What Are The Most Common Types Of Probiotic Bacteria
Though there are many types of bacteria that can be considered probiotics, there are two specific types of bacteria that are common probiotics found in stores. These include:
- Lactobacillus.
- Bifidobacterium.
Probiotics are also made up of good yeast. The most common type of yeast found in probiotics is:
- Saccharomyces boulardii.
Understanding The Health Benefits Of Taking Probiotics
What are the benefits of taking probiotics? Bacteria have a reputation for causing disease, so the idea of tossing down a few billion a day for your health might seem literally and figuratively hard to swallow. But a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that you can treat and even prevent some illnesses with foods and supplements containing certain kinds of live bacteria. Northern Europeans consume a lot of these beneficial microorganisms, called probiotics , because of their tradition of eating foods fermented with bacteria, such as yogurt. Probiotic-laced beverages are also big business in Japan.
Some digestive disease specialists are recommending probiotic supplements for disorders that frustrate conventional medicine, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Since the mid-1990s, clinical studies suggest that probiotic therapy can help treat several gastrointestinal ills, delay the development of allergies in children, and treat and prevent vaginal and urinary infections in women.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
- Research health conditions
- Prepare for a doctor’s visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
Supplements And Dosage Recommendations
Some prebiotics are added to some foods artificially and can often be found as dietary supplements, such as Prebiotin, which is a prebiotin fiber that can be sprinkled on foods and dissolved in drinks. While many food manufacturers now produce foods that are high in fiber, many use isolated fiber sources that are difficult to digest, and some might even have mild laxative effects.
What is the best prebiotic to take?
The best prebiotics come from whole food sources and foods containing prebiotics, like raw chicory root or onions. Not only do these foods supply a concentrated amount of prebiotics, but they are also rich in other important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help optimize your health.
Focus on eating plenty of fiber-rich foods, aiming to get 25 to 30 grams of fiber each day from a variety of whole foods.
That said, if youre unable to meet your needs through food alone, you may want to consider prebiotics and probiotics supplements. Look for a supplement that contains real prebiotics instead of compounds with prebiotic-like effects, and be sure to buy from a reputable retailer with high-quality standards as well.
Additionally, its important to stick to the recommended dosage to avoid adverse symptoms and gastrointestinal problems. You may also want to start with a low dose and gradually increase your intake to assess your tolerance and minimize the risk of side effects.
How long do prebiotics take to work?
Don’t Miss: Do Probiotics Help Crohn’s
Your Immune System Will Likely Get Stronger
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself coping with fewer cases of the sniffles often once you start taking probiotics. Studies have shown that several probiotic strains can enhance immune function, possibly resulting in a reduced risk of upper respiratory infectionsincluding those that cause the common cold.
“Up to 80% of the immune system is housed in the gut,” explains Dr. Axe. “Some types of probiotic formulas can also support a healthy inflammation response, another key aspect of immune health. In addition to crowding out bad microbes, probiotics help us create and use certain enzymes and nutrients that are needed to defend against harmful bacteria.”
Dr. Axe notes, however, that some people who have immune deficiency disorders or who are being treated for cancer should not use probiotics without a doctor’s help, since this can potentially be dangerous.
Get even more healthy tips straight to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
How Long Does It Take For Probiotics To Work For Bloating
Studies show that it is possible to have a positive effect on your health. In one study, participants saw an improvement in their symptoms in 21 days.
In a study, 60 people were given a sample of 60 who were given a sample of 60 who were given a sample of 60 who were given a sample of 60 who were given a sample of sixty who were given a sample of sixty who were given a sample of sixty who were given a The Bottom Line: Probiotics are a great way to improve your digestive health and help you lose weight.
Recommended Reading: How Do Probiotics Work In The Body
Why Are Your Probiotics Not Working
If youve been taking your probiotics for over a month and havent experienced any change, then theres a chance of probiotics not working in your body. It can be due to several reasons:
- Youre not taking the correct dose of probiotics. Keep the CFU in check !
- Youre taking the wrong probiotic strain.
- Maybe youre taking a low-quality probiotic capsule. This one is easy to tackle: try out our Booster capsules, made up of thoroughly researched and tested ingredients!
- Probiotics may lose efficiency due to exposure to the sun, moisture, and light. So, make sure youre storing them correctly.
- Youre not taking probiotics according to the instructions provided on the label.
Probiotics May Reduce The Severity Of Certain Allergies And Eczema
Certain probiotic strains may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants.
One study found eczema symptoms improved for infants fed probiotic-supplemented milk, compared to infants fed milk without probiotics .
Another study followed children of women who took probiotics during pregnancy. Those children had an 83% lower risk of developing eczema in the first two years of life .
However, the link between probiotics and reduced eczema severity is still weak and more research needs to be done .
Some probiotics may also reduce inflammatory responses in people with milk or dairy allergies. However, the evidence is weak and further studies are needed .
Bottom Line:
Probiotics may reduce the risk and severity of certain allergies, such as eczema in infants. However, more research is needed.
Recommended Reading: Do Formula Fed Babies Need Probiotics
What Should You Do If Probiotics Arent Working
Read the label: If you experience minor side effects like bloating, nausea or gas, check the ingredients to see whether the label contains any ingredients you might be allergic to. Many probiotics contain lactose, which can irritate the gut, especially in adults. This is also important for people who are lactose intolerant or vegan.
Try a different brand: Probiotics vary widely in quality and composition. Perhaps the probiotic you are taking just isnt strong enough or doesnt contain the specific strains to make you feel better. Consider looking for a high quality, multispecies and multistrain probiotic that fits your needs.
Seek out a qualified healthcare practitioner: If youve tried several probiotics and none are working, it might be time to seek out a healthcare practitioner with expertise in gut health to help you get to the root cause of your symptoms.
Signs You Should Immediately Stop Taking Probiotics
The rule of thumb is if anything is causing you discomfort, illness, or pain, STOP using it and consult a doctor. Probiotics rarely cause any adverse effects, but if they do, the symptoms include:
If you experience similar symptoms and an upset stomach, its better to stop consuming probiotics . It could be because of something you ate other than probiotics, but its safe to consult a doctor to steer clear of any complications. Generally, you should be cautious of taking probiotics if you have the following conditions:
- A weak immune system
- If youre already sick
- If you have gone through surgery recently
- If you have an underlying health condition
Just be mindful of the changes your body experiences after probiotic intake.
You May Like: Best Probiotic For Belly Fat
What Can Probiotics Do
Probiotics are a class of bacteria found in the intestines that are beneficial to our health. They promote a healthy environment in the gut and help fight against harmful bacteria and viruses. These benefits to the body are associated with a number of positive health outcomes, including weight loss, overall well being, and improved digestion. Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods, such as yogurt, cheese, and kimchi. Probiotics are also available as dietary supplements in the form of pills or drinks. Some research also suggests that probiotics may have benefits beyond the gut. The idea is that probiotics interact with the immune system and can influence the inflammatory process.
Signs You Need To Improve Your Digestive System
A wide variety of good and bad bacteria helps the immune system, fights depression, combats obesity, and contributes to other health benefits. Here are 3 signs to look for that point to an unhealthy gut:
You May Like: Garden Of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care Review
What Are The Health Benefits Of Probiotics
Our understanding of the human gut and its ecosystem of microorganisms is constantly advancing and evolving. The potential health benefits of probiotics and their possible impact on the health of our guts has garnered a great deal of interest among health experts and researchers alike.
Although there is still a large amount of speculation surrounding the use of probiotics, what has been determined through research and clinical trials is that probiotics may be responsible for a number of health benefits.
Probiotics are thought to have several health effects on the body and different strains of probiotics have different effects or roles within the body. These roles include:
- Maintaining a balance
- Helping to maintain a healthy community or ecosystem of microorganisms
- Helping to regulate the ecosystem of microorganisms found in the gut, returning them to their normal state of health and balance after a disturbance occurs, due to infection or the use of antibiotics to treat it.
How Do Probiotics Function In The Body
Experts often compare the intestinal tract of the human digestive system to that of an ecosystem15. This is because it contains roughly 500 different types of microorganisms, which are mostly anaerobic bacteria that live and function together.
These microorganisms are referred as the guts microbiota , populate the human gut from birth. Colonisation occurs naturally through exposure to the environment and the ingestion of breast milk as well as various foods and is vital for gut health. Every individual has unique microbiota and the composition thereof is determined by a number of factors such as diet, age, genes, antibiotic usage and socioeconomics.
The health of the gut is based on a delicate balance, if this balance of microorganisms and their various species is upset in some way, then certain pathogens may multiply and overrun the beneficial bacteria and species, this results in a disruption of the gastrointestinal tract and inflammation, as well as associated health conditions.
Several strains or types of probiotics are deemed as beneficial or friendly and are vital to our health and survival as they play an important role in:
- Producing important vitamins and nutrients16
- Growing and maintaining the health of cells found in the intestines
- Increasing immunity by protecting the gut against harmful/pathogenic species
Don’t Miss: Do Probiotics Help With Nausea
Lower Anxiety And Better Response To Stress
The gut and the brain stand in constant communication with one another. Oftentimes, an imbalance in gut bacteria goes along with increased anxiety. In fact, several psychological disorders including Alzheimers disease and depression have been linked to an altered gut microbiome.
In addition, leaky gut is often associated with inflammation in the brain, which can also impact mood and how you respond to stressful situations. OMNi-BiOTiC STRESS Release has demonstrated in clinical studies to improve positive mood and focus by strengthening the gut barrier function and by acting on the gut-brain axis.
Are There Any Storage Instructions For Probiotics
Several probiotic strains are very fragile and need to be protected from heat, oxygen, light and humidity. The probiotics might start to break down or die if they are exposed to these elements. Because of this, you may need to refrigerate your probiotics or store it in a particular place. Refrigerating certain probiotic strains ensures that theyre still viable when you go to use them and will still provide the full benefit of the probiotic. Always read the labels on any probiotic product you purchase to make sure you store it correctly and use it within the expiration date.
Don’t Miss: Simple Nature Gut Restore Ultimate Probiotic
Do Probiotics Do Any Good
Dr Chris van Tullekan sets out to discover whether probiotic products are really good for our health, and whether theres a cheaper and easier way to get health benefits through our gut bacteria.
Every year, we in the UK spend about three quarters of a billion pounds on probiotic products, which contain live bacteria that are supposed to boost our health. Our guts especially our large intestine are full of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other living organisms. In fact there are more of them than there are cells in the rest of our body, meaning that what we think of as our own bodies are more bacterium than human!
Your instant reaction might be to want to get rid of all these foreign bodies inside us, but actually they are vital to our wellbeing. They help us absorb nutrients from our food, metabolise drugs, and educate our immune system. Our own personal mix of gut bacteria makes us the person we are, and changing what bacteria we have can affect our health.
The idea of boosting bacteria that we know are good for our health has been around for a very long time, but actual scientific research on whether it works or not is still in its relatively early stages.
Although the probiotic companies claimed such health benefits for many years, now they have changed their advertising in Europe as the European Food Safety Authority ruled that not all these pieces of evidence are yet there.
How Quickly Do Probiotics Work
While some people experience positive benefits in a matter of days, probiotics arent always a quick fix. As with all aspects of your health, there are a number of different factors that will influence how you feel:
- Body weight
- Stress management
How quickly you see results will also depend on the challenges youre currently facing. For example, more common digestive issues may go away in as little as a few days. However, if your issues have been long-term and ongoing, its important to be patient. Many experts recommend a minimum of 3 months to determine whether or not a new protocol is working for your body.
To illuminate your results, we recommend keeping a journal to track how youre feeling. Its easy to forget how you felt on a specific day and sometimes hard to discern patterns without a record. But when you start tracking how your mind and body feel, youll be able to notice even the smallest changes.
If you take the time to really tune in to what your body is telling you, youll be able to pick out the signs that probiotics are working for you.
Don’t Miss: How To Tell If You Need A Probiotic
How To Take Prebiotics
Aim to get 30g of fiber per day from plant foods, including prebiotics, to support your gut health and microbiome balance. If you want to increase the stakes, try to eat the rainbow and get 30 plant foods of different colours into your diet per week.
Considering prebiotic supplements? Remember that they dont come with all these added benefits. They are not a silver bullet, no matter what the packet says, because a diverse and balanced diet has been shown time and time again to be effective at promoting general health, healthy body weight, and preventing disease.
TIPYou can find out the best prebiotics for you and get personalised food recommendations by taking an Atlas Microbiome Test.
You May Like: Best Probiotic For Seasonal Allergies
When To Take Probiotics
To start their journey through the digestive tract, probiotic bacteria need to be able to survive the stomach environment. Even robust strains will find this a challenge, so to give them the best chance of survival probiotic supplements are best taken in the morning with, or just after, breakfast. The reason for this is that the acid in our stomach is at its lowest level in the morning1, and this acidity is buffered still further by the presence of food in the stomach. Stomach acid is an important defence against pathogens as it helps to kill harmful bacteria as they enter the stomach in our food and water. In this way, it helps to prevent foodborne disease and is very useful. However, in a similar manner, it can also damage certain probiotics as they pass through the stomach to the gut2.
So, to sum up, we can see that timing can be a key factor to ensure the survival of probiotics through the harsh stomach environment. By taking a probiotic supplement in the morning with breakfast you can ensure that the bacteria travel safely through the acidic stomach environment and arrive at their destination in the gut. It is important to select robust strains of bacteria that are naturally resilient to acidic conditions and have been tested to ensure their viability at different acid levels3. To learn more, read: Do probiotics survive stomach acid?
Don’t Miss: Probiotics With Green Tea Extract
