WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
probiotics
Did you know that the ratio of bacteria in your body cells is 10 to 1? It’s absolutely true, and most of it has settled in the gut. Don’t panic, most of them are harmless.
Having these beneficial bacteria in the gut has many benefits for keeping us healthy. These benefits include weight loss, easier digestion, improved immune function, better skin, and reduced risk of many diseases. This brings us to the probiotic topic.
Probiotics are food or supplements that contain these beneficial bacteria and are believed to contain microorganisms in the gut to promote good health. Its importance is nothing we say about it is an exageration.
Taking care of the gut and the beneficial bacteria that live in it is perhaps one of the most important things a person can do for their health.
WHAT IS PROBIOTICS?
According to official definitions, probiotics are tiny microscopic organisms that, if distributed in sufficient numbers, bring health to their host.
A probiotic is usually bacteria, but there is a type of yeast that has a similar function to probiotics.
Probiotics can be supplied to the body by taking supplements as well as certain food produced by the bacterial fermentation process.
Foods that contain probiotics include yogurt, kefir ,shredded and boiled cabbage with vinegar, soy paste and kimchi and some other food.
It has been proven that there are actually dozens of different probiotic bacteria that are effective in keeping us healthy.
The most common groups include Lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. In each group, many species are found, and each species has unique characteristics.
Interestingly, different probiotics seem to work on the health of different parts of the body. Therefore, choosing the right type(s) of probiotics is critical.
Many probiotic supplements include a blend of different types of probiotics in one product. These types of probiotics are called broad-spectrum or multi-probiotics.
Keep in mind that although probiotics are a new topic, there is of course extensive and rapid research in this area.
Although the evidence is very promising, there are no conclusive results to prove the effects of probiotics on human health and what is mentioned in this article.
Related article:9 ways to have a healthy gut
THE IMPORTANCE OF PROBIOTICS IN THE GUT
What are probiotics?
The accumulation of a group of microorganisms in the intestine is called gut bacteria.
In fact, the gut contains hundreds of different species of these microorganisms, and according to some statistics, there are over a thousand different species.
These organisms include bacteria, yeasts, and viruses. The vast majority of them are bacteria.
Most intestinal bacteria are found in the large intestine, the last part of the digestive system.
The metabolic activity of intestinal bacteria is actually affected by this organ. For this reason, some scientists call the intestinal microflora a forgotten organ.
Intestinal bacteria actually play many very important roles in maintaining good health, they produce some vitamins such as Vitamin K and some types of B vitamins.
It also converts fiber into short chains of fatty acids such as butyric acid, Propionic acid and Acetic acid, which nourish the intestinal wall and perform many metabolic functions.
They also stimulate the immune system and control gut health. This prevents the release of unwanted substances in the body and increases the responses of the immune system.
However, not all organs of the intestine are very useful. Some are good and some are bad.
In fact, gut bacteria are very sensitive to modern threats, and studies show that unbalanced gut bacteria can cause many diseases.
They include obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, bowel cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and many, many other diseases.
Probiotics (and prebiotic fibers) are able to maintain this balance, ensuring the proper functioning of the forgotten organ.
PROBIOTICS AND DIGESTIVE HEALTH
What is probiotics?
Most of the studies in the probiotic field have been conducted from a digestive health perspective.
There is strong evidence linking antibiotics to diarrhea.
People often have prolonged diarrhea when they take antibiotics, especially for a long time, even after the infection has cleared.
It is clear that antibiotics also kill many of the normal bacteria in the intestine responsible for maintaining the balance of bacteria, which in turn leads to the growth of bad bacteria.
Several studies in this area provide conclusive evidence for the role of probiotic supplementation in the treatment of diarrhea caused by antibiotics.
The probiotic has also been shown to be beneficial for the most common digestive ailment, irritable bowel syndrome. They are able to reduce gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea and other symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Some studies suggest that a probiotic is also very useful in treating inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s syndrome and peptic ulcers.
Probiotics are also very effective in fighting stomach infections called Helicobacter pylori, which are the main cause of stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.
If you constantly have digestive issues and it seems you can’t get rid of them, it’s best to consider taking a probiotic supplement.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF PROBIOTICS
Expressing all the amazing benefits of probiotics goes far beyond what is included in this article.
However, mentioning some of them are not without advantages:
Inflammation:A probiotic has been shown to reduce persistent inflammation, a major cause of many diseases.
depression and anxiety: Evidence from probiotic strains lactobacillus helveticus and bifidobacterium langum reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in people with clinical depression.
blood cholesterol:Some probiotics lower total and LDL cholesterol.
blood pressure: Probiotics have been shown to cause a relative decrease in blood pressure.
Immune system function: Some probiotics improve immune system function and reduce the risk of infection such as the common cold.
skin health:There is evidence that a probiotic is useful in treating acne, dermatitis, eczema, and other skin conditions.
All of these tips were just the tip of the iceberg (a small corner of the probiotic benefits). Probiotics are constantly being studied and have been shown to be beneficial in treating many diseases.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TAKING PROBIOTICS?
A probiotic is generally available to everyone and is often considered quite healthy.
However, in the early days of taking probiotics, side effects may appear in the form of digestive problems. These include flatulence and mild abdominal pain.
After this adaptation period, your digestive system will function better than before.
For people whose immune systems have problems such as AIDS and some other infectious diseases, taking a probiotic can be dangerous and can lead to more infections.
If you have a specific infectious disease, check with your doctor before taking probiotic supplements.
WHAT ARE THE BEST PROBIOTICS SUPPLEMENTS?
There are over a hundred different types of probiotic supplements available today.
If you suffer from a certain disease and want to use a probiotic for treatment, then you should be careful in choosing the right one.
Make sure to buy these products from reputable factories. Dietary supplements from unreliable companies often do not have what is stated on their labels.
According to the results of one of the studies conducted in this field,It’s best to take a probiotic supplement before or with a meal that contains fat.
In addition, be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging. Remember that some products must be refrigerated.
Keeping your gut healthy is out of the reach of probiotics alone.
Your daily activities are important in keeping it healthy.
Factors such as lifestyle, especially the foods you eat, have been shown to affect your gut bacteria.
A healthy lifestyle, adequate sleep and eating natural foods rich in fiber are the keys to staying healthy.
In many cases, probiotic foods and supplements are very effective in maintaining good health.
Eating them has improved my digestive system and I feel my energy and mental level have increased.
I now feel that taking a probiotic plays an important role in maintaining optimal health.
PROBIOTICS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
The gut microflora of obese people differs from that of lean people.
Although this requires further study in this area, some properties of probiotics help Weight loss.
The most influential study in this field was published in 2013. The study consisted of 210 participants, all of whom experienced an accumulation of belly fat.
In this study, taking the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri for 12 weeks resulted in 8.5% of participants losing belly fat.
When the participants stopped taking the probiotic, their belly fat returned to normal within 4 weeks.
There is also evidence for lactobacillus rhamnosus and bifidobacterium lactis and their association with weight loss and obesity prevention.
However, more research is needed before any final comment can be made.
Animal studies have also shown that some characteristics of the probiotic lead to weight gain rather than weight loss.
