Probiotics are recommended for use as a healthy drug supplement. This is due to the benefits this drug supplement gives to the body. If you want to know some of the benefits, you should read through this guide keenly. As you read, do well to take note of the main points and benefits.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. We usually think of these as germs that cause diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.
You can find probiotics in supplements and some foods, like yogurt. Doctors often suggest they help with digestive problems.
Furthermore, Probiotics are part of a larger picture concerning bacteria and your body — your microbiome. Think of a microbiome as a diverse community of organisms, such as a forest, that work together to keep your body healthy. This community is made up of things called microbes. You have trillioof microbes on and in your body. These microbes are a combination of:
- Bacteria
- Fungi (including yeasts).
- Viruses
- Protozoa
Everyone’s microbiome is unique. No two people have the same microbial cells — even twiare different.
For a microbe to be called a probiotic, it must have several characteristics. These include being able to:
- Be isolated from a human.
- Survive in your intestine after ingestion (being eaten).
- Have a proven benefit to you.
- Be safely consumed.
How do probiotics work?
The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Think of it as keeping your body neutral. When you are sick, bad bacteria enter your body and increase in number. This knocks your body out of balance. Good bacteria work to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance within your body, making you feel better.
Good bacteria keep you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Certain types of good bacteria can also:
- Help your body digest food.
- Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
- Create vitamins.
- Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria you may have consumed (through food or drinks) from entering your blood.
- Break down and absorb medications.
This balancing act is naturally happening in your body all of the time. You don’t actually need to take probiotic supplements to make it happen. Good bacteria are just a natural part of your body. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fiber every day helps to keep the number of good bacteria at proper levels.
What Do They Do?
Among other things, probiotics help send food through your gut by affecting nerves that control gut movement. Researchers are still trying to figure out which are best for certain health problems. Some common conditiothey treat are:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Infectious diarrhea (caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites)
- Diarrhea caused by antibiotics
There is also some research that shows they’re useful for problems in other parts of your body. For example, some people say they have helped with the following:
- Skin conditions, like eczema
- Urinary and vaginal health
- Preventing allergies and colds
- Oral Health
What are the most common types of probiotic bacteria?
Though there are many types of bacteria that can be considered probiotics, there are two specific types of bacteria that are common probiotics found in stores. These include:
- Lactobacillus
- Bifidobacterium
Probiotics are also made up of good yeast. The most common type of yeast found in probiotics is:
- Saccharomyces boulardii.
Are there any storage instructiofor probiotics?
Several probiotic straiare very fragile and need to be protected from heat, oxygen, light, and humidity. The probiotics might start to break down or die if they are exposed to these elements. Because of this, you may need to refrigerate your probiotics or store them in a particular place. Refrigerating certain probiotic straiensures that they’re still viable when you go to use them and will still provide the full benefit of the probiotic. Always read the labels on any probiotic product you purchase to make sure you store it correctly and use it within the expiration date.
Health Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics Help Balance The Friendly Bacteria in Your Digestive System
Probiotics include “good” bacteria. These are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed.
These benefits are thought to result from the ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria.
An imbalance meathere are too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria. It can happen due to illness, medication such as antibiotics, poor diet, and more.
Consequences can include digestive issues, allergies, mental health problems, obesity, and more. Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods or taken as supplements. What’s more, they appear to be safe for most people.
Probiotics Can Help Prevent and Treat Diarrhea
Probiotics are widely known for their ability to prevent diarrhea or reduce its severity.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics. It occurs because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.
Several studies suggest probiotic use is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. In one study, researchers found that taking probiotics reduced C. difficile infection (CDAD) by 60%.
Probiotics can also help with other forms of diarrhea not associated with antibiotics.
A large review of 35 studies found certain straiof probiotics can reduce the duration of diarrhea by an average of 25 hours.
Probiotics also reduced the risk of travelers’ diarrhea.
Effectiveness varies, depending on the type and dose of the probiotic taken.
Straisuch as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are most commonly associated with a reduced risk of diarrhea.
Probiotic Supplements Improve Some Mental Health Conditions
An increasing number of studies link gut health to mood and mental health.
Both animal and human studies find that probiotic supplements can improve some mental health disorders.
A review found supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus straifor 1–2 months can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and memory.
One study followed 70 chemical workers for 6 weeks. Those who consumed 100 grams of probiotic yogurt per day or took a daily probiotic capsule experienced benefits for general health, depression, anxiety, and stress.
Benefits were also seen in a study of 40 patients with depression.
Taking probiotic supplements for 8 weeks decreased depression levels and reduced levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) and hormones such as insulin, compared to people who did not take a probiotic.
Probiotics Can Help Reduce Symptoms of Certain Digestive Disorders
Over one million people in the US suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Certain types of probiotics from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus straihave improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis.
However, probiotics appear to have little effect on the symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Nevertheless, probiotics may have benefits for other bowel disorders. Early research suggests they may help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Probiotics May Help Boost Your Immune System
Older research suggests that taking probiotics reduced the likelihood and duration of respiratory infections. However, the quality of the evidence was low.
The probiotic Lactobacillus crispatus has also been shown to reduce the risk of urinary tract infectio(UTIs) in women by 50%.
Ultimately, more research is needed to find out about the link between probiotics and immunity.
High cholesterol
A 2017 review concluded that consuming foods containing probiotic Lactobacillus bacteria could reduce levels of low-density lipoprotein, or “bad” cholesterol, as well as total cholesterol.
In 2018, authors of a meta-analysis also looked at the impact that probiotics could have on total cholesterol.
After studying data from nearly 2,000 people, the researchers concluded that probiotic supplements could significantly reduce total cholesterol levels in the blood.
However, the effectiveness may depend on the type and dosage of the supplement. More studies are needed to confirm the results and clarify which probiotics would be useful.
High blood pressure
One review has found that milk fermented with straiof Lactobacillus may help lower blood pressure.
The review also showed that consuming probiotics could lead to an increase in levels of vitamin D — which helps prevent high blood pressure — in the blood.
If further research confirms that probiotics can help manage blood pressure, these bacteria could one day play a role in treating and preventing heart disease.
Risks and precautions
Probiotics are likely to be safe for most people, but there are some points to consider before using them or increasing the intake.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health note that while probiotics are likely safe for those in good health, these bacteria may pose a risk to people with weakened immune systems or other health issues.
These people may face the risk of:
- infection
- harmful substances being released into the body
- antibiotic resistance
It is always best to check with a doctor before taking supplements or making significant dietary changes, especially for people with existing health issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Probiotics are types of “friendly” bacteria that may boost the health of the gut microbiome. They are available in some foods and as supplements.
Check with a doctor before taking supplements or increasing the consumption of probiotics, to ensure that doing so is safe.