Understanding The Health Benefits of Taking Probiotics

Probiotics are easily some of the best kinds of good bacteria you can consume. Not only do they help keep your gut healthy, but several other benefits can help improve different aspects of your body and overall health. In this article we’ll focus on those health benefits of probiotics, natural foods that are probiotics, and what to look for in the best probiotic supplements.

Improved Gut Health

Probiotics, like Inner Health probiotics, greatly benefit your gut health. Good bacteria are needed to keep your gut in check and prevent everything from bloating to excessive gas.

Too many harmful bacteria can also cause excessive diarrhoea, weight gain, food allergies, and a plethora of other issues.

Lower Stress Levels

Interestingly, a few small studies have shown a connection between a healthy intake of probiotics and lower stress levels. While not conclusive and further research is needed, in the studies, those who took probiotics and had a healthier gut also had lower stress levels and could manage stress better.

Cardiovascular Health

Probiotics have also been shown to have a positive effect on cardiovascular health. Combined with Vitamin D, probiotics can help improve your lipid levels, lower inflammation, and improve insulin sensitivity.

Another study also showed that ingesting fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt or kefir, reduced cardiovascular risk.

Respiratory Tract Infections

While more studies have to be done, some research has shown that regular intake of probiotics can reduce the risk and damage of respiratory tract infections and shorten the length of the infection.

As mentioned, more studies need to be done. Still, researchers concluded that those who had a regular intake of probiotics had better results than those who didn’t take probiotics or those who received the placebo.

Dental Health

Periodontal diseases result from damage and inflammation of the gums. Studies were conducted that showed that probiotics helped prevent or lessen the effects of oral diseases, thanks to how probiotics can fight infection and inflammation.

While this won’t work with all kinds of oral diseases, it is essential to note that, at the very least, it can’t do any harm and can help when used in conjunction with any specific medication or treatment you may need.

Digestive Disorders

Some digestive disorders can be significantly improved with probiotics. Specifically, those with ulcerative colitis saw huge improvements when probiotics were added to their diets or began using probiotic supplements.

Foods with Probiotics

Fermented foods are packed with probiotics, and there are many options depending on your tastes and needs. For instance, yoghurt is the most common food that is packed with probiotics, hence why it is often suggested as part of a healthy diet.

Sauerkraut and kimchi are two types of fermented cabbage and are also packed with a very healthy dose of probiotics. You can find vegetarian versions of both, and they can easily be added to most meals, especially ones containing meat. They are certainly acquired tastes, but if you learn to love them, the benefits greatly outweigh the somewhat off-putting taste.

Kombucha is another great source of probiotics and is also easy to ingest. You can make your own kombucha or purchase a flavoured version from the store. A small glass of it every day is more than enough to feel the effects.

What to Look for in a Probiotic Supplement

When choosing a probiotic supplement, there are a few things you should look for to ensure you are getting the best quality supplement and one that will help you the most.

Colony-Forming Units

Colony-forming units, or CFUs, are the number of bacteria in each dose. Considering the bacteria is living, you want to choose a supplement that has at least 1 billion CFUs, which ensures there is enough per dose until you finish the bottle of probiotics.

It is important to note that you may experience stomach issues when you start with a probiotic with a high CFU number, but your body will adapt quickly to the change.

Strain

Beyond the CFU, you should also look for a well-researched strain. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Bacillus are the three most researched and common probiotic bacteria you can find.

These are the strains that are the best for you, and the ones that are the most likely not to cause any adverse side effects.

Prebiotics

You want to ensure that the probiotic you are buying has a food source included in it. The bacteria need something to feed on to help, and if the supplement you are purchasing doesn’t have it, then the bacteria won’t be able to do its job. Prebiotics feed friendly gut bacteria.

Capsules

The best way to take a probiotic supplement is by capsule. This offers the best protection against gastric acid and ensures the bacteria isn’t killed before it reaches its final destination. You can get probiotics in powder and gummy form, but the capsules are best.

In Summary

As you can see, the health benefits of probiotics are far more extensive than you probaby first thought, and considering how easy they are to ingest, they should be part of your daily diet. You will feel the difference almost immediately, whether it is a small helping of kimchi, a glass of kombucha, or a probiotic supplement.