Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed through fermented foods or supplements. More and more studies are showing that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is related to overall health and illness.
Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a variety of health benefits. These include benefits for weight loss, digestive health, immune function, and more. This is an overview of the important health benefits of probiotics.
1-Probiotics help balance friendly bacteria in your digestive system Probiotics are “good” bacteria.
These are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed. These benefits are believed to be the result of probiotics’ ability to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria.
An imbalance means there are too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria. It can occur due to illness, medications like antibiotics, poor diet, and more. The consequences can include digestive issues, allergies, mental health issues, obesity, and more.
Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods or taken as dietary supplements.
Also, they appear to be safe for most people.
CONCLUSION:
Probiotics are living microorganisms. Ingested in sufficient quantities, they can help to restore the natural balance of the intestinal bacteria. This can result in health benefits.
2-Probiotics May Help Prevent and Treat Diarrhea
Probiotics are well known for their ability to prevent or reduce the severity of diarrhea. Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics.
This happens because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. Several studies suggest that 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% (8). Probiotics may also help with other forms of diarrhea not associated with antibiotics.
A large review of 35 studies found that certain strains of probiotics can shorten the duration of diarrhea by an average of 25 hours.
Probiotics also reduced the risk of travelers’ diarrhea.
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CONCLUSION:
Efficacy varies depending on the type and dose of probiotic ingested. Strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are most commonly associated with a reduced risk of diarrhea.
3-Probiotic supplements improve some mental illnesses.
A growing number of studies link gut health to mood and mental health. Both animal and human studies show that probiotic supplements can improve some mental disorders. human studies found that supplementation with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 1 to 2 months can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and memory.
A study followed 70 chemical workers for 6 weeks. Those who consumed 100 grams of probiotic yogurt per day or took one probiotic capsule daily 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 reduced levels of depression and lowered C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) and hormones like insulin compared to people not taking a probiotic.
CONCLUSION:
help improve symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress, and memory, among others
4. Certain Probiotic Strains Can Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
Probiotics may also assist maintain your coronary heart wholesome via way of means of reducing LDL (“bad”) ldl cholesterol and blood pressure.
Certain lactic acid-generating microorganisms may also lessen LDL cholesterol via way of means of breaking down bile withinside the gut (16Trusted Source). Bile, an obviously happening fluid in general manufactured from ldl cholesterol, facilitates digestion. By breaking down bile, probiotics can save it from being reabsorbed withinside the gut, wherein it could input the blood as ldl cholesterol (17Trusted Source).
CONCLUSION:
Probiotics may also assist in guarding the coronary heart via way of means of reducing “bad” LDL levels of cholesterol and modestly reducing blood pressure.
5-Probiotics may reduce the severity of certain allergies and eczema.
Previous research suggests that certain strains of probiotics may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants (18). However, currently available probiotic strains likely make little to no difference in improving eczema compared to no probiotics.
The link between probiotics and reduced eczema severity is still weak and more research needs to be done.
CONCLUSION:
Probiotics may reduce the risk and severity of certain allergies, such as eczema in babies. However, more research is needed.
6-Probiotics can help relieve symptoms of certain digestive disorders.
More than a million people in the US suffer from colitis and Crohn’s disease. Certain types of probiotics from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains have improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis.
However, probiotics appear to have little effect on the symptoms of Crohn’s disease. However, probiotics may have benefits for other gut conditions.
Early research suggests they may help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
CONCLUSION:
Probiotics May Help Reduce Symptoms of Gut Conditions Like Ulcerative Colitis, IBS, and Necrotizing Enterocolitis
7-Probiotics May Boost Your Immune System
Previous research suggests that taking probiotics reduces 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 infections (UTIs) in women by 50% (27).
Ultimately, more research is needed to understand the connection between probiotics and immunity.
CONCLUSION:
Probiotics can boost your immune system and protect against infection.
Probiotics May Help You Lose Weight and Belly Fat
Probiotics may help you lose weight through several mechanisms. For example, some probiotics prevent the absorption of dietary fat in the intestine.
The fat is then excreted in the feces instead of being stored in the body. In one study, synbiotic supplementation increased the abundance of gut bacteria associated with beneficial health effects, specifically Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus.
It also appeared to increase the richness of the gut microbiota, increasing the abundance of potentially beneficial microbial species.
More studies are needed to clarify the link between probiotics and weight.
CONCLUSION:
Certain probiotics can help you lose weight and belly fat. However, other strains have been linked to weight gain.
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