Understanding the Health Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics are good microorganisms present in your body, particularly the gut. Also called good bacteria or live cultures, probiotics help balance your intestinal bacteria. One way it helps your health is by eliminating the illness or disease-causing bacteria from your system. When bad bacteria are present in your gut, probiotics are the best to combat them while rebalancing the gut.

There are several types of bacteria acting as probiotics. However, the most common one is Lactobacillus, which helps to support the immune system. It also prevents yeast infections, improves digestion, and maintains healthy blood sugar levels.

Here are some notable benefits of probiotics for improving your overall health:

1. Improves Gut Health

The probiotics help in maintaining a proper balance of intestinal and gut bacteria. It means that with the intake of probiotics, you can introduce good bacteria in your gut while restoring balance in case something disrupts it.

2. Digestion

With a daily intake of probiotics, it is easier to support healthy digestion, enhance the function of the intestinal barrier and improve nutrient absorption. According to research, multi-strain probiotics can potentially reduce even the uncomfortable symptoms related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

In case you are pregnant, the digestive benefits of having probiotics also extend to your growing baby. This is likely to provide some protection to the infant against certain common digestive problems in the future.

3. Immune Function

A major portion of the immune system lies in your gut lining and often gets information from the gut bacteria and other organisms living in your gut. With the introduction of good bacteria in the gut, probiotics are likely to have some major protective effects against specific conditions associated with immune response. For instance, it helps you fight against viral infections, such as the common cold.

4. Mental Health

It’s rightly said that “trust your gut.” After all, your gut is often referred to as a “second brain” due to its relation to the endocrine, immune system, and neuronal function. According to experts, there is quite an interesting connection between the gut and the brain. There is a certain hypothesis stating that the health of our microbiome may influence our mental health.

The researchers have also observed that having probiotics leaves a positive impact on mood and decreases the potential to reduce depressive symptoms.

5. Sleep

Do you often toss and turn during your sleep? If so, a daily dose of probiotics is what you require for a good night’s sleep. According to research, a balanced microbiome plays a role in improving sleep quality. As per the analysis of certain studies, probiotic supplementation can significantly enhance sleep quality.

6. Healthy Pregnancy

Would-be mothers will be glad to know that probiotic uses offer extra health benefits during pregnancy. Often probiotics play a crucial role against specific pregnancy-related complications. As per a recent study, probiotics also relieve some unpleasant gastrointestinal symptoms related to pregnancy, such as vomiting, nausea, and constipation. Moreover, a healthy gut during pregnancy is likely to benefit the baby in the womb.

Conclusion

With the inclusion of probiotics in your everyday diet, you can reap several health benefits. So, consider including good sources of probiotics like Yakult, yoghurt, kombucha, etc. in your diet.

Also, Read this: Can you take Probiotics during Pregnancy?