What Are The Benefits Of Probiotics?
Sep 19, 2024
Did you know our bodies consist of trillions of microorganisms? Some scientists even argue that our bodies are made of more bacteria than human cells! Continue reading to learn more about probiotics and their effects on health!
What Are Probiotics?
Our bodies consist of trillions of microorganisms - including bacteria, yeast and fungi that help us stay healthy! Probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Probiotics are often added to foods and supplements, and they also naturally occur in fermented foods - the most common probiotic strains supplemented are lactobacillus and bifidobacteria.
Why Are Probiotics Important?
Probiotics are important for a variety of bodily functions, they help maintain a balanced gut microbiome, which plays an important role in digestion, immunity, and even mental health. An imbalance in your gut microbiome can play a role in the development of several chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and more. It can also lead to an overgrowth of harmful bacteria, which can make us more susceptible to illness. Healthy gut bacteria are also important because they can help fight pathogens, and can even synthesise some hormones and vitamins!
What Are The Benefits Of Probiotic Supplementation?
Probiotics and their effects on digestive health have been widely studied. Probiotic supplements may be beneficial in relieving symptoms of IBS by reducing gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and other symptoms. Probiotics also play an important role in the breakdown of foods, as they help ferment foods into simpler byproducts which eases digestion!
Probiotics can also help restore balance in the gut after taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill both harmful and beneficial bacteria in your gut, which can allow harmful bacteria to thrive and may lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea. Studies have found that supplementing probiotics can help cure antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
Our gut microbiomes also play an important role in immune function, and studies have found that certain probiotic strains may enhance immune function and reduce the risk of infections.
The types of bacteria you have in your gut may also determine your body weight! Research indicates that people with obesity have different gut bacteria than those who are lean, and many scientists therefore believe that your gut bacteria is an important factor in weight management.
What To Eat To Support Gut Health
Probiotics occur naturally in fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, kombucha etc. You can also see probiotics added into foods such as yoghourts by looking at the ingredients label. Prebiotics are also important as they feed the healthy bacteria in our guts, which allows for them to thrive and reproduce. Prebiotics are specific types of fibres and can be found in different foods such as oats, bananas, flaxseeds and avocados. Eating a variety of fibre rich foods such as different fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains is key to promoting a thriving gut microbiome!
