The Benefits Of Probiotics Bacteria
In a society of anti-bacterial warfare, who would have thought that anyone would tout the benefits of bacteria? Living microorganisms found in yogurt and other cultured foods may help improve your body’s bacterial environment inside and out. They’re called probiotics, a name that means “for life.”
More and more people are using probiotic products to treat or improve illnesses or to maintain overall well-being. In fact, a 2017 report estimated annual global sales of probiotic supplements at $3.7 billion in 2016, and that is expected to rise to $17.4 billion by 2027.
Whats The Deal With Probiotics
You may be hearing more and more about probiotics supplements that contain “healthy” bacteria that claim to have multiple benefits, including helping with gut health and digestive issues. Probiotics are being marketed for specific conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome or to demographic audiences, such as women or children. But do they really help?
What are probiotics?
Often referred to as “friendly” or “good” bacteria, probiotics help keep the normal healthy balance of bacteria in your gut specifically the lining of the gut which includes the microbiome. We are learning more and more about the body’s microbiome and how to maintain the balance of bacteria already growing there in addition to adding living bacteria into your system through probiotics. A healthy gut microbiome helps with digestion, boosts the immune system, contributes to blood sugar levels, and may even influence mood and mental health.
Where are probiotics found?
Probiotics can be found in multiple forms.
Bacteria-fermented foods are good sources of probiotics, including:
- Active-culture yogurts
- Kombucha
- Sauerkraut
Probiotics also come in pill form with a variety of different strains or types, including acidophilus, lactobacillus or formulations targeted for different health benefits, such as gastrointestinal health or women’s health.
Research on probiotics
Generally, there are a variety of areas of research for probiotics:
What’s the consensus? Are they beneficial?
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Increased Risk Of Infection
review from 2017 suggest that children and adults with severe illnesses or compromised immune systems should avoid using probiotics. Some people with these conditions have experienced bacterial or fungal infections as a result of probiotic use.
If a person has a condition that affects their immune system, they should speak with their doctor before taking probiotics.
Also, anyone using antifungal medication should wait until the infection has cleared up before taking probiotics.
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Symptoms Of Digestive Enzyme Insufficiency
Digestive enzyme insufficiency can lead to malnutrition or gastrointestinal irritation. Common symptoms include:
- Belly pain or cramps
- Oily stools
- Unexplained weight loss
Talk to your doctor if these symptoms are persisting. These could be signs of gut irritation or could indicate a more serious condition.
How Probiotics Might Be Bad For You
Because these good bacteria already exist in the body, theyâre considered safe for most people. But there are some things to consider.
They can trigger an allergic reaction. They might cause mild stomach problems, especially the first few days you start taking them. You might have stomach upset, gas, diarrhea, or bloating. Those symptoms usually go away after your body gets used to them.
If you have an immune system problem or another serious health condition, you may have a greater chance of issues. Some reports have linked probiotics to serious infections and other side effects. The people most likely to have trouble are those with immune system problems, people who’ve had surgery, and others who are critically ill. Don’t take probiotics if you have any of those issues.
Always talk to your pediatrician before giving probiotic supplements to your child. If you’re pregnant or nursing, you should also talk to your doctor before you try one.
Most probiotics in the U.S. are sold as dietary supplements. That means the companies that make them don’t have to test their products and show that they work or that they are safe. More research is needed to confirm that probiotics are safe and effective.
Ask your doctor which probiotics are the right ones for you. Be sure to stop taking them if you have any problems.
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Choose Yogurt With Live Cultures
Yogurt is a well-known food source of probiotics, beneficial bacteria that promote health. Certain strains of bacteria in yogurt have ß-D-galactosidase, which is an enzyme that helps break down lactose in dairy products into the sugars glucose and galactose. A lack of this enzyme causes lactose malabsorption. People who eat fresh yogurt containing live and active cultures digest lactose better than those who eat pasteurized yogurt. Yogurt is also rich in minerals like magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and calcium, which are important for building and maintaining healthy bones. Lactobacillus bulgaricus is a probiotic organism that is often found in yogurt.
How To Know If You Should Take Probiotics Or Digestive Enzymes
So, how do you know which one to take? Or should you take both? The answer lies in your symptoms, or the signals your body is giving you. Some common clues you might need probiotics include:*
- Issues with regularity
- Skin issues
- Mood challenges, like anxiousness and irritability
- Need further support of your immune system
“A disrupted gut flora opens the door for unfriendly microbes to step in and take over, creating all sorts of issues,” Pedre explains. And when it comes to digestive enzymes, Amy Shah, M.D., says they’re especially helpful for people who aren’t producing adequate amounts of enzymes on their own or have low stomach acid.
Terry Wahls, M.D., previously told mbg that people with bloating and gas, especially those who are over the age of 50, are also more likely to be at risk for low production of enzymes and low stomach acid.
Even if you don’t have a known digestive issue, the following are some signs you may need digestive enzymes:
- Gas
- Lack of bowel movement regularity
- Frequent burping
- Feeling especially full after a meal, a “brick in your stomach” feeling
It’s also possible that both probiotics and digestive enzymes could be helpful. You can generally take digestive enzymes and probiotics together, since they do different things. In fact, it’s often encouraged. Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before adding any new supplements to your routine.
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Issues To Be Aware Of
If you’re considering trying probiotics, there are a few issues you need to be aware of.
Probiotics are generally classed as food rather than medicine, which means they don’t go through the rigorous testing medicines do.
Because of the way probiotics are regulated, we can’t always be sure that:
- the product actually contains the bacteria stated on the food label
- the product contains enough bacteria to have an effect
- the bacteria are able to survive long enough to reach your gut
There are many different types of probiotics that may have different effects on the body, and little is known about which types are best.
You may find a particular type of probiotic helps with one problem. But this doesn’t mean it’ll help other problems, or that other types of probiotic will work just as well.
And there’s likely to be a huge difference between the pharmaceutical-grade probiotics that show promise in clinical trials and the yoghurts and supplements sold in shops.
Page last reviewed: 27 November 2018 Next review due: 27 November 2021
How Popular Are Probiotics
The 2012 National Health Interview Survey showed that about 4 million U.S. adults had used probiotics or prebiotics in the past 30 days. Among adults, probiotics or prebiotics were the third most commonly used dietary supplement other than vitamins and minerals. The use of probiotics by adults quadrupled between 2007 and 2012. The 2012 NHIS also showed that 300,000 children age 4 to 17 had used probiotics or prebiotics in the 30 days before the survey.
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Can I Get Digestive Enzymes From The Food I Eat
Theres no real evidence to suggest that enzyme-rich foods such as pineapples and avocados help your digestion. Youre better off building a well-balanced diet that contains fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains. These foods will naturally help support the work your digestive enzymes are already doing.
Denhard suggests cutting highly processed, fatty foods from your diet, especially fried foods. Its much more likely that someone will have GI irritation or other problems because of unhealthy foods, not an enzyme insufficiency, she says.
Q: What Do The Align Probiotic Reviews Say
A: There were a wide range of Align Probiotic reviews with different types of feedback. A number of customers said they were very happy with this brand and got great digestive benefits from it. However, there were also customers who said they got very little or no results from the products. A few users reported mild Align Probiotic side effects.
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Do I Need To Take Probiotics After I Take Antibiotics
Antibiotic medications are often needed to fight an infection. However, while antibiotics are killing the bad bacteria, they are also knocking out the good bacteria in your body. Some people develop conditions like diarrhea after taking an antibiotic. In other people, this may allow for really bad bacteria to take over and populate the gut, such as with C. diff. Some research has shown a positive connection between taking probiotics after an antibiotic and relief from diarrhea. This hasnt been proven yet and doesnt work for everyone.
The thought behind adding probiotics back into your body after taking an antibiotic is that it can repopulate the good bacteria that was destroyed by the antibiotics and re-boot your system. The extra good bacteria helps repopulate your gut and fight off any remaining bad bacteria. Many people feel that adding in probiotics wont hurt, might help you feel better a little faster and prevent diarrhea.
Benefits Of Digestive Enzymes
When your digestive system is functioning as it should, it naturally produces adequate amounts of digestive enzymes. There are three main categories:
- Amylase: found in saliva and breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars.
- Protease: found in the stomach and breaks down proteins into amino acids.
- Lipase: produced in the pancreas and secreted into the small intestine helps break down fats into fatty acids.
But in some cases, the body doesn’t make enough of these proteins, and digestion suffers as a result. Fortunately, digestive enzyme supplements offer some support.
The biggest benefit of digestive enzymes is that they help your body break down food better. This translates to better digestive health. You may experience less gas, bloating, and burping. You may also notice that your stomach feels lighter and emptier, like your food is actually moving through it rather than sitting there stagnant.
Digestive enzymes may also help improve food intolerances . Studies suggest that supplementing with digestive enzymes can be especially beneficial for anyone with lactose intolerance or those with pancreatic enzyme needs. There’s also some preliminary research that a digestive enzyme, called AN-PEP, may help improve symptoms of gluten sensitivity.
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Do You Really Need Probiotics
Usually, the next question we get after what is a probiotic? is do I really need one?
If youre looking to support optimal digestion and whole body health, you may benefit from taking a daily probiotic. When choosing a probiotic supplement, remember that everyones different, and may need unique support. Thats why Probulin has a variety of different formulas, including probiotics for women, with targeted ingredients to support overall wellness.
Who Should Or Shouldn’t Take Probiotics
Although technically anyone can take them, there are certain groups of people who can benefit the most from probiotics. For example, they have been studied for the potential to help with a wide variety of ailments like diarrhea, and urinary tract infections , just to name a few. And they are considered relatively safe for most people.
“Probiotics have been used widely for decades now by the general population, and the safety record has been excellent in both health and disease,” Dr. Bulsiewicz says.
Fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi are natural sources of probiotics.
There are also certain groups of people who could be vulnerable to issues or complications from taking probiotics, which is why you should always consult your doctor before starting any supplement, including probiotics. According to Dr. Bulsiewicz, some studies found that there is increased risk of complications for people with severe acute pancreatitis who took probiotics, and some people with motility disorders had issues with severe brain fog, gas and bloating.
“This may sound scary, but consider the millions of people taking a probiotic on a daily basis for decades now, and that these possibilities are at the most extremely rare. To me, the main question with probiotics is not their safety. The main question is whether the benefit of the probiotic is worth the cost, which frequently runs $40 to $60 per month,” Dr. Bulsiewicz said.
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A Winning Combination For Your Digestive Health And Immunity
Upon learning all of this, I wanted to find a way for my clients to benefit from Bacillus subtilis.
But there was nothing on the market that combined this soil probiotic with the right amount of fiber and protein to allow it to thrive, thus improving gut ecology.
So I formulated my own product, called Living Fiber. Living Fiber is a unique product that combines the power of Bacillus subtilis with a proprietary form of the superfood, Jade Chlorella Pyrenoidosa one of the worlds oldest foods, and a proprietary prebiotic .
This combination creates a cleansing and detoxification powerhouse that can help improve the motility of your intestines, balance the good and bad bacteria in your gut and boost your energy and immunity.
Living Fiber is for you if you:
Living Fiber is not native to the human intestinal tract, so it provides its benefits while inside your body and is excreted out. What it does, is leave behind clean, balanced intestines, so that you can re-colonize your intestines with healthy bacteria and yeast.
Once your gut ecology is balanced with Living Fiber, you can reap even more rewards by consuming fermented foods and drinks, like cultured vegetables and probiotic liquids.
Living Fiber is FREE of: sugar, salt, wheat, soy, magnesium stearate, corn, milk, fillers, binders, flow agents, artificial colors and artificial flavors.
You deserve to feel your best and now you can, with the power of the right probiotics and fiber in Living Fiber!
3 ibid.
Can I Get Probiotics From Food
You can absolutely increase beneficial microbes in your body from the foods you eat. Certain foods have probiotics in them and can benefit the health of your microbiome.
These foods can be introduced into your diet at any point of the day. You may even be regularly eating them now and not realize that they contain probiotics. You will want to check the food label for live and active cultures. A few suggestions for just some of the probiotic-rich foods you can add to your diet and some times to try them include:
For breakfast, try:
- Powders.
- Liquids.
Probiotic supplements may be combined with a prebiotic. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates that feed the microorganisms in your gut. Basically, prebiotics are the food source for the good bacteria. They help feed the good bacteria and keep it healthy. Prebiotics include inulin, pectin and resistant starches.
When you have a supplement that combines a probiotic and prebiotic, its called a synbiotic.
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What Is The Difference Between Probiotic And Prebiotic
Most people are confused about what are probiotics and prebiotics, and what are the differences. However, prebiotics and probiotics are two different concepts. The beneficial bacteria in the intestines are called probiotics, and the compounds that feed these beneficial bacteria are called prebiotics. Prebiotics activate inactive beneficial bacteria and help them grow. As it can be understood from what we have said, probiotics cannot perform their functions without prebiotics.
Let’s talk briefly about foods containing prebiotics. Foods containing prebiotics potatoes, artichokes, dandelions, oats, wheat, onions, garlic. When we consume these foods with the probiotic sources mentioned above, the benefits of probiotics in our body will increase.
As a result, we tried to convey to you what probiotics are good for, what are the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics, what are the foods containing probiotics. As we mentioned before, we need to consume probiotics as naturally as possible in terms of health, and with probiotic supplements if it is insufficient. We all know how important nutrition is, especially during the pandemic period. Probiotics will be useful in preventing negative effects such as immune collapse caused by Covid-19, digestive and intestinal problems as a result of intensive antibiotic use. Therefore, in order to minimize all these ailments, we need to pay attention to the use of probiotics. Stay healthy and sports.
Choose A Probiotic That Does Not Require Refrigeration
Some probiotics must be refrigerated to prevent a decrease in bacterial concentration and thus maintain the potency and effectiveness of the product.
To that end, be sure to read the labels and choose a probiotic that does not require refrigeration for the life of the product. This will ensure you consume a probiotic whose effectiveness has not been altered when stored at room temperature.
- What is the precise date of manufacture of that product ?
- Has the product always been stored according to label directions since its date of manufacture ?
- Have the recommended temperature standards been respected, since the product was shipped from the manufacturing plant to the grocery store or the drugstore ?
- Furthermore, were the clinical studies conducted on a freshly manufactured product or on a product from the shelves just like the one you are buying ?
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