Probiotics and Gut Health
Antibiotics, which destroy bacteria, could disrupt the balance between good and bad bacteria within your intestines.
Probiotics are able to tip the balance in favor of good bacteria. Probiotics may boost the immune system, lower inflammation and ease the discomfort caused by the irritable bowel syndrome or diarrhea that is infectious.
What kind of probiotics should you incorporate into your daily diet?
Probiotics are often found in food. You can also buy them in supplements to your diet.
Food. Many foods have beneficial bacteria. But, these bacteria won't always survive stomach acid and might not be capable of contributing to gut health. Other foods have probiotic strains which can withstand the digestive process and enter the digestive tract.
Whether a food truly has beneficial probiotics is dependent on three things that are: the amount of good bacteria in the food and whether good bacteria can withstand passage through the stomach, and if these strains of bacteria can help support your well-being.
Here are a few foods which contain probiotics.
- Dry beans and other legumes
- garlic
- asparagus
- onions
- Leeks
- certain artichokes
- green bananas
- wheat
Dietary supplements. Probiotics are also available in powders, capsules or liquids, as well as other forms. The variety of products can make it difficult to identify which products offer health benefits based on research.
Below are a few of the most effective probiotic strains that can help with general health:
Lactobacillus acidophilus. Lactobacillus Acidophilus helps to balance harmful bacteria in the gut, which might otherwise flourish due to illness or antibiotics.
Lactobacillus fermentum. Lactobacillus fermentum strengthens your immune system and prevents gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections.
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Lactobacillus paracasei. Lactobacillus paracasei can alleviate inflammatory bowel conditions (a condition that causes abdominal cramps, pain gas, bloating and stomach pain as well as diarrhea and constipation).
Lactobacillus Plantarum. Lactobacillus Plantarum helps in the production of vitamins, and stimulates the digestive system and combats the bacteria that cause disease.
Lactobacillus Reuteri. Lactobacillus Reuteri supports the cardiovascular health through the ability to balance cholesterol. It also lowers the number of ulcer-causing bacteria and supports female urinary tract and vaginal health.
Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus is a type of bacteria that is used in the production of yogurt. It helps to improve digestion, decrease diarrhea, and alleviate symptoms of IBS.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus. It is a type of bacteria that naturally occurs within your gut, though you can eat certain foods or take supplements to enhance its effects. It's beneficial in relieving IBS symptoms in treating diarrhea, enhancing your gut health, as well as guarding against cavities.
Bifidobacterium longum ssp. Longum. Longum is a strain of bacteria that has the ability to stop inflammation and offer protection against colon cancer, intestinal infection and inflammatory bowel disease and even depression.
Bifidobacterium longum ssp. Infantis. This bacteria strain is utilized to treat bowel issues, eczema and vaginal yeast infection. It can also be utilized to treat lactose-intolerant individuals and urinary tract infections and eczema.
Bifidobacterium Bifidum. Bifidobacterium Bifidum helps manage your digestive system and helps improve IBS. It also improves your immune system.
Bifidobacterium sp. Lactis. Lactis is a strain of bacteria which helps to fight infections. It produces vitamins as well as other important chemicals in your body.
Benefits of Probiotics for Senior Adults
Alongside balancing good and bad bacteria, they also provide many benefits for seniors.
- They help reduce the frequency and duration of diarrhea.
- Some strains can help improve heart health.
- Inability to digest lactose, which is the result of the inability of dairy products to digest sugar, is a condition that can be alleviated with these supplements.
- They can relieve a variety of allergies to food and skin.
- They aid in reducing vaginal inflammation due to the overgrowth of bacteria.
- You can lessen the unpleasant smell of exhaled breath by making use of these products.
Useful Tips to keep in mind
Before you start taking probiotics, there are a few points that are helpful to be aware of.
Probiotics in general aren't harmful in general. But, they could be dangerous if you have a weakened immune system. Your doctor will be able to identify the most effective probiotics for you.
It may take time to discover the right probiotic that is right for you. If you aren't experiencing any benefit from a product after a couple of weeks, try something different. Probiotics from different brands will contain various strains of bacteria and will interact with your body's system in different ways. It's about finding what's best for you.
Probiotics may cause gas and bloating, and also changes to your bowel movements. These could all be indications that your probiotics are working, however in case you are concerned you should not be afraid to talk to your doctor.