Probiotics are living organisms that promote improved health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
You have probably heard or seen radio or television ads promoting the benefits of probiotics. Many food items have included these powerful immune support bacteria and yeasts into their products, but are probiotics actually good for you? Yes! Let’s take a look at what probiotics are and how they can improve your health.
Probiotics are beneficial yeasts and bacteria that improve digestive health, improve your skin, improve oral health, reduce allergy and cold symptoms, and improve urinary and vaginal health. Probiotics help to repopulate the digestive tract with beneficial bacteria to help improve your overall health.
There are many different types of probiotics. Each type of probiotics offers different benefits. For example, lactobacillus produces lactase, which is an enzyme the body uses to break down lactose, milk sugar. It also produces lactic acid to help control bad bacteria in the body and improves the body’s ability to absorb minerals. Another common type of probiotics is Bifidobacterium. This powerful probiotic supports the immune system, aids in the breakdown of lactose and limits the growth of harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract.
Probiotics and antibiotic usage
When you take an antibiotic, the antibiotic begins breaking down bacteria in the body. Although this is a great way to overcome an infection, antibiotics destroy both the bad and good bacteria in the body, which can result in an unbalanced digestive tract. When the good bacteria are destroyed, your body will not be able to properly digest food, resulting in antibiotic-related diarrhea, upset stomach, gas, bloating and abdominal cramping. Adding a probiotic supplement to your diet can help to alleviate these symptoms by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
Probiotics and digestive Health
The gastrointestinal tract is filled with bacteria that aid in nutrient absorption and gut mobility. Probiotics activate nerves in the gastrointestinal tract that control intestinal contractions that help to move food through the GI tract. Taking a probiotic supplement can help relieve many of the gastrointestinal disturbances associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nutrient malabsorption, constipation, weight gain, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and lactose intolerance.
Probiotics and skin health
Probiotics help to lower systemic inflammation throughout the body, including the skin. By lowering inflammation, you can help improve your skin health. Probiotics can help reduce the symptoms of rosacea, decrease the risk of acne, relieve eczema and provide anti-aging protection by building up collagen and rehydrating the skin from the inside out.
Probiotics and weight loss
Your digestive tract contains hundreds of types of microorganisms. Most of these bacteria are beneficial and help the body produce certain B vitamins and vitamin K. Probiotics help break down fiber, release your satiety hormone, burn fat and calories and decrease fat storage in the body by reducing systemic inflammation. However, in order to obtain effective weight loss, you must eat a low calorie, healthy diet and get plenty of exercise to create a calorie deficit.
Probiotics and cardiovascular health
Probiotics have been shown to lower bad cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure readings by lowering inflammation in the body, improving nutrient absorption, and help the body digest fiber, which lowers bad cholesterol.
Probiotics and mental health
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety in those suffering from clinical depression. Including these probiotics in your supplementation regimen and eating probiotic-rich foods, including yogurt and fermented foods can help improve your mental health and reduce the symptoms of depression. Probiotics help the body digest fiber and turn it into short-chain fatty acids that help nourish the brain, resulting in an improvement of depression and anxiety symptoms and memory problems
Probiotics and immune health
Most of your immune system is located in the digestive tract. Probiotics help to improve digestive health, which in turn enhances the immune system, resulting in a lower risk of respiratory illness like the common cold and allergic rhinitis. Probiotics decrease inflammation throughout the body, including the sinus cavities and lungs.
Probiotics are living organisms that promote improved health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. If you are ready to improve your health, decrease the risk of gastrointestinal issues, enhance the immune system and promote skin health, take a metagenics ultra flora daily and eat probiotic-rich foods, including yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented foods.
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by Kiran Belani in Nutrition
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