Probiotics offer a number of benefits for your gut and overall health. When you consume these live bacteria in fermented foods or dietary supplements, they add quantity and diversity to your gut’s existing supply of friendly microorganisms. A diverse gut microbiome is crucial to a healthy digestive system and many other areas of your health. Here are some reasons why probiotics are good for you:
1. Balance Gut Microbiome
One of the most important roles of probiotics is balancing your gut microbiome. An imbalanced gut can be caused by too little good bacteria or too much bad bacteria, leading to symptoms such as digestion issues, mental health problems, allergies, weight gain, and others. This imbalance can have a number of causes, including illness, poor diet, or medication use. Consuming probiotics in foods or supplements can add beneficial bacteria to your gut and help restore proper balance.
2. Treat Bowel Diseases
More than one million adults in the United States suffer from inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the most common type being ulcerative colitis. Research has shown that taking probiotic supplements that contain strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria can help improve symptoms of ulcerative colitis. Probiotics may also have helpful effects on other bowel issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and necrotizing enterocolitis.
3. Manage Weight
Another reason probiotics are good for you is because they can aid in weight loss. Certain strains of probiotics can help prevent dietary fat from being absorbed by the intestine. This means the fat you eat is excreted through feces instead of being stored in the body. This could help you lose belly fat and maintain a healthy weight. Links have also been found between obesity and the gut microbiome. People with obesity tend to have less gut bacteria than those at healthier weights.
4. Maintain Heart Health
One great benefit of probiotics is maintaining heart health. Probiotics can help lower blood pressure and “bad” cholesterol called LDLs. Some strains of probiotics produce lactic acid, which breaks down bile in your gut. Bile contains cholesterol, and breaking it down in the gut means that cholesterol is not being reabsorbed into the bloodstream. This can reduce levels of bad cholesterol in your blood.
5. Boost Immunity
Your immune system and your gut are closely linked. Research has found that taking probiotic supplements can help lower your risk of respiratory infections and decrease their severity. The good bacteria in your gut stimulate your immune system as well as act as a barrier against invading bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. This means probiotics can help strengthen your immune system and make you less susceptible to illness.
6. Improve Mental Health
A number of studies have found direct relationships between gut health and mental health. Your gut is responsible for producing most of your serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, and other body functions. Low serotonin levels can play a role in mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression. Research suggests that increasing probiotic intake with supplements can help improve these and other mental health issues. Strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus probiotics are especially beneficial for improving memory, depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
To start reaping these benefits, increase your intake of probiotics with a high-quality dietary supplement. Superior Probiotic is a multi-strain probiotic and prebiotic supplement that contains 7 different strains of probiotics, including varieties of both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Store these supplements in the refrigerator to keep them stable and take daily to start improving your gut and overall health.
