Tue Feb 18 2025
In the previous articles on Gut Bacteria, we have already seen that we have trillions of microbes on and in our body. We have discussed about:
We have also seen how to enhance the number of beneficial bacteria in our digestive tract and reduce the harmful ones.
One such method is the consumption of Probiotic and Probiotic foods in our regular diet
WHAT ARE THE PROBIOTICS?
Probiotics are the combination of beneficial live micro-organisms, e.g. Bacteria and or yeast, naturally present in our body. It is generally consumed in the form of food or as a dietary supplement. Its consumption helps promote a healthy balance of our body by increasing the number of good bacteria in the digestive tract, imparting a beneficial effect on our overall health.
In the article Normal Gut flora: A necessity for good health we have already seen how important it is for us to have Normal and healthy gut flora for good health. Probiotics being a combination of live micro-organisms, i.e. Good gut bacteria, its consumption is associated with many health-related benefits such as:
Probiotics consumption quickly repopulate our gut with a sufficient amount of beneficial bacteria and also maintain their number. It corrects the balance of the digestive tract (The number of beneficial bacteria is increased as compared with the harmful one) and helps in the management of Diarrhoea.
Our digestive tract and brain are connected to each other with the Nervous system. Changes happening in the composition of gut microflora and the digestive tract environment can affect our brain. Chemicals produced by the gut bacteria exerts an effect on our brain through the nervous system. A higher number of beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract leads to the production of hormones necessary to keep our mind healthy. Since probiotics provide a sufficient number of beneficial bacteria, it helps prevent mental disorders like anxiety, depression, etc.
Probiotics maintain the balance of the digestive system by providing a sufficient number of beneficial bacteria. It helps keep our immune system strong and well functioning; thus, it helps reduce the risk of allergies and eczema.
Probiotics alter the composition of our gut bacteria by increasing the beneficial one reducing the number of harmful bacteria which can cause inflammatory bowel disease. It also strengthens our immune system and reduces the chances of inflammation. It also helps in improving vitality, health and the repair of the protective mucosal covering of our intestines. It helps in reducing the severity of symptoms due to inflammatory bowel disease.
By providing a sufficient amount of beneficial bacteria, probiotics help reduce the symptoms/problems associated with Irritable bowel syndrome. Having an adequate amount of healthy (beneficial) gut bacteria help in:
It collectively helps in relieving the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
Probiotics help maintain cardiovascular health in an individual by helping in:
Consumption of probiotics provides a sufficient amount of beneficial gut bacteria, which helps in reducing the number of harmful bacteria in our digestive system.
It also helps improve the function of the cells of our immune system and keep it at an optimum level. It makes our immune system more robust and reduces the risk of frequent allergies and infections.
Probiotics consumption can aid in weight loss and reducing excess body fat in an obese individual through the following mechanisms:
Probiotics can help relieve the problem of constipation by:
When antibiotics treatment is taken for any illness, along with the pathogenic bacteria, the normal gut flora also gets killed. It creates an imbalance within our digestive system.
Taking probiotic supplements/food after antibiotic treatment helps restore the number of beneficial bacteria in our gut and maintain the balance of our digestive system.
We have already seen that probiotics provide beneficial bacteria. Apart from the digestive system, it also helps maintain the balance of the urogenital region by providing a sufficient number of beneficial bacteria and reducing the number of pathogenic bacteria. Thus, it can aid in the prevention of urinary tract infections.
What are the Examples of Probiotic food?
The dietary sources of probiotics are:
Apart from dietary sources, there are certain nutritional probiotic supplements are also available. Healthonics recommends that those supplements be taken only after consultation with and as per the doctor’s advice.
References:
Probiotics: What is it, Benefits, Side Effects, Food & Types (clevelandclinic.org)
https://images.health.harvard.edu/aging/stay-a-step-ahead-of-urinary-tract-infections