Life is too short not to be fully "turned on." The Daily Turn On! energizes all aspects of "you." Every Monday The Daily Turn On! with That's Fit Life Fit expert Laura Lewis will provide you with ideas and tips to awaken your mind, your body and your life as you journey through each day of the week! Check in each Monday to get your tip for Turning On every day of your life.

What if I were to tell you your body depends upon good "bugs" to help you to stay healthy? To help you digest your food properly? To manufacture B vitamins in your gut? To prevent acne, lower cholesterol, ward off intruders? And would keep you happy, healthy and shore up your immune system? Would you eat them?

Now I am not talking about eating crickets, ants or larvae, although I understand that to some people in various parts of the globe these types of bugs may be considered a delicacy or even common dining fare. Heck, to get a glimpse of someone eating weird foods watch the Travel Channel's Andrew Zimmern's show ... I watch with one eye closed!

The kind of bugs I am referring to happen to be a part of a huge population of good bacteria (only three and a half pounds worth!) that lives in your digestive tract. I know you have seen the commercials for yogurt beverages that contain version of "good bacteria" to keep you healthy and frankly, I am thrilled to see the American public coming around to this very important food element that is essential to living a long and healthy life.

Just a bit of history for you:

• In the early 1900s Dr. Elie Metchinikoff, a Russian biologist stunned the medical community with the discussion that if one would eat a lactic-acid forming bacteria they could extend their life. Dr. "M" brought to light the existence of good and bad bacteria living in the gut.
• Genghis Khan's army was said to live and thrive off a fermented milk from their horses, called kumiss. The army was extraordinarily healthy and hearty.
• Kefir, a fermented goat-milk product that originated in the Caucasus mountains of Russia was found to be health-promoting by all who drank it. Its name means "pleasure" or "feel good".
• The Masai Tribe of Africa were found to have low cholesterol levels in spite of their high protein, high fat diet. It was found a primary component of their daily diet was fermented milk. Researchers speculate good bacteria eats up cholesterol in the gut.
• To date, numerous studies have been conducted, proving the positive effect that good bacteria has on the gut and how they ward off illness and diseases.

How do they work? I was honored a few years ago to have spent some time with Natasha Trenev, one of the world's most notable authorities on probiotic or "good bug" research. My task was to interview Natasha for a series of television shows on health and good bacteria. Natasha had an excellent explanation regarding what exactly good bacteria does in the body. Her explanation went something like this: Imagine if your entire lower intestine were lined with parking spaces. And in each space was a good bacteria which could fall into the lactobacillus category, the bifido bacterium category or any number of other strains of beneficial bacteria. If a significant number of the good bugs are compromised by stress, antibiotics, an imbalanced diet loaded with processed foods and sugar, then not only are some of the parking spaces vacated for the bad guys to plow through and make holes in the intenstinal wall causing all sorts of problems but also the opportunistic yeast that naturally lies controlled, has a chance to "bloom" and wreak havoc in your body.

The key to optimal health is to include fermented or cultured products in your daily diet. Fermented soy products such as Tempeh and Tofu are excellent for keeping your gut loaded with "good guy bug." You may also try Japanese miso, Bulgarian yogurt, Polish sauerkraut, Indian lassi, and Korean kim-chee as other alternatives to help keep your gut healthy, which in turn, will help you to be your very best in body and mind!

This week, I want you to "Turn On!" your heath by ramping up foods with good bacteria. They are part of a very important 3.5 lbs you don't want to lose! So eat those good bugs!