Probiotics Health Benefits

Probiotics Health Benefits 

Probiotics have many health benefits, some are listed below: 

Gut Health:

In our gut, a complex community of microorganisms lives, called, the gut flora or microbiota. Our gut contains hundreds of different types of microorganisms as many as 1,000, according to some estimations. This includes different types of bacteria, yeasts and viruses. Most of the gut flora is found in the colon, or large intestine, the last part of the digestive tract.

Gut flora performs many functions that are important for health. It manufactures vitamins, including vitamin K and some of the B vitamins. It also turns fibers into short-chain fats like butyrate, propionate and acetate, which feed gut wall and perform many metabolic functions. These fats also stimulate the immune system and strengthen the gut wall. This can help prevent unwanted substances from entering your body and provoking an immune response

Probiotics and prebiotic fibers can help in maintaining gut health and prevent diseases like obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, colorectal cancer, Alzheimer's and depression.

Digestive Health:

Antibiotics can kill many of the natural bacteria in the gut, which are helpful for body maintenance and cause diarrhoea. Studies show that Probiotic supplements can help to cure antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.

Probiotics also combat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common digestive disorder, reducing gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and other symptoms. Probiotics may fight Helicobacter pylori infections, which are one of the main drivers of ulcers and stomach cancer.

Weight Loss:

Probiotics can help in losing weight, some studies show its effects. People who are obese have different gut bacteria than those who are lean. In one study in people with central obesity, which is characterized by excess belly fat, taking the probiotic Lactobacillus gasseri daily resulted in an 8.5% loss of belly fat over 12 weeks When participants stopped taking the probiotic, they gained the belly fat back within four weeks. Many scientists believe that your gut bacteria are important in determining body weight. Although more research is needed, some probiotic strains appear to aid weight loss. Evidence also suggests that Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis can assist with weight loss and obesity prevention, though this needs more research.

Immunity:

Probiotics may help to boost the immune system by inhibiting the growth of harmful gut bacteria and promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. They may also boost immune cells like the IgA-producing cells, T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. Taking probiotics reduced the likelihood and duration of respiratory infections and urinary tract infections However, the quality of the evidence was low).

Allergies:

Probiotic strains may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants. One study found eczema symptoms improved for infants fed probiotic-supplemented milk, compared to infants fed milk without probiotics. Probiotics may also reduce inflammatory responses in people with milk or dairy allergies.

Heart Health:

Probiotics may help in lowering LDL ("bad") cholesterol and blood pressure. Some lactic acid-producing bacteria may reduce cholesterol by breaking down bile in the gut. By breaking down bile, probiotics can prevent it from being reabsorbed in the gut, where it can enter the blood as cholesterol.

A review of 5 studies found that eating a probiotic yoghurt for 2–8 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 4% and LDL cholesterol by 5%. Consuming probiotics may also lower blood pressure. Other 9 studies found that probiotic supplements reduce blood pressure, but only modestly.

Mental Health:

Both animal and human studies find that probiotic supplements can improve some mental health disorders. human supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 1–2 months can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and memory.

Taking probiotic supplements for 8 weeks decreased depression levels and reduced levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) and hormones such as insulin, compared to people who did not take a probiotic.

Inflammation:

Probiotics reduce inflammation, a cause of many diseases.