Are Probiotics Actually Good For You?

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Probiotics are living organisms that promote improved health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. 

You have probably heard or seen radio or television ads promoting the benefits of probiotics. Many food items have included these powerful immune support bacteria and yeasts in their products, but are probiotics good for you? Yes! Let's look at probiotics and how they can improve your health.

Probiotics are beneficial yeasts and bacteria that improve digestive health, improve your skin, improve oral health, reduce allergy and cold symptoms, and improve urinary and vaginal health. Probiotics help to repopulate the digestive tract with beneficial bacteria to help improve your overall health.  

There are many different types of probiotics, each offering different benefits. For example, Lactobacillus produces lactase, an enzyme the body uses to break down lactose, or milk sugar. It also produces lactic acid to help control harmful bacteria and improve the body's ability to absorb minerals. Another common type of probiotic is Bifidobacterium. This powerful probiotic supports the immune system, aids lactose breakdown, and limits the growth of harmful bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. 

Probiotics and antibiotic usage

When you take an antibiotic, the antibiotic begins breaking down bacteria in the body. Although this is a great way to overcome an infection, antibiotics destroy both the harmful and good bacteria in the body, which can result in an unbalanced digestive tract. When the good bacteria are killed, your body will be unable to properly digest food, resulting in antibiotic-related diarrhea, upset stomach, gas, bloating, and abdominal cramping. Adding a probiotic supplement to your diet can help alleviate these symptoms by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.

Probiotics and Digestive Health

The gastrointestinal tract contains bacteria that aid nutrient absorption and gut mobility. Probiotics activate nerves in the gastrointestinal tract that control intestinal contractions, which help move food through the GI tract. Taking a probiotic supplement can help relieve many of the gastrointestinal disturbances associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), nutrient malabsorption, constipation, weight gain, nausea, indigestion, diarrhea, gas, bloating, and lactose intolerance.

Probiotics and skin health

Probiotics help lower systemic inflammation throughout the body, including the skin. By lowering inflammation, you can improve your skin health. Probiotics can also help reduce rosacea symptoms, decrease the risk of acne, relieve eczema, and provide anti-aging protection by building up collagen and rehydrating the skin from the inside out.

Probiotics and weight loss

Your digestive tract contains hundreds of types of microorganisms. Most of these bacteria are beneficial and help the body produce specific B vitamins and vitamin K. Probiotics help break down fiber, release your satiety hormone, burn fat and calories, and decrease fat storage in the body by reducing systemic inflammation. However, to obtain effective weight loss, you must eat a low-calorie, healthy diet and get plenty of exercise to create a calorie deficit.

Probiotics and Cardiovascular Health

Probiotics have been shown to lower harmful cholesterol levels and reduce blood pressure readings by decreasing inflammation, improving nutrient absorption, and helping the body digest fiber, which lowers bad cholesterol.

Probiotics and Mental Health

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety in those suffering from clinical depression. Including these probiotics in your supplementation regimen and eating probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt and fermented foods, can help improve your mental health and reduce the symptoms of depression. Probiotics help the body digest fiber and turn it into short-chain fatty acids that nourish the brain, improving depression and anxiety symptoms and memory problems.

Probiotics and Immune Health

The digestive tract houses most of the immune system. Probiotics help improve digestive health, which in turn enhances the immune system. This reduces the risk of respiratory illnesses like the common cold and allergic rhinitis. Probiotics also decrease inflammation throughout the body, including the sinus cavities and lungs.

Probiotics are living organisms that promote improved health by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. If you are ready to improve your health, decrease the risk of gastrointestinal issues, enhance the immune system, and promote skin health, take a metagenics ultra flora daily and eat probiotic-rich foods, including yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and other fermented foods.  

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