In recent years, gut health has been one of the most common clichés. The relationship between the gut and our physical wellbeing has been tested and confirmed numerous times. Although there are many methods to boost your gut health, one tried-and-true approach is to take probiotic supplements.Probiotics are live helpful bacteria and/or yeasts that actually exist in your body. Bacteria is typically regarded negatively as something that renders you ill. However, there are two types of bacteria that are regularly present in and on the body: good bacteria and bad bacteria. Probiotics are made up of beneficial bacteria that help keep the body stable and functioning properly. This healthy bacteria benefits you in a variety of respects, like fighting off poor bacteria while you have an abundance of it and making you feel healthier.
Due to the customer demand for products produced with real, beneficial ingredients, especially those that contribute to gut health, the probiotic drinks segment is one of the fastest growing trends in the functional foods and beverages industry. And big corporations, such as PepsiCo, are getting on board with probiotic drinks; in 2016, PepsiCo purchased KeVita, a sparkling probiotic soda company that is now sold in most major grocery stores.
For a microbe to be called a probiotic, it must have several characteristics. These include being able to:
- Be isolated from a human.
- Survive in your intestine after ingestion (being eaten).
- Have a proven benefit to you.
- Be safely consumed.
1. Where do I find beneficial probiotics (microbes) in my body?
While your gut (mostly your big intestines) is the most commonly connected location to beneficial microbes, you have multiple locations in and on your body that host healthy microbes. This includes Gut, Mouth, Vagina, Urinary tract, Skin.
2. How do probiotics work?
The primary function of probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, is to keep your body in a stable balance. Consider it like holding the body in neutral. When you are ill, unhealthy bacteria hits the body and multiplies.Good bacteria fights off bad bacteria and restores equilibrium within the body, helping you feel healthier.
3. What are the most common types of probiotic bacteria?
There are two specific types of bacteria that are common probiotics found in stores. These include-Lactobacillus.
Bifidobacterium and certain yeasts like Saccharomyces boulardii.
4. Probiotics can be used to treat medical conditions
There are a lot of studies going on right now about what probiotics will do for the health. Despite the fact that there are some possible beneficial effects, experts are still trying to obtain conclusive information on how probiotics can benefit with different conditions.
However, there are several medical situations where probiotics may be beneficial. This varies from individual to person, which means that what works for one person can not work for another. These may also differ depending on which probiotic is used.Some of the conditions that can be improved by the amount of probiotics in your body (via diet or supplements) include diarrhea,Constipation,Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD),Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS),Yeast infections,Urinary tract infections,Gum disease,Lactose intolerance.
What can i do to boost my body probiotics?
You will raise the amount of healthy microbes in your body by eating certain items, drinking certain beverages, and taking supplements. You can consume probiotic-containing foods on a regular basis. Fermented foods, in particular (yogurt and pickles, for example) can be prepared in home itself. Fermented beverages, such as kombucha (fermented tea) or kefir (fermented dairy drink), will also add probiotics to your diet.
Probiotics may also be added to the diet by nutritional supplementation, in addition to food. Since they are not medications, they do not need to be licensed by the FDA (FDA). Before beginning any supplement or making any big changes to your lifestyle, you can first consult with your healthcare professional.
Is it possible to get probiotics from food?
The foods you consume will totally boost the number of beneficial microbes in your body. Certain foods contain probiotics (good bacteria) that can improve the quality of your microbiota.These ingredients may be added to the diet at every time of day. You could also be consuming them on a daily basis and be unaware that they contain probiotics. You should look for “live and involved cultures” on the product mark.Here are a few examples of probiotic-rich foods you should incorporate into your diet.For breakfast you can include Yogurt,Buttermilk,Sourdough bread.For lunch you can try-Cottage cheese,Kombucha,Tempeh and for dinner you can try- Fermented sauerkraut,Kimchi,Miso soup.
How can i take probiotic supplements?
A probiotic replacement may be taken in a variety of forms. They are available in a number of ways, including:Foodstuffs,Several alcoholic beverages,Capsules or pills are also options,Powders are the most common.Probiotics and prebiotics can be taken together. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates that provide food for the microorganisms in your digestive tract. Prebiotics, in essence, serve as a “food supply” for beneficial bacteria. They contribute to the health of the good bacteria by feeding it. Inulin, pectin, and resistant starches are examples of prebiotics.
