Supplements Improve Some Mental Health Conditions
Probiotics can directly or indirectly improve your mental health. Consuming probiotics makes you feel healthy and happy about your digestive system.
They also help maintain a healthy weight, and if you are obese, they aid in weight loss. Being fit makes you feel good and confident about yourself.
There were human and animal studies conducted, and they revealed that probiotic supplements help improve your mental health.
A group of 15 people with depression was given Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for a month. And it proved that it improved peoples mental health with anxiety and depression.
What You Need To Know About Probiotics Especially If You’re Taking One
The health benefits from the diversity and population of the microbiome in our gut has been well documented, ranging from digestive relief in irritable bowel syndrome to predicting and preventing the onset of asthma, dermatitis, and even breast cancer . There has also been a growing trend towards probiotic based foods like kimchi, sauerkraut, yogurt, and kombucha. And while most of us are now aware of the fact that probiotics support a healthy gut, its important to remember that it is not a one-size-fits-all approach. What are probiotics, and when should I use them? Probiotics are live organisms — typically bacteria or yeast — that stimulate the growth of beneficial microorganisms that make up our intestinal flora. Regular consumption of probiotics creates a healthy microbiome which is essential to gut and overall health. What to expect when you are taking probiotics?Can probiotics make you feel worse?small intestinal bacterial overgrowth .The Must-Knows when choosing a probiotic #1: Not every probiotic is the same.#2: Most probiotics cannot survive at room temperature#3: Quantity matters#4: Watch for fillers and Prebiotics. prebiotics When is it time to call the doctor?functional GI testingcontact Toronto Naturopathic Doctorschedule a consultation today
Everything You Have To Know About Probiotics And Traveling
Its a given that, when youre traveling, you have to take along your passport and tickets. But what about probiotics? Should you be packing them as well?
If you want to stay healthy while on the road, the answer is yes. Probiotics can help you stay healthy on the road, fight off bad bacteria, and even boost your immune system.
Traveling can take a toll on your gut health. Between the different food and water youll consume and the stress of being in a new place, your digestive system can go into overdrive. Taking probiotics can help offset some of these effects and keep you feeling your best.
So, how do you choose the right probiotic for traveling? And what should you look for when purchasing one? Heres everything you need to know about probiotics and traveling.
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Importance Of Microorganisms For Your Gut
The complex community of microorganisms in your gut is called the gut flora, gut microbiota, or gut microbiome .
The gut microbiota includes bacteria, viruses, fungi, archaea, and helminths with bacteria comprising the vast majority. Your gut is home to a complex eco-system of 300500 bacterial species .
Most of the gut flora is found in your colon, or large intestine, which is the last part of your digestive tract.
Surprisingly, the metabolic activities of your gut flora resemble those of an organ. For this reason, some scientists refer to the gut flora as the forgotten organ .
Your gut flora performs many important health functions. It manufactures vitamins, including vitamin K and some of the B vitamins .
It also turns fibers into short-chain fats like butyrate, propionate, and acetate, which feed your gut wall and perform many metabolic functions (
Probiotics and prebiotic fibers can help correct this balance, ensuring that your forgotten organ is functioning optimally .
Summary
Your gut flora consists of hundreds of types of microorganisms. These microorganisms perform numerous important bodily functions.
Probiotics are widely researched for their effects on digestive health .
Evidence suggests that probiotic supplements can help cure antibiotic-associated diarrhea .
When people take antibiotics, especially for long periods of time, they often experience diarrhea even long after the infection has been eradicated.
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Summary
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Everything You Need To Know About Probiotics According To Experts
There’s a lot to learn about “good bacteria.”
These days, probiotics seem to be everywhere touted in the soft-serve at your local fro-yo joint and the kimchi on your fancy-schmancy sandwich. But unlike with some other nutritional trends, there’s solid research confirming probiotics’ benefits. “We all live on a bandwidth of health,” says Colin Hill, Ph.D., president of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. “Probiotics can shift you in the right direction or delay a progression in the wrong direction, especially if you take them prophylactically.” In other words, this is one bandwagon worth jumping on.
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Things You Need To Know About Probiotics
With food intolerances at an all-time high, we are more aware than ever before of our stomachs. Weve got more knowledge about our own digestion, and are hyperaware of our sensitivities. But some experts believe probiotics might be a simple fix for improved gut health, which for many of us who are food-sensitive, is an irresistible draw.
NYC-based dietitian Lauren Kelly, MS, RD, CDN filled us in on the many benefits of probiotics in aiding our stomachs, sensitive or not.
Probiotics Add Good Bacteria To Your Gut
The “gut microbiota” also known as the “gut flora” is made up of trillions of microorganisms. The gut microbiota is very important not only for digestion but also in keeping your body healthy as a whole, maintaining, and building immune health, Kelly says. These healthy bacteria are responsible for about 70 percent of your entire immune system, which means it is crucial to keep these bacteria around and working to the best of their ability.
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Switch Up Your Strains Of Probiotics
Many people end up taking the same probiotic month after month because they think a quality supplement must work well all the time. The truth is you need variety in strains of probiotics to maintain homeostasis. So switching out your probiotic with different strains is crucial.
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What Are Probiotics And Why Do You Need Them
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. They come in various forms, including capsules, tablets, drinks, and powders.
Probiotics are live bacteria that help maintain a healthy gut. Other than supplements, probiotics can be found in some fermented foods, like yogurt and kefir.
The use of probiotics is not just limited to adults. Studies have shown that infants and children can benefit from the use of probiotics too. Taking probiotics is costly though, as they are generally expensive and will not be covered by insurance.
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What Is The Microbiome
Our gut is home to trillions of these microbiota. They actually live all over our body, but for the purpose of probiotics, were referring to the gut meaning our large intestine, where most of our microbes reside.
The microbes can be beneficial, or harmful, and our aim is to have a good variety or richness of good microbiota, and avoid dysbiosis, meaning a large number of harmful ones.
Everyone has a different combination of gut microbes. The differences are geographic, too Canadian microbes are different than what someone in, say, Africa will have.
Our core native gut bacteria are determined early in life by things like our delivery method, gestation period, and if we were fed breastmilk vs formula.
But our personal microbiome can be affected throughout life by things like,
Diet
Antibiotic use
In this amazing graphic from a 2019 study in Nutrients, youll see how different diets affect our gut bacteria. The type of bacteria in red and purple are considered harmful. Blue, green, and yellow boxes indicate beneficial bacteria types.
So, while your core gut bugs stay pretty much the same, the richness and diversity of your microbiome can be mixed up by your health, and some of your lifestyle choices.
Probiotics Don’t Have Side Effects
Kelly advises you talk to your doctor before taking a supplement. Look for lactobacilli and bifidobacterium in products these are the bacteria types that most probiotic research is based on. Some recommended brands include Florastor, Renew-Life, Garden of Life Raw Probiotics, and Metagenics UltraFlora.
All of these supplements are recommended because they have the types of bacteria that are most frequently studied. Furthermore, according to research, these supplement brands actually have the bacteria types that they state they have on the label, Kelly says.
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Can Probiotics Be Harmful
- Probiotics have an extensive history of apparently safe use, particularly in healthy people. However, few studies have looked at the safety of probiotics in detail, so thereâs a lack of solid information on the frequency and severity of side effects.
- The risk of harmful effects from probiotics is greater in people with severe illnesses or compromised immune systems. When probiotics are being considered for high-risk individuals, such as premature infants or seriously ill hospital patients, the potential risks of probiotics should be carefully weighed against their benefits.
- Possible harmful effects of probiotics include infections, production of harmful substances by the probiotic microorganisms, and transfer of antibiotic resistance genes from probiotic microorganisms to other microorganisms in the digestive tract.
- Some probiotic products have been reported to contain microorganisms other than those listed on the label. In some instances, these contaminants may pose serious health risks.
Things To Know About Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are either the same as or similar to microorganisms found naturally in the human body and may be beneficial to health. If you picture the human body as a âhostâ for bacteria and other microorganisms, you might have a better understanding of probiotics. The body, especially the lower gastrointestinal tract , contains a complex and diverse community of bacteria. Although we tend to think of bacteria as harmful âgerms,â many bacteria actually help the body function properly.
Probiotics are available to consumers in oral products such as dietary supplements and yogurts, as well as other products such as suppositories and creams. It is important to be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any health claims for probiotics. Here are some other things you should know:
There is some evidence that probiotics may be helpful for acute diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and atopic eczema .
Although some probiotic formulations have shown promise in research, strong scientific evidence to support other uses of probiotics for most conditions is lacking.
Studies suggest that probiotics usually have few side effects. However, the data on safety, particularly long-term safety, are limited, and the risk of serious side effects may be greater in people who have underlying health conditions.
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Risk Factors Of Probiotics
Probiotics offer a wide range of health benefits, albeit they cause harmful side effects. Probiotics, when stored in unfavourable conditions, may support the growth of harmful bacteria or other pathogens.
Some probiotic products may contain bacterial contaminations other than those mentioned on the label, which might pose health risks.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Probiotics
Gut bacteria profoundly impacts general health. This is in large part because it helps maintain the balance along your digestive track. Beneficial bacteria can break down nutrients, and others aid in the disposal of waste. As such, a microbiome supported by probiotic food products can prevent stomachaches and other health issues. Many health professionals go so far as to associate a healthy microbiome with good mental health.
Additionally, probiotics help restore a healthy microbiome following the use of certain medications. For example, probiotics can mitigate how antibiotics affect your body. While antibiotics are designed to wipe out so-called bad bacteria, they also significantly harm the good ones. Probiotics help replenish populations of gut bacteria that is otherwise decimated.
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Irritable Or Inflammatory Bowel
review concluded that a multi-strain probiotic might improve IBS symptoms. The researchers called for further investigations into whether strains of Akkermansia, Bacteroides, and Faecalibacterium bacteria could play a role in future therapies.
A different 2019 found that probiotics did not consistently support the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, except possibly for one type of the disease: ulcerative colitis.
Do Probiotics Help With Weight Loss
No single food or supplement the can help you lose weight, period. But with that in mind, the study of probiotics and obesity looks promising, though the specific link not entirely clear. Dietary factors that can lead to weight gain over time may also affect your gut microbiome. Some developing areas of research are also looking at the relationship of gut bacteria to appetite hormones and calorie absorption, but it’s too soon to make any definitive statements just yet.
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How To Use Them Safely
The FDA regulates probiotics like foods, not like medications. Unlike drug companies, makers of probiotic supplements don’t have to show their products are safe or that they work.
Ask your doctor if taking probiotics is a good idea for you. In general, probiotic foods and supplements are thought to be safe for most people, though some people with immune system problems or other serious health conditions shouldn’t take them.
In some cases, mild side effects might include an upset stomach, diarrhea, gas, and bloating for the first couple of days after you start taking them. They may also trigger allergic reactions. Stop taking them and talk to your doctor if you have problems.
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Strains Can Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
People are aware that probiotics enhance your gut health and regulate the immune system. But little did they know that probiotics also check your cholesterol level and keep your heart healthy.
Probiotic organisms like Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7527, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7528, Lactobacillus plantarum CECT 7529 and Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 contribute to healthy cholesterol levels.
Probiotics bind to the cholesterol in the intestine and block them from getting absorbed. They also produce certain acids and bile, which metabolise the fat in the body. They break down the bile and prevent it from reabsorbing into the gut.
A research study was conducted with 127 people with high cholesterol. They were administered with the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri for nine weeks.
The results revealed that administration with the probiotic bacteria reduced the total cholesterol level by 9% and LDL level by 12%.
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What Are The Benefits Of Probiotics
Two of the biggest reasons to consume probiotics are to prevent or manage GI issues and to lower your odds of catching a bug. “If you’re traveling or stressed, or not eating or sleeping well, that’s when you’ll notice that probiotics really work,” Dr. Merenstein says. But newer research suggests that probiotics also have the potential to help prevent or treat other conditions, such as high cholesterol, allergies, and even anxiety. Probiotics have such far-reaching effects because your gut does, too: It houses more nerve endings than any place in the body , and it’s ground zero for your immune system’s function.
As you may know, to build a strong immune system, people need exposure to a wide variety of microorganisms, something modern-day Americans don’t typically get. Plus, we use antimicrobials found in some soaps and even toothpaste that kill good bacteria as well as bad. Probiotics may fill the gap, says Hill.
Can Help Prevent And Treat Diarrhoea
Probiotics have proven benefits in their ability to treat diarrhoea and also reduce its severity. There are many reasons for diarrhoea, such as an imbalance in the gut microbiome, antibiotics and foods that are infected with pathogens.
Research has proven that probiotics can reduce antibiotic-associated conditions. Probiotics have the potential to treat other types of diarrhoea and not only antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
Probiotics such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei and Saccharomyces boulardii have the potential to treat travellers diarrhoea.
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Our Partner In Health
IIN has partnered with Seed Health* a mission-driven, research-backed company thats pioneering the applications of microbes to improve human and planetary health. Their probiotic, the DS-01TM Daily Synbiotic, is unlike other probiotics. Theres an abundance of probiotic products available today, which makes it even more confusing for consumers to figure out which ones actually do what they claim to do.
We talked with Seed Health to clear up the confusion so that you can make informed decisions for you, your family, and your clients.
Which Strains Of Probiotics Should I Look For
Studies have shown different strains of probiotics to provide different benefits. If you’re looking for dietary support for the immune system, probiotic microbiology consultant Mary Ellen Sanders, MS, PhD, suggests looking out for:
- Bifidobacterium lactis HN019. This strain helps modulate some aspects of the immune system in older people .
- Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC55730 .
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG .
- Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001 .
- Bifidobacterium lactis Bb-12 . Use this uncooked for best results.
And if you want to provide dietary support for diarrhea associated with antibiotic use, Sanders suggests looking for:
- S. cerevisiae
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
- Lactobacillus casei DN-114 001
- Lactobacillus acidophilus CL1285 plus Lactobicillus casei Lbc80r
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Where Can I Find Probiotics
Fermented dairy products, like yogurt and kefir, are common places for probiotics to pop up. Theyre also commonly consumed as dietary supplements. In addition, probiotics are increasingly added to non-traditional foods like chocolate, ice cream, juices, sauces, spreads and nutrition bars. These beneficial components can be included in foods that dont typically contain them, or they can be added in amounts beyond what is normally present.
