Why Are Probiotics Good For Us

Benefits For The Mind And Brain

Gut health is about more than just digestion. Scientific evidence shows that the gut and the brain stand in constant communication with each other. You may have noticed this connection when your stomach drops or you have a gut feeling. This gut-brain axis influences many mental health conditions.

More research shows the important role that gastrointestinal health plays in improving mood and supporting focus and memory.

The Truth About Probiotics

These incredible bacteria have multiple health benefits. By replenishing the bacteria we shed due to toxins like antibiotics, we strengthen our digestive system and immunity. Probiotics are extremely safe and effective. They are in everything from yogurts to fermented beverages like kefir and kombucha. However, this influx of bacteria can have a negative effect in certain individuals. You should avoid probiotics if youre experiencing any of the following:

How To Get Probiotics

The two primary ways people ingest probiotics are by eating specific foods that contain beneficial bacteria or taking probiotic supplements. Given that different probiotic strains have different effects on the body, you need to do a little research, says Reid.

Make sure the food or supplement you plan to consume has the right stuff in it to address your health concerns. Reid recommends consulting USProbioticGuide.com, a useful tool that provides information about specific food products and supplements, the probiotic strains they contain, what the research shows regarding their efficacy for different health conditions and how to use the item.

Consumerlab.com is another great resource, as they test specific supplements for contaminants and dosing.

Recommended Reading: What Does Probiotics Do For Your Stomach

What Can Negatively Affect Gut Bacteria

There are a number of components that negatively affect gut bacteria including lifestyle factors such as smoking and high stress levels, as well as the use of antibiotics.

Designed to fight infections, antibiotics reduce and deplete the natural bacteria living in the gut. Resistance to antibiotics is becoming a serious problem worldwide and it is for this reason that we should only take these when absolutely necessary.

Stress can change the number and diversity of our gut bacteria, which in turn affects the immune system and may explain why certain conditions, such as eczema or acne, flare up when we are more stressed.

Excessive alcohol consumption can be inflammatory and may affect the lining of our digestive system, where a lot of our microbiome live, reducing them in numbers and therefore affecting our health.

A long-term reduced intake of fermentable carbohydrates for the treatment of IBS can also negatively affect the bacteria in the gut. It is therefore important that these foods are only omitted for a specified time under the guidance of a specialist dietitian as the implications of long-term avoidance needs further research.

Smoking also has a negative impact on the bacterial composition of the gut in addition to the well documented health risks it carries.

Help With Certain Mental Health Conditions

Microbiota composition changes are related to depression and anxiety. This may be because 95 percent of the neurotransmitter serotonin, the feel-good hormone, is produced by the bacteria in the gut.

One study found that after 30 days of supplementing with the probiotic strains Lactobacillus helveticus and Bifidobacteria longum, healthy participants had less anxiety and depression.

Recommended Reading: Does Probiotic Yogurt Help You Poop

Should I Try Probiotics

If you are interested in adding probiotics to your diet, its worth a conversation with your healthcare provider. Many providers may suggest giving them a try to see if they help with your general health. It is important to remember that not all probiotics behave the same way and have the same effects. Each has their own individual benefits. They generally dont cause harm. One easy way to start can be by simply introducing probiotic-rich foods into your diet, like yogurt.

Before you start any supplements, make sure you talk to your healthcare provider. Your provider may be able to point you in the right direction, helping you figure out the best probiotic to take, how much to take and when to take it. A conversation is always worth the time when it concerns your health.

Can Reduce Risk Of Developing Clostridium Difficile Infection

Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that can cause a serious gastrointestinal infection, particularly in people who have been hospitalized or taken antibiotics for long periods. Research in The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews concluded with moderate certainty that probiotics can reduce the risk of C. difficile-associated diarrhea in adults and children who are taking antibioticsGoldenberg JZ, Yap C, Lytvyn L, et al. Probiotics for the prevention of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in adults and children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 12:CD006095. . Interestingly, probiotics can prevent C. difficile infection but not treat it, says Cresci. Other research has found favorable results with the Lactobacillus strains, specificallyPierre-Jean Maziade, Noam Ship, Jason C Sniffen, Ellie J C Goldstein. Enhanced Clostridioides difficile Infection Prevention With a Pharmacy-Controlled Policy That Adds a 3-Strain Lactobacillus Probiotic Concomitantly to Antibiotic Therapy. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2021. .

Note that if you are taking antibiotics, experts recommend taking probiotics at least two to three hours after your antibiotic dose.

Don’t Miss: What Is A Good Probiotic For Digestive Health

What Are Good Bacteria

Science shows diets containing certain kinds of good live bacteria known as probiotics, found in fermented foods or supplements, can help treat or prevent a number of common health problems, like acne, allergies and various digestive conditions.

This good bacteria acts like the military of your body and fights off the bad bacteria. According to Dr. Frank Lipman, a celebrity holistic medicine professional, a healthy persons body should contain around 100 trillion good bacteria at any given time.

You May Also Like

This bacteria assists with keeping your immune system in tip-top shape, and in return, the rest of your body says thank you by having clear skin, a properly functioning digestive system and more.

Before we get into it, here are six common strains of probiotics that youll find on food and supplement labels.

B. animalis: This strain is an ingredient in Dannon yogurts Activia product. Its helpful in aiding digestion and fighting food-borne bacteria. Its also thought to boost your immune system.

B. breve: This strain lives in your digestive tract and in the vagina. In both places, it fights off infection-causing bacteria or yeast. It helps your body absorb nutrients by fermenting sugars. It also breaks down plant fiber to make it digestible.

You May Also Like

• buttermilk
• cottage cheese
• other cheeses

Whats The Difference Between Ibs And Ibd

Dont confuse IBS with a more serious digestive-tract disease called inflammatory bowel disease . IBD is an autoimmune disease categorized by chronic inflammation.

Crohns disease , ulcerative colitis , and indeterminate colitis are three types of IBD. Clinical trials suggest probiotics may be a promising therapy for UC. Unfortunately, CD and IC do not show the same therapeutic effect.

You May Like: Benefits Of Renew Life Probiotics

Types Of Bacteria That Are Good For You

When you think of bacteria, the thought of actually eating it on purpose may sound a little disgustingespecially when you think of what some bacteria can do to your insides including make you sick, hospitalized or even worse.

But, did you know that not all bacteria are bad? According to scientists, we should be eating more bacteriathe good type, that is.

Potential Probiotic Benefits Of Lactobacillus

Other strains, like L. reuteri, are beneficial to our health in multiple ways. This species is well-documented for its ability to reduce the permeability of the intestine and reverse “leaky gut”. Researchers suggest that it may help prevent inflammatory diseases too.

Don’t Miss: Best Probiotic For Ibs And Gerd

Dosing Recommendations For Taking Probiotics

Dosing recommendations vary depending on whether youre taking probiotics for general health or if you are taking them to help with a specific health issue. For general health, one to two million colony-forming units is a reasonable dosage. Most studies for the treatment of IBS or antibiotic-induced and infectious diarrhea include dosages for children starting at five billion CFUs per day and more than 10 billion CFUs per day for adults. Speak with your healthcare team about a good dosage for your needs, noted an article published in November 2017 in Food and Nutrition.

Probiotics: Health Or Hype

When you think about bacteria, you might think about the microorganisms that cause diseases like strep throat. In fact, healthy human bodies are teeming with bacteria. Bacteria outnumber human cells ten to one in our bodies. We have trillions of bacteria inside our bodies and on our skin.

Probiotics is a name for those good-for-you microorganisms, including bacteria and yeasts, that support a healthy digestive system and keep your body functioning well.

In the grocery store, probiotics means products that contain these live, active microorganisms. Yogurt and sauerkraut are two great examples of foods that can contain probiotics. Probiotic yogurt contains Lactobacillus, for example. Fresh sauerkraut typically contains Leuconostoc mesenteroides.

Some people find that probiotics help with gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Some believe that they are good for vaginal health or preventing colds.

Also Check: Vh Essentials Probiotics With Prebiotics & Cranberry

Where To Find Probiotics In Your Diet

Were all in agreement, its not a good sign if we dont have probiotics in our diet. But what are foods with probiotics? And what are natural probiotics?

Alice Benjamin, the chief nursing officer for Nurse.org, fills us in on where to find these happy-making bacteria. There are two ways to get more good bacteria into your gut: fermented foods and dietary supplements.

Fermented foods are the most natural form of probiotics. They include:

• Yogurt, especially probiotic enriched yogurt
• Kefir

this is how a good bedtime routine could help you sleep better

What Are Digestive Enzymes

Digestive enzymes are biologically active proteins that help break down and digest nutrients. Because of similarities in how probiotics and digestive enzymes are named on a bag of dog food, they can sometimes be confused. However, it’s essential to realize that not only are probiotics and digestive enzymes different in structure, they also have very other functions in terms of supporting GI health.

A big difference between probiotics and digestive enzymes is that probiotics are living organisms , whereas digestive enzymes are non-living proteins.

While probiotics support GI and immune health by supporting an optimal balance of good bacteria in the gut, digestive enzymes work to digest food by targeting and breaking down specific nutrients into their absorbable components. For example, lipase a lipid targeting enzyme will break down fats into their fatty acid components, while protease a protein targeting enzyme will break down proteins into amino acids. Studies have shown that digestive enzymes aid in healthy digestion and improve stool quality in pets.2

The protease enzymes found in GO! SOLUTIONS CARNIVORE recipes are Bacillus subtilis and Aspergillus oryzae.

Read Also: Renew Life Probiotics 30 Billion

Revealed: Why Probiotics Are So Important

Scientists have known for decades that probiotics can boost your health. That is why so many yogurt manufactures are now touting the different bacterial strains in their products right on the packaging. Recent studies indicate that probiotics may play a role in treating gastrointestinal illnesses, boosting immunity, and preventing or slowing the development of certain types of cancer. Since 80% of the immune system is gut associated, it makes sense to seriously consider the benefits of probiotics on your overall health.

Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics may be needed to help the body fight infections, but they can disrupt the gut environment. Antibiotics often decrease the variety of good bacteria in the gut, which can reduce their ability to fight against other disease-causing microbes.

Sometimes, harmful bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics which is a real threat to treatment. Some strains of Lactobacillus bacteria have been shown to protect against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , an infection resistant to several common antibiotics.

Read Also: Will Probiotics Help With Bladder Infection

Bacteria: The Good The Bad And The Ugly

Bacteria are everywhere, including your entire body. The bacteria in our body weighs as much as our brain3 lbs! Bacteria can be harmful, but some species of bacteria are needed to keep us healthy. The bacteria on our skin, in our airways, and in our digestive system are the first line of defense against foreign invaders that can cause infection and other problems.

Bacteria also act as tuning forks for our bodys immune system, making sure its pitched just right. The immune system shouldnt be too sensitive or too sluggish: it needs to respond quickly to an infection but it shouldnt over-react. . Each person has a personalized collection of bacteria, called the microbiome. We acquire our first bacteria while being born, and every day our environment exposes us to more. Some of these bacteria will take up residence inside the body and help develop a robust immune system.

Sibo Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

A SIBO diagnosis means that there are bacteria growing in your small intestine, where theyre not supposed to be! If you take probiotics with this condition, you will feel worse. You will be more bloated, have more discomfort and pain, and possibly even feel quite sick. Here is an article posted on the NIH website about it: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099351/

Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Natural Probiotic Supplement

Should I Give Probiotics To My Kids

Probiotics can be beneficial for both adults and kids. If your child has an illness that requires an antibiotic medication for treatment, taking a probiotic can help shorten symptoms. Probiotics can also be used to help relieve constipation, acid reflux, diarrhea, gas and eczema in children.

Introducing probiotics into your childs diet through food is typically a safe way to give them probiotics. Foods like yogurt and cottage cheese are often part of a balanced diet and can add in good bacteria without much risk.

There are commercially available probiotic supplements specifically designed for infants and children. However, it is important to talk to your childs pediatrician before giving them any probiotic supplement or changing the childs diet to include probiotic-rich foods.

What Happens Without Probiotics

What do probiotics do for women? With womens wellness in mind, we have to take a look at what probiotics do in your body. Our expert insight has told us that we want probiotics, but what happens if we dont have them? According to Jordan, a lot can go wrong:

• Unexpected feelings of stress and anxiety
• Erratic mood change, including stress, depression, or anxiety
• Recurring urinary tract infections or yeast infections
• Autoimmune issues such as thyroid imbalances, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes
• Digestive issues, including irritable bowel syndrome , constipation, diarrhea, heartburn, and bloating
• Sleep disruptions, such as insomnia
• Sensitive skin, including skin redness, rashes, allergies, acne, and skin inflammation
• Sluggishness and fatigue
• Unexplained weight gain, especially around your stomach area

While helpful bacteria might live in our intestines and arent as widely discussed as other aspects of our health, they make themselves known when not present.

Don’t Miss: Pre And Probiotics For Gut Health

Why Probiotics And Fermented Foods Matter To Your Gut

Adding probiotics and fermented foods to your diet have quickly gained traction over the past decade, but it is important to understand what they are and how they work before using them to gain specific health benefits. Probiotics have the most significant impact on your gut health, and other health benefits they can provide are often linked to gut health. Here is an overview of what probiotics are and how they may benefit your body, as well as Carolina Digestive Health’s recommendations for adding probiotics to your diet!

Surprising Reasons You Should Take A Daily Probiotic

By now youve probably heard of the microbiome, the community of trillions of microorganisms that live inside and on your body. But did you know that microbes are so fundamental to life that they outnumber human cells by about 10 to 1?

Our microbiome is full of all kinds of microbes, both good and bad. When our microbiome is balanced, the good guys work hard to keep us vibrant and healthy. However, when too many of the bad guys are hanging around, the good bacteria lose their footing and cant do their jobs properly.

The good news is that we can swing the balance of the microbes in our microbiome in favor of the good guys by consuming probiotics, or beneficial bacteria. Probiotics work to replenish the beneficial bacteria in our body and provide a myriad of important, supportive health benefits.

Here are the top 10 reasons why taking a daily probiotic supplement is one of the best things you can do to support your overall health and wellness. Probiotics for Women and Probiotics for Men are a great start toward overall wellness.

1. Encourage a balanced microbiome

From modern diets filled with sugar and additives to exposure to antibiotics in both medicine and food, your lifestyle can wreak havoc on your bodys delicate balance of bacteria. Even aging, stress, environmental toxins, and medications can have indiscriminate effects on your healthy microflora balance.

2. Support immune function

3. Support nutrient absorption

4. Maintain your mood

6. Freshen breath

References:4

Don’t Miss: Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Moisturizer

Combining Prebiotics With Probiotics

Probiotics can work together with prebioticsdietary fibers that act as food for probioticsto create greater health benefits, known as a synbiotic effect. Synbiotics can improve the activity of the beneficial bacteria in the gut and their chance of survival.

In the Omni-Biotic probiotic powder, there are prebiotics included which fuel the good bacteria before you ingest them.

Related Resource:

• Can You Take Prebiotics and Probiotics Together?