Health Benefits Of Probiotics: Probiotics are friendly bacteria that may help support healthy digestion and offer other benefits to your overall health.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed through fermented foods or supplements.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, More and more studies show that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is linked to overall health and disease.
Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a wide range of health benefits.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, These include benefits for weight loss, digestive health, immune function and more.
This is an overview of the key health benefits linked to probiotics.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics
1. Probiotics Help Balance The Friendly Bacteria In Your Digestive System
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, 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.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, An imbalance means there 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.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods or taken as supplements. What’s more, they appear to be safe for most people.
2. Probiotics Can Help Prevent And Treat Diarrhea
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, 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.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, 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%.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, Probiotics can also help with other forms of diarrhea not associated with antibiotics.
A large review of 35 studies found certain strains of probiotics can reduce the duration of diarrhea by an average of 25 hours.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, Probiotics also reduced the risk of travelers’ diarrhea.
Effectiveness varies, depending on the type and dose of the probiotic taken.
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, 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 Health Conditions
Health Benefits Of Probiotics, 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 of 13Trusted Source human studies found supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 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.
4. Certain Probiotic Strains Can Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
Probiotics may help keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and blood pressure.
Certain lactic acid-producing bacteria may reduce cholesterol by breaking down bile in the gut.
Bile, a naturally occurring fluid mostly made of cholesterol, helps digestion.
By breaking down bile, probiotics can prevent it from being reabsorbed in the gut, where it can enter the blood as cholesterol.
5. Probiotics May Reduce The Severity Of Certain Allergies And Eczema
Older research suggests certain probiotic strains may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants.
However, compared with no probiotic, currently available probiotic strains probably make little or no difference in improving eczema.
The link between probiotics and reduced eczema severity is still weak, and more research needs to be done.
6. 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 strains have improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis.
However, probiotics appear to have little effect on 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).
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