What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are living organisms including bacteria and yeast that are essential to human nutrition. A typical human digestive tract already has approximately 400 types of probiotic bacteria inside of it. Bacteria helps to break foods down and helps to keep you safe from the bad bacteria that can also be found in your digestive tract. In general, the bacteria in your digestive system are what keep you healthy and moving along.

Probiotics are found in your diet, mostly in dairy products like cheese and yogurt, but probiotic supplements can also be taken to help add to the body’s level of good bacteria. Certain strains of probiotics have been linked to several health benefits including helping Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other digestive issues, side effects of taking antibiotics, and giving your immune system a boost.

Probiotic supplements have been known to help us in two different ways.

1. Digestive health.  In order to maintain a healthy digestive system, a balanced amount of good and bad bacteria in necessary.  Many things can contribute to increased amounts of bad bacteria including stress, poor diet, lack of sleep, use of antibiotics, and several other factors. An imbalance of bad and good bacteria can be associated with diarrhea, gas, cramping and other digestion problems. Taking a probiotic supplement can help improve these symptoms. Those with irritable bowel syndrome could experience relief from probiotics.

2. Immune System Support. Probiotics help the immune system by adding additional healthy bacteria to our digestive system.  This can help prevent future illnesses from occurring. The healthy bacteria steal the nutrients to grow from the unwanted bacteria, preventing them from multiplying and spreading. Probiotics will also help strengthen the mucosal barrier in the stomach which is critical to immunity and can decrease flare-ups in ulcerative colitis.

The immune system is also strengthened when it is challenged by pathogenic organisms.  By introducing good bacteria to the body in the form of probiotics, you are exposing the immune system to more pathogens and challenging it in a healthy way.

Probiotics have no negative side effects since they are naturally in your system. If anything with your body changes for the worse after beginning to add probiotics to your diet, consult a medical professional such as a pharmacist or a doctor. Everyone's body is different and can certainly react to supplements in an unhealthy way.

Probiotics are an easy supplement to add to your daily routine, can be very helpful to keep your body regulated and to have your immune system strong to stop illnesses before they happen.