Gut Flora And Your Health
It is estimated that the microbes in our bodies outnumber the human cells. Recent estimates suggest that there are slightly more microbes than human cells, whereas one older study claim an incredible 10:1 ratio. Is it any wonder that a change in the balance of these microorganisms can affect your health?
Theres no doubt that the average person today is more overweight than the average person of one hundred years ago. This is usually explained away as the result of dietary changes and lack of exercise. But what if long term changes in gut flora are the reason? These changes might be triggered by antibiotics, stress, or pathogens like Candida.
We know that overweight people have a different gut flora composition than people of a healthy weight. And it seems clear from the research that a gut imbalance can lead to weight gain. It seem logical that fixing your gut flora would help to change your metabolism and could, in some circumstances, encourage weight loss.
Reduces Appetite And Fat Absorption
TBH, the connection among probiotics, body fat, and weight isnt totally understood yet. But science has some theories.
According to research from 2018 and 2019, probiotics may affect fatty acid function and suppress appetite.
Research from 2020 also supports this idea. Basically, probiotics may promote the release of appetite-suppressing hormones like peptide YY. If you have higher levels of these hormones, you may be able to burn calories and fat more easily.
Researchers in a 2015 test-tube study proposed that certain probiotics may also limit fat absorption from food and boost the amount of fat that *ahem* exits through your body.
Bacteria strains such as those in the Lactobacillus fam seem to work this way, in particular.
Use Apple Cider Vinegaron Salads
Many purported health benefits of ACV are pretty conflated , but ACV really does have probiotics to help your gut health. Instead of taking it via shot , try adding it to your salad dressings for an extra kick of healthy bacteria.
The bottom line: Probiotics won’t work weight-loss magicbut they can help with gut health, so it doesn’t hurt to give them a try.
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Can Certain Probiotics Cause Weight Gain Why
On the other hand, some probiotics may stimulate weight gain. Everything that is done correctly and in moderation is certain to provide positive consequences, and probiotics are no exception. Take note that not all probiotics are made equal and so help your body differently.
The benefit you derive from them is contingent upon your diet and lifestyle. Additionally, arbitrarily taking an excessive amount of probiotics and attempting to lose weight is unlikely to succeed. Indeed, you must know which probiotic strain to consume.
For instance, one strain of Lactobacillus Gasseri may aid in weight loss while another may promote weight gain. Additionally, you must know how frequently to take it and what type of diet to pair it with. As you can see, it may become rather daunting.
Having said that, here are some responses to your inquiry, Can taking probiotics promote weight gain?
Can Probiotics Cause Bloating And Weight Gain
Yes, they can all cause bloating as this is a short-lived side effect experienced by many who introduce probiotics into their daily routine. As for weight gain, this is something that occurs with specific strains of probiotics, but not all of them. Having said that, there are some other reasons that affect how your probiotics work and ways they are unable to deliver the best results. Here are some of the most common reasons your probiotics are causing you to gain weight.
As tasty as the flavoured probiotic enriched drinks can be, there is a downside to these which is the level of sugar found in the formulation. However, there is a reason for this, and that is the understanding that the probiotics in then formula can deliver faster, results. This is because the sugar in the formulation can increase the survival rate of the good bacteria found in the probiotic. The downside is the more sugar you consume, the higher risk you are at gaining weight, therefore, having these yoghurt style drinks must be part of a balanced and healthy diet.
There you have some of the most common causes of probiotics causing you to gain weight, but as I have mentioned before, ensure you check with a doctor to find the best option for you to introduce into your routine.
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Probiotics And Weight Loss: Can Probiotics Help You Lose Weight
Reviewed byAnthony Dugarte, MD
Can a healthier gut help you lose weight? Maybe. Research suggests that probiotics might help you reach your goals.
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Oftentimes, it seems everyone is on the hunt for the next diet or weight loss pill. Can probiotics help?
Probiotics have increased in popularity due to their numerous health benefits ranging from reduced gastrointestinal symptoms to mental health support.
But is weight loss one of them?
While more research is needed, the science surrounding probiotics and weight loss appears to be encouraging.
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Best Probiotic Strains For Weight Loss
Obviously, probiotics have a lot to offer when it comes to combating menopause weight gain. However, if you want to experience the results outlined above, you need to make sure youre using the right probiotic strains.
The following are three of the most powerful strains for menopausal women struggling with weight gain:
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Some Probiotics May Prevent Weight Gain
Losing weight is not the only way to fight obesity. Preventing unwanted weight gain in the first place may be even more valuable in avoiding obesity.
In one 4-week study, taking a probiotic formulation called VSL#3 reduced weight gain and fat gain in people following a diet that provided 1,000 extra calories than they needed per day .
Those in the probiotic group gained less fat, although they didnt experience any significant changes in insulin sensitivity or metabolism.
This indicates that some probiotic strains might prevent weight gain in the context of a high calorie diet. However, this needs to be studied further.
Summary
Certain probiotic strains may be able to reduce weight gain in people following a high calorie diet.
Not all studies have found that probiotics aid weight loss.
Some studies have found that certain probiotic strains might lead to weight gain not weight loss.
One recent review found that probiotics effects on body weight depend on which species and strains are used. For instance, while one strain of Lactobacillus gasseri reduced weight gain compared with a control, another strain promoted weight gain .
Summary
Not all probiotics aid weight loss, and some may even cause weight gain. The effects depend on the probiotic strain and may vary by individual.
Using Probiotics For More Weight Loss
Theres a vast amount of research still being done on the ways probiotics influence weight loss, metabolic function, and obesity. But many initial findings show that probiotics for weight loss are beneficial, especially to lose belly fat.
Scientists have identified several strains that can support a healthy weight, such as many types of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus gasseri, and L. rhamnosus. If you want to get started with a probiotic to help you lose weight, its always good practice to let your doctor know so he or she can best advise you. You can also incorporate more fermented foods into your diet like yogurt or sauerkraut.
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Mayo Clinic Q And A: Probiotics Gut Bacteria And Weight Is There A Connection
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: Ive read some research that indicates one possible contributing factor to obesity is the balance of bacteria in a persons gut. In someone who is obese, is it possible to right that balance by taking a probiotic supplement, such as Lactobacillus gasseri, in conjunction with a balanced diet and exercise?
ANSWER: It is true that the gut bacterial population in people who are obese is different from the population in people who are lean. Whether this difference contributed to obesity, however, or is a consequence of obesity is unknown. The research on this subject so far hasnt yielded clear answers. Although taking a probiotic is unlikely to cause harm, it may not help fight obesity.
First and foremost, its important to understand that weight gain is essentially a function of energy imbalance. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body burns. And there is some evidence that bacteria in the gut play a role in how efficiently the body extracts energy from the food that reaches the small intestine.
Your digestive tract, also called the gut, contains trillions of bacteria. Many of those bacteria play a number of useful roles in the body, including metabolizing nutrients from food. While much of the bacteria in the gut are valuable, some are not. There have been studies done about how an imbalance between good and bad gut bacteria could contribute to certain medical disorders.
Can Probiotics Help Support A Healthy Weight Heres The Science*
Your gut is a teeming warehouse of trillions of bacteriasome of those are good and protective while others are not. When everything is functioning optimally, your body is able to maintain a healthy balance. But it doesnt take much to throw it out of whack.
When the bacteria in the intestinal tract lack in volume or diversity, or the wrong types of microorganisms starts to flourish, it not only can affect your health, but it can also make healthy weight maintenance more difficult. Why? Because your gut bacteria are intricately connected with not only your digestive system, but also your metabolism and whole-body health.*
How do you care about your gut microbiome mix proactively? A probiotic supplement that contains science-backed strains of good bacteria can help maintain or restore a healthy microbial balance to your digestive system.* These supplements deliver certain probiotic strains, such as those from genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, and when taken regularly, they lay down the good bugs you want in your gut, and over time, your health will thank you for it.*
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How Gut Bacteria Help You Lose Weight
Many of the bacteria that live in your digestive system help your body perform functions it could necessarily carry out on its own, including producing certain B vitamins and certain fatty acids.
They also help break down fiber, which your body cant digest, turning it into beneficial short-chain fatty acids like butyrate
Probiotics seem to influence appetite and energy usage via the production of short-chain fatty acids like butyrate. When the good bacteria digest starches, they produce butyrate. This decreases insulin resistance and regulates the hormones that control appetite .
So, if you dont have enough of these bacteria, then you might not get the signal that you are full, prompting you to consume more calories which contribute to weight gain.
Its also thought that certain probiotics may inhibit the absorption of dietary fat, increasing the amount of fat excreted with feces. In other words, some bacteria extract fewer calories from the foods you eat. Certain bacteria, such as those from the Lactobacillus family, have been found to function in this way.
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What If I Don’t Want To Take A Supplement Can I Get Probiotics Anywhere Else
You sure canin fact, it might be better to get your probiotics from food sources. I would always urge people to eat food first,” says Gorinthat way, you’re getting other nutrients too, in addition to probiotic benefits.
Apovian agrees, saying that most probiotic foods are healthy foods and it certainly cant hurt to eat them . Here are a few ways to get probiotics from food:
The Link Between Probiotics And A Healthy Weight
Probiotics are the beneficial microbes found in and around the human body that support optimal digestive function and overall wellness in a variety of ways. More recently, scientists have been looking into the connection between gut microbes and successful weight management, and several studies point to the benefits of probiotics for weight loss.
After analyzing the findings from over two dozen clinical trials involving nearly 2,000 healthy adults, researchers in China reported that taking a daily probiotic supplement was linked to weight loss as well as a reduction in body mass index . Not only that, but participants lost even more weight when they consumed multiple typesof probiotic bacteria, and on a regular basis.
Similarly, clinical trials involving the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri BNR17 revealed that overweight and obese adults who received the probiotic experienced a reduction in waist and hip circumference as well as a decline in overall body fat.
Another study involving more than 40 patients who had recently undergone gastric bypass surgery also points to the benefits of probiotics for healthy weight management. Researchers discovered that patients who received a daily dose of Lactobacillus bacteria attained significantly greater percent excess weight loss when compared with those in the control group.
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Benefits Of Probiotics For Weight Loss And Menopause Symptoms
There are plenty of weight loss-related benefits that menopausal women can experience when they start using the right probiotic supplement. Here are some of the primary ways in which adding probiotics to your daily regimen can help you combat menopause weight gain, manage other common symptoms, and feel more like your old self:
Can You Take Probiotics To Lose Weight
ByHarry Bullmorepublished 14 April 22
They can support your gut health, but can you take probiotics to lose weight? An expert weighs in
Can you take probiotics to lose weight? They have plenty of benefits, from keeping your digestive system healthy to improving your mood, but is weight loss one of them?
Defined by the World Health Organization as live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host,probiotics live in your colon and other parts of the body, and are most likely to be found in fermented foods or supplements.
Thanks to their myriad of health benefits, many people aim to up their probiotic intake, with yogurt being among the best-known probiotic foods. But, can they impact your body composition?
We spoke with Sophie Medlin Doctify -reviewed consultant dietitian and director of CityDietitians to discuss the impact that probiotics may have on weight loss, what quantity you should be consuming, and whether you should be getting them from food or supplements. We also combed through all the existing research to find out how gut bacteria affects body weight.
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Can Taking A Probiotic Help You Lose Weight What An Expert Says
Probiotics have never been hotter, thanks in large part to the pandemic. In May of 2020, Americans increased their use of probiotic supplements by 66 percent compared to six months earlier, according to one survey, for both digestive and immune health. Probiotics have also been touted for weight loss, but do they really work to help you shed pounds? Here is everything you need to know about taking a probiotic for gut health, immunity and weight loss.
What Other Factors Contribute To A Healthy Weight
While diet and nutrition play a critical role in weight gain and loss, many other factors can influence whether or not you are able to maintain a healthy weight. These include family history and genetics, environmental factors, metabolic function , the presence of stress and anxiety, learned eating habits, how active you are, and how well you sleep.
Making sure you drink plenty of water is also important. A University of Illinois study found that individuals who increased their daily water consumption by just 1% were likely to consume fewer calories and less saturated fat, sugar, sodium and cholesterol.
Finally, taking in less energy than you burn each day is an effective way to shed excess pounds and reach your ideal weight goal.
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Other Possible Side Effects Of Probiotics
Too much of anything is dangerous, and this includes probiotics. Even though they promise weight loss and other health benefits, probiotics need to be taken in moderation. You will not lose weight faster by drinking several bottles of yogurt at a go. What you will get is a bloated stomach.
Do you know what will happen to your body and your digestive system if you take too many probiotics?
Below is a list of the possible side effects of taking too much probiotics.
