Bacteria is usually viewed in a negative light as something that makes you sick. However, you have two kinds of bacteria constantly in and on your body — good bacteria and bad bacteria. There are thousands of different species of bacteria in your digestive tract. They can be both beneficial or potentially harmful. Maintaining the right balance of the right bacteria for you is the key. A number of things can upset the stability of your intestinal environment, including the following:
The normal aging process also impacts the stability of your gut microbiome. Older adults may have differences in their gut caused by changes in their nutritional status and lifestyle. The Role of Probiotics Probiotics are a combination of live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your body. Probiotics are made up of good bacteria that helps keep your body healthy and working well. This good bacteria helps you in many ways, including fighting off bad bacteria when you have too much of it, helping you feel better. How Do Probiotics Work? The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Think of it as keeping your body in neutral. When you are sick, bad bacteria enters your body and increases in number. This knocks your body out of balance. Good bacteria works to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance within your body, making you feel better. Good bacteria keeps you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Certain types of good bacteria can also:
Where can I get Probiotics? Probiotics are live bacteria that are either the same as or similar to the ones found naturally in your gastrointestinal tract. You can help replenish your beneficial bacteria by eating probiotic dairy foods such as cultured yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, acidophilus milk and cheese with added probiotics. Many fermented foods, such as miso, tempeh, soy sauce, kimchi and fresh sauerkraut also contain probiotics. Probiotic Supplements Research on the benefits of probiotic supplements is promising. Probiotic supplements offer a wide range of benefits with few side effects. If you suffer from recurring diarrhea or antibiotic-associated diarrhea, a probiotic supplement may very well help. Other gastrointestinal symptoms, such as those associated with irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and pouchitis, also may respond to probiotic supplements. Talk with your physician or dietitian about whether a probiotic supplement is right for you. In the near future, we may be reaching for probiotics to reduce childhood respiratory infections, atopic eczema, tooth decay, high cholesterol, obesity and inflammatory bowel disease, among other ills. Research is looking into all of these now. Other Health Benefits Ongoing studies indicate a wide breadth of health benefits of probiotics. They affect:
Prebiotics Prebiotics are specialized plant fibers. They act like fertilizers that stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut. In short, Prebiotics keep Probiotics or good bacteria alive. Sources:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14598-probiotics https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Probiotics.aspx https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/probiotics-101#bottom-line |
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