How many times have you visited the doctor, received antibiotics and he or she told you to remember to take yoghurt or a probiotic with it? But they never explained why. Then there are also people who talk about the necessity of prebiotics and the influence it has on probiotics. And this confuses you even more. Here is your answer.
Probiotics are a mixture of living microorganisms that live in our bodies to help keep our gut happy and healthy. Probiotics are intended to maintain or restore the “good bacteria” in our guts. The “good” bacteria support our immune system and control inflammation. An essential role of this bacteria is also to help with digestion of food and supply nutrients to the gut. When there is an imbalance of good and bad bacteria it can lead to autoimmune problems such as thyroid issues, rheumatoid arthritis and type 1 diabetes. This imbalance can also lead to digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, diarrhea, heartburn and bloating. An imbalance like this can be caused by antibiotics, as it can kill a lot of the good bacteria in the gut.
Probiotics are in a synergistical relationship with prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria. In other words, prebiotics act as food for the microflora and thus probiotics as well. Unlike probiotics, prebiotics do not contain live cultures.
The best source of probiotics is through the food we eat on a daily basis. There is a popular saying that says “What you feed, will flourish”. This means that what food you give your body is exactly the way it will react. If you feed your body fatty and sugary food, your body will react to it. But, if you feed your body fresh green leafy vegetables, yogurt, kombucha, cottage cheese, soybeans and fermented milk, your microbiome, or the good bacteria, will be able to grow and keep you healthy.
A probiotic supplement is also always a great idea if you are struggling to restore the good health of your gut. The important thing to remember when taking a probiotic supplement is that it is not a quick fix. The goal of a supplement is to assist the diet we are following. It is not there to reverse the effects of a bad diet. When taking a probiotic supplement, it is important to remember to take it on an empty stomach. As a probiotic contains live bacteria, you would want these bacteria to “arrive alive” when using it. When we eat, acid is secreted into our stomach. This acid has the potential to kill these live bacteria that are on their way to our gut, inhibiting the effect of the probiotic.
There are thousands of probiotics on the market, but how do you choose the perfect one for you?
1. Choose a product from a credible medical company, make sure that it has been approved by a board and that you are not just buying a placebo.
2. Appropriate dosage. CFUs stands for colony-forming units and this represents the number of viable bacteria per dose. This is the number of live bacteria per dose. Research suggests that a good probiotic supplement contains at least 106 CFUs. You can read this on most labels.
3. Look for a product that contains high quality ingredients with no added sugar or artificial additives and fillers.
A probiotic along with a healthy diet, enough exercise and sleep as well as good management of stress can have great influence on your gut microflora and improve your overall health.