According to Marham Probiotics are microorganisms consumed through fermented foods. They are also available in supplements. They promote healthy gut bacteria and provide a wide range of health benefits. Studies have found that the imbalance of bacteria in your digestive tract can cause multiple health issues. Probiotics can help to maintain balance and aid in immune function, digestive health, and weight loss.
The benefits of probiotics are:
Balance Friendly Bacteria
Probiotics have good bacteria, and they can also balance friendly bacteria in your digestive tract and promote better digestive health. They have the ability to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. An imbalance indicates that bad bacteria have overgrown the good bacteria, and it occurs majorly due to illness, medication, poor diet, and a poor lifestyle. Many health problems can occur due to this, including:
- Digestive issues
- Allergies
- Mental Health Issues
- Obesity
Consuming probiotics can prevent all these issues and make your life choices healthier. These are found in fermented foods in abundance.
Prevent & Treat Diarrhea
Probiotics are known to prevent and treat diarrhea. It also helps to reduce its severity. Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics because these medications disrupt the natural balance of bacteria in your gut. Several studies have also found that probiotics can reduce the effects of diarrhea caused by antibiotics. However, its effectiveness can vary depending on the portion of probiotics you take daily. Incorporating all necessary vitamins and minerals is necessary for a healthy body function. Therefore, you must follow a healthy and balanced diet to stimulate normal and healthy body operations.
Improve Mental Health Conditions
Numerous studies have related gut health to better mood and mental health. It is safe to say that taking probiotics in meals or supplements can significantly improve your mental health problems. A study of 40 patients showed a reduction in depression by taking daily 100 grams of yogurt and one probiotic capsule. It was also seen that it reduced levels of C-reactive protein as well, which is a marker of inflammation. Along with C-reactive protein decline, insulin hormone also got balanced.
Improves Heart Health
Probiotics can keep your heart healthy by lowering bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure. It reduces cholesterol by breaking bile in your gut. Bile is a natural fluid that helps to digest. Probiotics break it to stop it from reabsorbing in the gut, preventing it to enter the blood as cholesterol.
A study found that consuming yogurt for 2 to 8 weeks reduced 4% of cholesterol and 5% of LDL cholesterol. Likewise, in another study, consuming probiotics aided in lowering blood pressure in many individuals.
Reduce Allergies & Eczema
For some people, probiotics can help to reduce allergies and eczema. It was seen that infants who took milk with probiotics had an improvement in eczema symptoms as compared to the ones who took milk without probiotics. Another study found that children of women who took probiotics in their pregnancy were 83% less susceptible to forming eczema. Some probiotics may also reduce inflammation and dairy allergies. All these results have been found to be promising but more research is still needed as the link is weak.
Reduce Digestive Disorders
Millions of people suffer from digestive disorders every year. These disorders include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Certain types of probiotics have improved symptoms in people with mid disorders. However, they are not always effective and medical help is often required. Probiotics help more in the preventive stages of such disorders. Therefore, it is crucial to include them in your daily diet to make your immune system stronger and better in fighting off such problems.
Boost Immune System
Probiotics help to boost immune system functioning and prevent the growth of bad bacteria in your gut. Some probiotics have also been shown to boost immune cells and antibodies that kill all foreign bacteria. A large study review has also found that it can also aid in respiratory infections. However, more research is still required to validate these claims.
Aid in Weight Loss
Probiotics may aid in weight loss through a number of different mechanisms. Some probiotics inhibit the absorption of dietary fat in the intestine and pass it through your stool rather than storing it in your body. They can also make you feel full for a longer time and make you consume fewer calories than usual. However, not all probiotics can aid in weight loss and you must consult your dietician before starting any supplements or changing your diet.
These are some significant benefits of probiotics. It is always better to consult a professional for better guidance. Book an appointment with the best Gastroenterologist in Multan through Marham.
