Did you know that if the gut is healthy, your 70 % immune system is healthy? Problems of the digestive system include indigestion, constipation, acidity, bloating, and gastritis. These conditions are frequent due to bad lifestyle habits such as lack of physical movement, irregular eating, eating too much, or eating too little.
The gut bacteria also plays an important role in maintaining overall gut health. These bacteria live in a symbiotic niche, and their survival is important for the bowel metabolic system.
For instance, in our gut, there grows a microbiome that includes bacteria and yeast. There has to be a balance in their population. If yeast overtakes, then there can be infectious problems, and so their population is maintained by good bacteria. However, there can be situations where good bacteria are targeted (by good bacteria-specific antibiotics), leading to bad bacteria causing gastrointestinal problems and infections.
Therefore, you need to boost your gut by providing it with food and supplements to provide for the probiotic bacteria. The most important bacteria that are included in the probiotics are lactobacillus species and Bifidobacterium groups.
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Four Essential Benefits Of Probiotics
– Maintain Gut Health
Balance is an essential component that will maintain overall gut health. Diseases and infections cause an imbalance of the microbiome. Probiotics can help restore this balance and boost the digestive system. Since gut health is related to overall immune health, probiotics also uplift your immunity. For instance, in a study published in 2011, there was a piece of moderate evidence that species of Lactobacillus GG and SS boulardii (prebiotic bacteria) would be essential for the treatment of watery diarrhea, especially those caused by rotavirus.
– Uplift Mental Health
There are a lot of link-ups that believe the gut and the central nervous system have a connection. One explanation can be due to the parasympathetic nervous system that links the gut-brain axis. Ever wondered why your tummy growls or hurts in times of danger? This is because your gut is also a part of the ‘fright or flight’ movement whenever there is a rush of adrenaline. Some scientists believe that gut bacteria affect the nervous system so that they regulate the way the human thinks and feels. However, these can be speculations that still need to be delineated. But, remember that good gut health will also maintain good mental health.
– Prevent Diseases Of The Gut
Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s diseases are not lifestyle diseases. They affect the way humans eat and hence can affect the overall living. There is evidence that species like Faeculibacteruim, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia can be good candidates for future therapies related to gastrointestinal problems. Other controlled trials have suggested that multi-strain probiotic bacterial supplements over eight weeks can improve symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome.
– Protection From Stomach Infections
Some species of the bacteria listeria have been known to cause gastroenteritis in healthy individuals and frequent infections in immunocompromised people. A review conducted in 2017 suggested that gut microbes protect from diseases caused particularly by the listeria species. Therefore, even if the body’s gut microbes fail, probiotic supplements can work as alternatives to keep stomach infections at bay.
What Are The Sources Of Probiotics?
Several food products can be entitled probiotics. These include;
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- Yogurt
- Cheese
- Buttermilk
- Soy products and beverages
- Cereal
- kimchi
- kefir
- Nutrition bars
A well-balanced diet is a natural way of keeping your gut biota safe. Apart from that, include a fiber-rich diet for easy and smooth bowel movements.
The food and drug administration prescribes probiotics at moderate levels. It is always advised to take a piece of advice from your dietitian before you consume them to take the right doses. Also, along with the benefits, there are some precautions before you take different types of probiotics. This is because the prebiotics and probiotics are safe for normal humans, while they can be unsafe for those with a compromised immune system. These individuals can face risks such as infections, antibiotic resistance, or autoimmune conditions that can cause the body to release certain harmful substances.
Take-Home Message
Several types of bacteria are permanent residents in our gut. Some affect us positively while others in a negative way. There has to be a balance maintained to keep up with the gut health that will further regulate overall immune health. Moderate physical exercise levels and a healthy fiber-rich and well-balanced diet will help maintain good gastrointestinal health. Probiotic supplements can also add to the positives when taken in the right amounts. Therefore, before you begin with your journey of probiotics, please make sure to consult your dietitian or a medical professional to consume the right type and the right dose keeping in mind your existing health condition.
