What Are Probiotics

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Probiotics are tiny microorganisms that live within your body.  They are essential for good health. Learn on where to get your probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are naturally present in the body. Here we focus on probiotics mainly in the digestive tract and vagina lining.

Probiotics are the “good bugs” that live in your body, and are considered beneficial to the body. They exist in a symbiotic relationship with our bodies, performing duties we need to maintain good health. Some ways they help us are by suppressing the growth of bad bugs, improving immune function, helping to produce Vitamin K, and aiding in digestion.

In the digestive tract alone, there are over 400 species of probiotics, the most common being lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. These bugs perform a whole host of duties, and most of the time, live quietly with you your whole life. When the balance between probiotics (good bugs) and bad bugs is disturbed, the bad bugs increase in number and this can lead to health issues. This is called dysbiosis and most commonly results in digestive disturbances and vaginal yeast infections. Dysbiosis can be caused in many ways, but the most common are oral antibiotics, inadequate dietary fiber, and ingesting environmental toxins. If you experience dysbiosis either in the vaginal or digestive tract, it is beneficial to use probiotic supplements to restore the balance between good bugs and bad.

Probiotic supplements come in capsules, liquids, powders, or tablets. Whatever form you choose, make sure they are of good quality. You get no benefit by eating dead probiotics!

An easy way to consume probiotics is in cultured dairy products, such as yogurt or kefir. Depending on processing, the number of live organisms in each product varies greatly. For maximum benefits, it is beneficial to choose organic and low-sugar products. The dosage varies by the probiotic. Read the product instructions and consult a holistic and integrative medicine doctor for the best probiotics that fit your needs.

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