The Benefits of Probiotics for Health, Digestion, Weight Loss and More

Many have become acutely aware of the value of helpful bacteria known as probiotics for improving health and certain medical conditions.

Benefits from these helpful bacteria can include relief from diarrhea, constipation, irregularity, food allergies, lactose intolerance, and even a decrease in cholesterol and body weight management.

Many people prefer natural treatments rather than pharmaceutical medications which often come with a long list of potentially serious side effects. Below are some of the benefits of probiotics and the best strains to achieve the positive effects.

Over the last few decades, researchers have studied the gut bacteria intensely. The genome of some bacteria has been completely decoded, allowing for a better understanding of relations between them and how they function.

Some species of probiotic bacteria have even been merged together because of an overwhelming number of genetic similarities.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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How Probiotics Work

Within the human gut, there are trillions of microbial agents hard at work.

They work around the clock to colonize the gut and to breakdown our food products into useful components.

We ingest both helpful and harmful bacteria with our food and water each day.

We are also exposed to a world teeming with microscopic life every time we come into contact with other people, animals and objects.

The digestive tract is especially reliant on beneficial bacteria to keep it running smoothly.

Probiotic Benefits

Probiotics improve gastrointestinal function. They do this in a number of ways.

Probiotic microorganisms work specifically to convert carbohydrates from the foods we ingest into chemical compounds. These compounds are largely acidic to keep the pH levels of the GI tract quite low. Pathogenic (bad) bacteria are unable to flourish in this type of harsh environment.

By maintaining the acidity level, healthy microbes flourish while harmful microbes die.

These beneficial bacteria have also been shown to help maintain the integrity of intestinal walls.

In some medical conditions, like Leaky Gut Syndrome, the lining of the intestinal wall becomes less resistant and more permeable. This can cause systemic problems for an individual.

Other intestinal wall disorders are directly related to inflammation of the lining of intestinal walls. These disorders include Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s Disease and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), all of which can often be helped through the use of supplemental probiotics.

Benefits to individuals with these autoimmune disorders include relief from bloating and abdominal distention. Some people report a decrease in constipation, diarrhea and frequency of bowel function.

Why we Need Probiotics for Health

Infants with colic, diarrhea and abdominal discomfort often benefit through supplementation with probiotics containing species from the genus Bifidobacterium.

The infant intestinal tract is largely populated with Bifidobacterium infantis, or B. infantis. It is thought the immune system of an infant is primarily established through the gut microflora introduced via the mother’s breast milk.

Bifidobacterium infantis is specifically geared to breaking down milk sugars and converting them to nutrients. As mammals age, this bacteria is largely replaced with probiotics geared to breaking down food compounds other than milk sugars.

Our gut flora is connected to, and directly affects, the function of our immune system. There is evidence that probiotics help to maintain strong and appropriate immune function.

In cultures where hygiene has become exceptionally sterile, an increase in autoimmune diseases and allergies has been observed. In these societies, it is thought the immune system is not being challenged enough by pathogenic microbes from the environment.

Some researchers believe that natural probiotics can be used as a means of challenging the immune system in a healthy way.

Taking Probiotic Supplements

Probiotic supplements can be readily found online and at health food stores.

Dose is dependent on the reason for supplementation — as part of a daily health regimen or, as part of a plan to address gastrointestinal discomfort or disorders.

Some individuals take probiotics as part of their daily health regimen. Generally, taking 10-20 million active cultures each day is appropriate to achieve probiotic benefits for your health.

If taking probiotics as part of a treatment plan, dose can vary significantly depending on symptoms and the type of probiotics selected.

Sometimes, this can be most easily addressed through one of the many probiotic formulaic blends. These will contain a combination of bacteria and fungi, and sometimes prebiotics and enzymes as well, designed to work together for best effect.

Although some people report immediate relief from mild digestive symptoms like gas or bloating, more serious disorders usually require more time to confer the beneficial effects.

In addition, a change in dietary choices and lifestyle is sometimes recommended.

Are Probiotics Safe?

Probiotics are considered generally safe for nearly all populations except for those whose immune system is known to be weakened.

For most people, the benefits of probiotic supplementation far outweigh the risk of associated, usually mild, side effects like gas or distention.

Beneficial bacteria and fungi have been used for centuries, although they weren’t always referred to as probiotics. People of Bulgaria, Russia, Greece and the Himalayas continue to include fermented yogurt and dairy products as part of their normal diets to this day. Many Asian cultures include miso, tempeh, soy sauce and kimchi as daily foods.

Probiotics benefits are well-researched and are usually free of side effects for most people.

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