but it’s absolutely essential after a course of antibiotics. Quality sleep allows your body to rebuild, repair tissues, and regulate immune function — all of which are vital when your gut is healing. Aim for at least 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night, and try to maintain a consistent bedtime. If you're struggling with sleep, reducing screen time before bed and using natural light during the day can help reset your circadian rhythm.

Equally important is managing stress. Chronic stress impacts the gut-brain axis and can hinder gut repair. Mindfulness practices such as meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and even spending time in nature have been shown to reduce cortisol levels and support digestive health. The gut is incredibly sensitive to emotional and psychological stress, so make self-care a part of your post-antibiotic protocol.

6. Remove Gut Irritants

Even if you’re eating a strict paleo diet, now is a good time to take it a step further by eliminating any known gut irritants. This might mean avoiding eggs, nightshades, nuts, or high-FODMAP foods temporarily if you suspect sensitivity. These foods, while healthy for many, can provoke inflammation in a compromised gut. Focus on easy-to-digest meals like soft cooked vegetables, slow-cooked meats, and broths while you rebuild gut integrity.

Additionally, consider reducing caffeine and alcohol intake during your recovery. Both can irritate the gut lining, impair liver function, and disrupt your sleep — all of which slow down healing. Once you’ve re-established gut balance and overall wellness, you can reintroduce these elements mindfully, if they suit your lifestyle.

7. Support Your Liver

Your liver plays a huge role in detoxification — and after antibiotics, it’s likely working overtime. Supporting liver health can make a big difference in how quickly your body bounces back. Incorporate liver-friendly foods like leafy greens, beetroot, lemon, and dandelion tea. Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower also help increase your liver’s natural detoxification enzymes.

Supplements such as milk thistle, turmeric, and NAC (N-acetyl cysteine) can support liver regeneration and antioxidant status, but it’s always best to check with a healthcare provider before introducing new supplements, especially post-antibiotics. Your focus should be on supporting the liver gently and naturally through nourishing foods and hydration.

8. Reintroduce Movement – Gently

While your energy may be lower after illness and antibiotics, light movement can support lymphatic drainage, circulation, and digestion. Gentle walks, stretching, or even slow yoga flows are excellent ways to stimulate the body without over-exerting it. Movement also helps regulate stress, boost endorphins, and support healthy sleep — all essential during your recovery phase.

If you feel up to it, increase intensity gradually as your energy returns. Be mindful of how your body responds to exercise post-antibiotics, and don’t push through fatigue. Recovery is not a race, and overtraining can set you back rather than speed up the healing process.

9. Track Your Symptoms and Progress

Everyone’s microbiome is unique, so it’s a good idea to track your progress during recovery. You may want to keep a food and symptom journal for a few weeks to identify patterns. Pay attention to bloating, bowel movements, skin changes, mood, and energy levels — all of these are connected to gut health. If you’re noticing lingering symptoms such as fatigue, digestive issues, or new food sensitivities, it might be worth consulting with a functional medicine practitioner or naturopath to assess your gut more thoroughly.

There are also comprehensive stool tests available that can give insight into your current gut bacteria, the presence of pathogens, and levels of inflammation. While not always necessary after a single course of antibiotics, they can be helpful for those recovering from multiple rounds or long-term gut dysfunction.

10. Be Cautious with Future Use

Once you’ve been through the process of rebuilding your gut microbiome, you’ll likely be more mindful about when antibiotics are truly necessary. Not every cold or sore throat needs medication — in many cases, your body can heal with rest, hydration, and immune-supporting nutrition. The more we use antibiotics for minor issues, the greater the risk of antibiotic resistance, and the more damage we may be doing to our gut ecosystems.

If you do need antibiotics in the future, prepare your body ahead of time. Eat fermented foods, reduce sugar intake, and start a probiotic supplement alongside your medication (at a separate time of day to avoid immediate neutralisation). Continue the protocol of bone broth, prebiotics, and stress reduction throughout the course and for several weeks afterward.

Final Thoughts on Gut Recovery

While antibiotics can be life-saving when used appropriately, they come with consequences — particularly for your gut health. Fortunately, your body has an amazing capacity to heal when given the right support. By eating a wholefood paleo diet, prioritising rest, reducing stress, and nourishing your gut with probiotics, prebiotics, and broth, you can significantly reduce the disruption caused by antibiotics and bounce back stronger than before.

As always, stay in tune with your body. If something doesn’t feel right or symptoms persist, seek advice from a healthcare professional who understands gut health from a holistic perspective. Your microbiome is a living, responsive ecosystem — treat it well and it will return the favour.

What’s your approach to antibiotics? Have you taken many courses?

It’s not just about you…

1 Comment

It may be a little strange to think of, but the body you inhabit isn't strictly your own. In fact, you’re sharing it with approximately 100 trillion bacteria that colonise your gut – your own unique army of micro-organisms. But it’s not as scary as it sounds, as these tiny creatures control your health in a variety of ways. Firstly, they extract energy from food; the greater the diversity of your gut bacteria, the more effectively you are able to digest nutrients. Gut bacteria break down carbohydrates, and prevent them from being stored as fat – hence the reason there is a direct correlation between insufficient gut bacteria and obesity. They also build your immune system, and are directly linked with your emotional health; restoring gut flora has been shown to boost mood and fight depression.

In the right conditions, you can live in harmony with your gut flora and co-exist very happily. Look after them, and in turn, they look after you. But, create a troublesome environment for them (through inflammation, stress, or antibiotic use amongst other things) and they will be compromised, and in turn, so will your health. Here are a few things you may wish to consider in order to care for your gut flora.

Consider a high quality probiotic

The first (and most obvious) thing you can do to support your healthy gut flora is to supplement with a high quality probiotic. This will help to repopulate your digestive tract with beneficial bacteria. Opt for a probiotic with a number of different strains of bacteria, and consider rotating your supplements over time to maintain greater diversity.

If you’re wondering how our ancestors maintained healthy gut flora long before probiotic supplements hit the shelves (or the shelves were even invented) then consider the point below!

Eat Organic Produce

Thousands of years ago, our ancestors’ gastrointestinal tracts would have been teeming with a huge diversity of bacteria, taken directly from the untouched soil in which their produce grew. They wouldn't have worried about washing their hands after digging for them, let alone washing the produce itself. Modern day agricultural methods and non-organic farming have seen our soils stripped of this bacteria; unfortunately, conventionally grown plants grow in soil that is virtually sterile. The solution? Buy organic, preferably local – and don’t worry about thoroughly washing scrubbing every vegetable. A bit of dirt will only be beneficial.

Eat Fermented Foods

Fermented foods play a large part in the diet of almost all traditional cultures, and would have further supplemented their gut biomes. Fermented foods like Kombucha, Sauerkraut and Kimchi are rich in beneficial bacteria; and they’re delicious, too. Consider making your own fermented foods, or if you have to buy them, make sure they are unpasteurised so the bacteria remains.

Eat food rich in prebiotics

Just like you, your gut bacteria need to be fed. Feed them the right foods, and they will thrive. Prebiotics are found in foods such as Chicory, Jerusalem Artichoke, Onions, Leeks and Garlic – and they stimulate and nourish the good bacteria in your gut.

Try resistant starch

Much like prebiotics, resistant starch provides optimum fuel for your gut bacteria. Resistant starch is starch that passes through the colon undigested, thus giving the bacteria an excellent food source. Paleo friendly sources of resistant starch include cooked and cooled tubers – especially arrowroot and cassava.

Avoid sugars and high GI Carbohydrates

On the other side of the coin, if you eat a diet high in sugar and other high GI carbohydrates, you are providing optimum fuel for the bad bacteria in your gut (such as Candida). Who knew there were any further reasons to give up the sugar and grains!?

Don’t Stress

Finally, the most important thing you can do to support your gut bacteria is to reduce the inflammation that makes their living environment hellish to live in. Along with a poor diet, stress causes excessive inflammation within the body. Take time to relax, exercise, perhaps meditate – so that your gut bacteria can do the same.

Focus on Sleep for a Healthier Gut

One often-overlooked element in gut health is sleep. Poor sleep disrupts circadian rhythms, which can negatively impact the diversity and balance of your microbiome. Research shows that even short-term sleep deprivation can alter gut bacteria composition — decreasing beneficial strains while encouraging the growth of those associated with inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

If you're serious about cultivating a healthy gut, make restorative sleep a priority. Aim for 7–9 hours per night in a cool, dark room. Establish a relaxing bedtime routine, minimise screen exposure in the evenings, and try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. Even something as simple as a 10-minute walk after dinner can help regulate your circadian rhythm and support microbiome function.

Rethink Antibiotic Use (and Rebuild After)

While antibiotics have saved countless lives, they are indiscriminate in their effects — wiping out bad and good bacteria alike. Overuse of antibiotics can lead to long-term changes in gut flora, which may increase the risk of digestive issues, allergies, and even autoimmune conditions.

If you need to take antibiotics, support your recovery with a multifaceted strategy: reintroduce fermented foods slowly, continue your probiotic supplementation, and include prebiotic-rich meals to encourage the regrowth of beneficial bacteria. Avoid inflammatory foods like seed oils and processed snacks during this time to give your gut the best chance of full recovery.

Get Dirty (Literally)

In our overly sanitised world, we’ve lost some of the natural microbial exposure that previous generations took for granted. Children raised in ultra-clean environments may be more prone to allergies and immune dysregulation because their microbiomes didn’t get the chance to diversify and develop properly.

Spending time outdoors, gardening, walking barefoot on natural ground, and interacting with animals can expose you to helpful environmental microbes that contribute to your overall gut health. You don’t need to live on a farm to get these benefits — even regular contact with houseplants and fresh air can make a difference.

Chew Thoroughly and Eat Mindfully

Your gut health doesn’t begin in your stomach — it starts in your mouth. Proper chewing stimulates digestive enzymes and signals the body to begin the breakdown and assimilation of nutrients. Eating quickly or while distracted can reduce digestive efficiency and leave food less processed by the time it hits your intestines — which can impact how gut bacteria respond.

Take your time when eating. Sit down, avoid screens, and chew each bite thoroughly. This simple habit can reduce bloating, enhance nutrient absorption, and support your microbiome by ensuring food is properly digested before reaching the gut.

Hydration Supports a Thriving Microbiome

Staying hydrated helps maintain the mucosal lining of the intestines, which is a key barrier between your internal environment and the outside world. A healthy gut lining keeps bacteria where they belong — inside the digestive tract — and reduces the risk of leaky gut syndrome.

While plain filtered water is ideal, you can also include mineral-rich beverages like herbal teas, bone broth, and coconut water (in moderation). Avoid sugary soft drinks, fruit juices, and flavoured waters filled with artificial sweeteners, as these can contribute to bacterial imbalance and feed the wrong strains.

The Gut-Brain Axis: Support Mental Health Through Microbes

It’s not just digestion — your gut plays a massive role in mental health too. The gut-brain axis is a two-way communication network between your digestive tract and central nervous system, largely mediated by the vagus nerve and supported by healthy gut bacteria. An imbalance in gut flora can lead to mood disorders, anxiety, and even brain fog.

By nurturing your microbiome with whole foods, reducing inflammatory triggers, and addressing stress, you also support your emotional resilience. Many people report feeling calmer and more focused after improving their gut health, and emerging research backs this up. Your gut really is your “second brain.”

Eat a Variety of Whole Foods

Gut diversity thrives on food diversity. A common trap in modern eating — even in healthy diets — is falling into routine and eating the same few vegetables or proteins repeatedly. Instead, aim to include a wide range of colours, textures, and flavours in your meals each week.

This doesn't mean you need dozens of ingredients per meal — just rotate your produce choices regularly. Include different herbs, spices, and cuts of meat. Think of each new food as a new microbial input — variety truly is the spice of gut life.

Final Thoughts on Gut Health the Paleo Way

Supporting your gut flora isn’t about quick fixes — it’s a lifelong relationship built on consistent choices. Luckily, the Paleo lifestyle already aligns beautifully with what your microbiome needs: nutrient-dense foods, reduced inflammation, time in nature, and minimal exposure to processed ingredients and synthetic chemicals.

Instead of obsessing over one probiotic brand or chasing the next gut health trend, focus on the basics: quality sleep, diverse organic food, regular movement, and stress reduction. These foundations, when maintained consistently, do far more for your gut than any single supplement ever could.

🦠 How has your digestion or energy changed since prioritising gut health? Share your experience in the comments — and let’s continue learning from one another.

Paleo Diet Primal Gut Health Flora Healthy Probiotics-min

How Is Your Gut Health?

3 Comments

After the stress and perhaps over indulgences of the festive season – how is your gut health?

Our ancestors were surrounded by dirt – and certainly won’t have washed their hands in antibacterial soap before touching everything! Today, everyone is terrified of germs and dirt. Children aren't allowed to get dirty – people can’t even make food without wearing those horrible blue plastic gloves – yuck!

So many factors in our modern lifestyle are stacked against maintaining good gut flora. The antibiotics given out by so many doctors kill off most bacteria (good as well as bad). Stress hormones also do a good job of killing of gut flora. It’s probably therefore little wonder that so many of us don’t have good gut health.

Having good gut health promotes a good immune system, which is why some people never seem to catch the germs going around the office. Healthy gut bacteria is also essential in proper, good digestion. Healthy gut flora enable you to properly absorb the nutrients in the food you’re eating (after all, we are what we absorb, rather than what we eat)

Whilst yoghurts with live cultures have become extremely popular as a method of improving gut health, they don’t appear to be the best solution, given that many people don’t tolerate dairy – and of course the pasteurisation has an significant impact on the amount of live culture left in the finished product. A lot of these yoghurts also have a lot of sugar added.

One of the better options to improve your gut health is taking probiotic supplements. When you compare the ingredients, you’ll notice huge variations between the different brands. For this reason, I like Primal Flora, as it’s been created with an ancestral diet in mind.

More Ways to Support Your Gut – Naturally

While probiotics often steal the spotlight when it comes to gut health, there’s a whole ecosystem of strategies that can help you nurture your microbiome naturally. A healthy gut isn’t just about what supplements you take — it’s also about the food you eat, the lifestyle choices you make, and even the timing of your meals.

Fermented Foods: The Forgotten Gut Superstars

Before refrigeration, our ancestors preserved foods through fermentation — and unknowingly promoted excellent gut health in the process. Incorporating traditional fermented foods into your daily routine is a simple and delicious way to encourage microbial diversity. Think sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, kefir (non-dairy versions are available), and naturally fermented pickles (without vinegar).

Fermented vegetables are easy to make at home with just salt, water, and patience. Even a tablespoon a day can provide trillions of beneficial bacteria. If you’re unsure where to start, try adding a spoon of sauerkraut to your dinner plate or sipping on a small glass of kombucha between meals.

Feed Your Flora: Prebiotic-Rich Foods

It’s not just about adding bacteria — it’s about feeding them, too. Prebiotics are the indigestible fibres that act as food for your good gut bugs. Foods like garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, green bananas, and cooked-and-cooled potatoes are natural prebiotics that can enhance the growth of friendly bacteria in your gut.

By pairing these with fermented foods, you’re effectively creating a thriving environment for your microbiome. This combo — probiotics plus prebiotics — is often referred to as synbiotic support and is a fantastic way to boost gut resilience over time.

The Gut-Brain Connection: Don’t Forget the Stress Factor

Chronic stress is one of the biggest saboteurs of gut health. Cortisol and adrenaline may serve us well in short bursts, but ongoing stress alters the permeability of the gut lining and can lead to what’s commonly referred to as ‘leaky gut’. This makes it easier for toxins and undigested food particles to enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation and immune dysfunction.

Managing stress isn’t just about relaxation — it’s about consistency. Try building in daily habits like breathing exercises, short meditations, time in nature, or gentle movement like walking or stretching. Even five minutes of mindfulness a day can help regulate your nervous system and, by extension, your digestion.

Why Quality Sleep Matters

There’s growing evidence that the microbiome follows a circadian rhythm — meaning your gut bacteria respond to your sleep and wake cycles. Poor sleep can disrupt this rhythm, reducing bacterial diversity and impairing digestion. Prioritising seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night gives your gut a chance to rest and repair.

If you’re struggling with sleep, consider your evening routine. Avoid screens an hour before bed, try magnesium-rich foods like leafy greens at dinner, and create a wind-down ritual that helps cue your body for rest. Your gut will thank you.

Exercise for Your Digestive Tract

Regular, moderate physical activity improves digestion by stimulating intestinal contractions and reducing bloating. It also increases microbial diversity, with some studies showing athletes have greater gut diversity than sedentary individuals. But don’t worry — you don’t have to run marathons. A brisk walk, yoga session, or some bodyweight exercises at home can all contribute to better gut health.

What matters is consistency. Even moving for 20 to 30 minutes a day can make a big difference, especially after meals to aid digestion and reduce sluggishness.

Hydration and the Microbiome

Water may seem like a minor factor, but dehydration can slow digestion and reduce the production of mucus in the gut lining — a key defence mechanism. Staying properly hydrated helps flush toxins, supports bowel regularity, and creates an optimal environment for microbial balance.

Filtered water is best, especially if your local tap water contains chlorine or fluoride, both of which can impact gut flora. Herbal teas like peppermint, ginger, or fennel are great options for soothing the digestive tract while staying hydrated.

Consider the Bigger Picture: Environmental Factors

While diet and lifestyle play a huge role in gut health, it’s also worth considering your broader environment. Are you spending enough time outdoors? Are you exposed to nature, animals, and soil? Our microbiome is shaped by the world around us — not just what we put in our mouths.

Try to incorporate ‘green time’ into your week. Walk barefoot in the garden, plant herbs in a pot on your balcony, or let your kids play in the dirt. These interactions expose us to microbes that may help re-establish balance in our internal ecosystem, especially after illness or antibiotic use.

Rethinking Cleanliness

While hand hygiene is important, excessive sterilisation can hinder the healthy exchange of microbes. Consider switching to natural cleaning products at home and avoiding antibacterial hand sanitisers unless necessary. Letting kids play in the mud or helping out in the veggie patch is not just fun — it’s vital for developing a diverse gut microbiome from a young age.

Listen to Your Gut

If you find yourself regularly bloated, sluggish, or getting sick more often than usual, your gut could be trying to send you a message. Rather than masking symptoms, consider keeping a simple food and mood journal. Track what you eat, how you feel afterwards, and any changes in energy or digestion. Over time, this can reveal patterns that help you identify food intolerances or triggers that need addressing.

The Takeaway: Trust Your Instincts and Go Ancestral

Modern life has made it harder to maintain a naturally balanced gut — but it hasn’t made it impossible. By leaning into a lifestyle that reflects ancestral habits — such as eating real food, managing stress, moving daily, and connecting with nature — you can dramatically improve your gut health without needing to micromanage every bite.

Whether it’s a spoon of sauerkraut with dinner, a barefoot walk on the grass, or taking five deep breaths before you eat, every small habit helps support the microbial army working tirelessly inside you. And the ripple effect? Better digestion, improved immunity, steadier moods, and perhaps most importantly — a sense of vitality that starts from within.

What do you do to improve your gut health? Do you take probiotics? Please share, in the comments below!

Why You Need To Stop Buying Ground Beef

22 Comments

So many recipes call for ground beef (or mince meat, depending on where you’re from). It’s on sale in every supermarket and butcher, but what exactly is in it – and should you buy it?

What Actually Is It?

The point of mince meat, is to use all of the bits of the animal that can’t be used elsewhere. Commercially produced ground beef will typically contain parts from hundreds of different carcasses. This product is also a good way to make use of old dairy cattle, and other animals that wouldn't be used for the popular cuts of meat. A pack of ground beef could contain all sorts of different parts of thousands of cows, yet the ingredients will still say “100% beef”.

The E. Coli Risk

The other significant problem with ground beef, is the health risk.

E. Coli can get into the food chain when the dirty exterior (and particularly any faeces) come into contact with the inside of the meat – the bits that go into the mince.

In a small scale operation cross contamination like this is unlikely, but in a large processing plant, where workers are under pressure to turn around as many animals as possible, the risk is far higher. The way ground meat is made, means any bacteria that has accumulate on the surface of the meat will rapidly permeate through the whole product.

Where so many animal parts are present in one product, the risk is obviously greatly increased. To mitigate the risk, the meat is often vacuumed, washed with hot water and lactic acid, but these measures do not guarantee safety.

What’s The Solution?

For me, the solution is making my own ground beef. I have bought an old fashioned, hand operated mincer, that clamps to my kitchen counter. This means I can buy my own grass-fed organic beef, from my trusted butcher. This way I know exactly what my minced meat contains, I can make it fresh when I need it, and won’t need to store it, which will help the bacteria risk.

How to Choose the Best Cuts for Homemade Mince

If you're going to make your own ground beef, it's worth understanding which cuts are best suited for mincing. The aim is to strike the right balance between flavour, fat content and cost. Cuts like chuck, brisket, blade and round are excellent choices for homemade mince. These parts of the animal offer a good fat-to-meat ratio and are generally more affordable than premium steaks or roasts. If you're after a leaner mix, you might opt for topside or silverside, trimming excess fat before mincing.

For Paleo recipes where you want more richness—such as meatballs, burgers or ragu—a fattier cut like brisket can add depth of flavour and better texture. You can also experiment by blending cuts, such as 70% chuck with 30% brisket, to customise your mince to your preferences. This flexibility is one of the key advantages of ditching pre-packaged mince in favour of freshly ground meat at home.

Equipment You Can Use to Mince Meat at Home

If you’re new to making your own mince, don’t worry—you don’t need to invest in expensive commercial gear. There are several accessible ways to get started:

Manual mincer: Old-school, reliable, and doesn’t need electricity. Great for small batches and full control.
Electric mincer attachment: If you already own a stand mixer (like a KitchenAid), you can usually get a mincing attachment, making the process fast and efficient.
Food processor: Not ideal for large batches but works in a pinch. Pulse chilled chunks of meat to avoid turning it into mush.

Remember to partially freeze your meat before grinding—it helps maintain texture and ensures a clean grind rather than a smear.

Storage Tips for Freshly Ground Meat

Homemade mince doesn’t contain preservatives or gases used in supermarket packaging, so it’s important to store it safely. Use your freshly minced beef straight away if you can. If not, portion it out and freeze it immediately. Vacuum-sealing is ideal, but if that’s not available, wrapping it tightly in cling film and then placing it in a freezer bag works well too.

Label your bags with the cut used and the date it was minced. Freshly ground meat keeps well in the freezer for up to three months. If you want to prep ahead, you can also season and shape meat into burger patties or meatballs before freezing to streamline your weeknight cooking.

Benefits of Homemade Mince Beyond Safety

Making your own ground meat goes well beyond the obvious health and safety benefits. It can also be a game changer for taste and texture. You’ll notice your homemade burgers are juicier, your meat sauces are richer, and your meatballs hold together better—without needing binders or fillers.

When you buy packaged mince, you have no control over the grind size or the type of meat used. At home, you can decide whether you want coarse mince for chunky stews or a finer grind for delicate dishes like koftes or dolmades. You’ll also avoid gristle, sinew, and mystery bits that too often lurk in commercial options.

Reducing Waste and Making Use of the Whole Cut

Another perk of grinding your own beef is being able to use odd-shaped cuts or trimmings. If your butcher offers discounted off-cuts or bones, you can make the most of your purchase. After removing bones for stock, any leftover meat can be minced and used in soups or pies.

This approach not only saves money but also supports a more sustainable, nose-to-tail philosophy of eating. By honouring the whole animal, you minimise waste and move away from the industrial mindset of eating only prime cuts.

Recipes That Truly Benefit from Homemade Mince

If you’ve never made your own mince before, you might be surprised how transformative it is in everyday recipes. Try it in dishes like:

Stuffed capsicums: Use your custom mince mix for a more flavourful and tender filling.
Chilli con carne: Especially with a blend of brisket and chuck, this dish becomes deeply savoury and satisfying.
Bolognese: A longer, slow-cooked version made with coarse ground meat develops a rich and authentic flavour.
Scotch eggs or meatloaf: Homemade mince binds better, making it ideal for Paleo baking and frying recipes.

Watch Out for Filler Ingredients in Store-Bought Mince

Even when labelled “100% beef,” some supermarket mince can contain fillers or added water, especially in lower price ranges. You might notice excess liquid released during cooking, causing your mince to stew rather than brown. This affects both taste and texture, especially in recipes like burgers or meat sauces.

With homemade mince, what you see is what you get. You’ll know that the moisture comes from the meat itself, not additives or saline injections. This purity is especially important for anyone with food sensitivities or following a strict Paleo or elimination-style diet.

Final Thoughts on Ditching Packaged Mince

It might take a few extra minutes to grind your own meat, but the results are more than worth it. You’ll gain total control over your ingredients, reduce your risk of foodborne illness, and unlock better flavour and nutrition in your meals. Whether you're cooking for one or feeding a Paleo-loving family, switching to homemade mince is one of the easiest and most effective upgrades you can make to your kitchen routine.

If you haven’t yet tried making your own, I encourage you to give it a go. It’s a small step that can have a big impact—on your health, your cooking, and your confidence in the food you’re serving.

Do you make your own ground meat? I’d love to hear your thoughts on minced meat, and whether you’re happy to buy it, or make your own.

Should You Take Probiotics?

9 Comments

Probiotics are constantly being advertised, but what are they, exactly? And if you follow a good, healthy Paleo diet, should you consider taking them?

Probiotics are, for the most part, live organisms such as bacteria that people consume in order to gain several health benefits. But how is this possible? After all, people often take antibiotics to deal with bacteria inside their bodies that are causing problems. Well, the thing is that there is a distinction to be made between good bacteria and bad bacteria. In normal circumstances, the body has a pretty good balance between the two so the bad bacteria cannot do any damage. However, there are situations such as being ill where this balance is lost. Therefore, taking probiotic supplements allows you to regain the balance and prevent a lot of further medical complications.

There are many different kinds of bacteria found in probiotics supplements and they all come with various health benefits. One of the most common genera is lactobacillus, which contains over 50 species of bacteria used in probiotics. These species can also be found in yoghurt and are usually effective at preventing certain infections as well as diarrhoea and skin disorders.

The genus of bacteria that makes up for almost 90% of all good bacteria found in the human body is bifidobacteria, which contains around 30 different species. They are immediately present in our bodies since birth and can help with various problems such as dental cavities, abdominal pains, bloating and bowel problems.

There are four other major bacteria genera found in the body: saccharomyces boulardii, streptococcus thermophilus, enterococcus faecium and leuconostoc. Each of them contains various species that have a positive effect on the human body, in one way or another.

For the most part, the healthy benefits that come from taking probiotic supplements impact two major areas: our digestive tract and our immune system. They affect our digestive tract because, as mentioned previously, they restore the balance between good bacteria and bad bacteria which can shift due to stress, bad diet, lack of sleep, drug usage etc. Their goal is to not let the bad bacteria grow in large amounts as this can lead to problems, but they also do not eliminate it completely since our bodies do have certain uses for it. Probiotics also help by eliminating toxins, chemicals and other harmful substances from our digestive tract while also helping absorb nutrients and delivering them to the cells that require them.

Probiotic supplements also have an impact on our immune system. They do not necessarily make it stronger, but by keeping the balance they ensure that the immune system is operating at maximum efficiency. Whenever this does not happen we are prone to being attacked by germs and this can lead to bad medical complications in some people. Allergic reactions, autoimmune disorders and infections are common results of this problem.

Therefore, taking probiotic supplements can have quite a positive effect on our bodies. However, they require the same care and attention as normal supplements, making sure that the brand is reputable (i.e. Paleo compliant) and that you take the recommended dosage.

Do you take any type of Probiotic alongside following the Paleo diet? And if so, which brand do you use?

Tag Archive for: Bacteria