Probiotics are friendly bacteria that support healthy digestion besides providing other valuable benefits to your overall health. Probiotics are live microorganisms that may be taken through fermented foods or supplements. Several studies reveal that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system has a direct impact on overall health and disease. Probiotics help to stimulate a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been associated with a wide range of health benefits. These include benefits for weight loss, digestive health, immune function etc.
This is an overview of some health benefits linked with probiotics gut health supplements.
Probiotics Help Balance the Friendly Bacteria
Probiotics are made up of “good” bacteria. These are live microorganisms that are associated with many health benefits when consumed. These benefits are believed to stem from the ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. An imbalanced gut means there are excessive numbers of bad bacteria while the good bacteria number is less.
It can happen because of illness, medication such as antibiotics, poor diet etc. Its consequence ranges from digestive issues, allergies, to mental health problems, and obesity. Probiotics can be got from fermented foods or taken as supplements. Moreover, they seem to be safe for most people.
Probiotics Can Help Prevent & Treat Diarrhea
Probiotics are widely recognized for their ability to not only prevent diarrhea but also tone down its severity. Diarrhea is commonly associated with taking antibiotics. It happens because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good & bad bacteria in the gut. Many studies indicate that probiotic use results in a lowered risk of antibiotic-related diarrhea. One study found that taking probiotics attenuated C. difficile infection by 60%.
Probiotics can furthermore support other types of diarrheas not associated with antibiotics. A large review of 35 studies concluded that specific strains of probiotics can curtail the duration of diarrhea by 25 hours on average.
Probiotics can even cut down the risk of travelers’ diarrhea. Effectiveness can vary, based on the type and dose of the probiotic taken. Strains, for instance Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are commonly associated with a lessened risk of diarrhea.
Probiotic Supplements Support Mental Health Conditions
A large number of studies associate gut health to mood and mental health. Both animal and human studies revealed that probiotics gut health supplements supported certain mental health disorders. A review of human studies concluded that supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for a couple of months can alleviate anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and improve memory.
Research reveals that probiotics intake dramatically improves symptoms of mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, stress, and memory, to name a few.
Conclusion
Consumers can get probiotics from a variety of supplements. If you are looking to buy probiotic supplements, go online to browse through a vast selection with thousands of customer reviews. Furthermore, you can take probiotics as tablets, capsules and powders that have the bacteria in dried form. To experience all the health benefits mentioned above, you must consume adequate amounts.
