When you think of the word bacteria, you are most likely thinking of the germs that cause infections and make you sick. It may even send chills down your spine or have you running off to wash your hands. However, the human body’s microbiome is made up of many types of bacterias, amongst other microorganisms, that help to make sure that we are functioning properly.
Continue reading to learn more about probiotic supplements and how they affect our health and wellness.
What Are Probiotics?
Every single person has a community of microbes (microbiome) within their body that is made up of:
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Protozoans
- Viruses
Probiotics are healthy, live strains of bacteria and yeast that are found in the human body. But don’t worry! They won’t make you sick, and they are actually good for you. In fact, when you don’t have enough probiotics in your body, you may be susceptible to certain illnesses.
This good bacteria is usually made up of an assortment of microorganisms, including:
- Lactobacillus
- Bifidobacterium
- Saccharomyces boulardii
Your doctor may recommend probiotics when you’ve been on a strong antibiotic to help you recover the good bacteria that it may kill off. Probiotics can also help to correct an imbalance in bacteria due to your diet.
There are probiotic foods that can help you get the necessary bacteria, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut. You can also get probiotics through dietary supplements.
If you have troubles with your tummy, you may be suffering from a leaky gut. With TumTree, you can learn how to fix leaky gut with a variety of supplements, including probiotics.
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Benefits of Probiotic Supplements
There are a ton of health benefits to taking probiotics, including:
- Promoting weight loss
- Improving digestion
- Getting healthier skin
- Lowering the risk of disease
Several health conditions may see improvement after taking a probiotic supplement. However, with the lack of FDA regulation for supplements, how they help is up for debate.
It’s important to remember that every single person is different. Make sure you do your research before you decide to take any type of supplement. Certain probiotics for women may not be the best probiotic for men. It’s possible that probiotics won’t make a difference in your health.
Probiotics can help anyone with gastrointestinal issues, such as:
- Antibiotic-related diarrhea
- Remission of ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Leaky gut
Adding a probiotic to their health regimen can help infants who are struggling with necrotizing enterocolitis and colic. There are even a few dental conditions that may benefit from a probiotic as part of treatment, including periodontal disease.
There are several allergy-related issues that probiotics may help to improve, including:
- Allergic rhinitis
- Asthma
- Atopic dermatitis
Probiotics can also help to improve other health conditions like acne, encephalopathy, respiratory infections, and UTIs.
Do Your Homework!
Doing your research before starting a new medication or health regimen is essential to your overall health and wellbeing. This includes probiotic supplements. Even though they are recommended when taking antibiotics or for balancing your gut health, you should still be weighing the pros and the cons of taking them.
If you found this post to be helpful, check out our health section for more valuable information.
