Why Are Probiotics Good For You

Proven Health Benefits Of Probiotics According To Science

Jenny Hills, Nutritionist and Medical Writer Food & Nutrition

Probiotics are living microorganisms that are good for your overall health. Probiotics are sometimes called good bacteria. Taking probiotics regularly is a great way to improve your digestive health and strengthen your immune system. The potential benefits of probiotic supplements also include helping to lose weight, treating depression, and reducing inflammation.

You can also boost your health by eating foods containing probiotics. Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha , and kimchi also have good bacteria . Consuming these foods or taking probiotic supplements can improve your gastrointestinal tract and help you fight infections.

In this article, you will learn about the many reasons to take probiotics. I will also examine scientific research that backs up many of the claimed health benefits of probiotics.

What Midlife Women Should Know About Their Health

Lactobacillus is a probiotic found in yogurt and in supplement form. Some women may mistakenly think consuming lactobacillus, slathering yogurt on their bodies or taking probiotics might make for healthier or cleaner vaginas. Theres little evidence any of this helps.

We are lacking good data about probiotics, Dr. Christine Greves, an OB-GYN at the Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Orlando Health, told TODAY.

Theres not even a lot of evidence that probiotics are actually effective for GI health. And eating yogurt is no better.

How They Should Be Ingested

It is recommended that the supplement has between 2 to 10 billion active bacteria, being important to read the label of the product that should indicate the amount of organisms per dose, what type of bacteria it has because it is important to choose the one that is best according to the problem to be treated and in what dose it should be taken.

It is important to try the supplement for about 4 weeks, if there is no improvement during this period, the ideal would be to try a different supplement. Probiotics should be ingested before or after a meal, so that the food helps the bacteria to survive the gastric acid and reach the intestine, where they can multiply more easily.

It is important to remember that in addition to the consumption of probiotics in the form of supplements or foods rich in these bacteria, it is also important to maintain a healthy diet rich in fiber, since fiber is the main food for probiotics, favoring their survival in the intestine.

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Probiotics For A Healthy Pup

It is possible to prevent these problems by giving probiotics to your dog daily. Antibiotics have the potential to cause gut inflammation, which can be mitigated by probiotic supplements. How often should I give probiotics to my dog? One tsp of salt is required for small dogs. Each day costs approximately USD$0.69. Medium dogs require 2 tsp. of moisture. When compared to a daily consumption of $8.25 per day. Three teaspoons of dog fat are recommended for large dogs. It costs about the same as per day. 4 teaspoons of dog powder is recommended for large-breed dogs. The rate per day is based on the volume of consumption. Are probiotics good for dogs? It is possible to keep your dogs gut health in check by giving him probiotics on a daily basis. It is also possible to prevent illnesses by consuming probiotic supplements after taking antibiotics.

Some Ingredients May Cause Adverse Reactions

People with allergies or intolerances should read the labels of probiotic supplements carefully, since they might contain ingredients they could react to.

For example, some of the supplements contain allergens such as dairy, egg or soy.

These ingredients should be avoided by anyone who is allergic, as they may trigger an allergic reaction. If necessary, read labels carefully to avoid these ingredients .

Similarly, yeast-based probiotics should not be taken by those with yeast allergies. Instead, a bacteria-based probiotic should be used .

Milk sugar, or lactose, is also used in many probiotic supplements .

While studies suggest that most people with lactose intolerance can tolerate up to 400 mg of lactose in medications or supplements, there have been case reports of adverse effects from probiotics (

39 ).

Some people experience gas and bloating when consuming synbiotics. Those who experience these side effects may want to select a supplement that does not contain prebiotics .

Summary

Probiotic supplements can contain allergens, lactose or prebiotic fibers that may cause adverse reactions in some people. These ingredients can be avoided by reading labels.

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What To Know About Inulin

Inulin, on the other hand, is a larger, more complex molecule. Because it takes the colons bacteria much longer to ferment inulin, there is more available to the bacteria that reside in the rest of the colon, mostly on the left side. Like oligofructose, inulin is somewhat effective on its own but really needs another quick-fermenting fiber to provide the optimal beneficial health effects. Unfortunately, foods with these prebiotics are rather low in the oligofructose component, so an ideal formula would be one where the basic inulin would be enriched with oligofructose.

Inulin and oligofructose are the two most natural and beneficial prebiotics we know.

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Where Do You Find Probiotics

Fermented or cultured dairy products are a major source of probiotics. Other sources of probiotics include

• fermented milk.

The bacteria either occur naturally in these foods or have been added during preparation. Probiotics are also available as dietary supplements in capsule, tablet or powder-form.

Here are the most common strains of probiotics:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Enterococcus faecium
• Saccharomyces boulardii.

Bifidus regularis, a name created for marketing purposes by Dannon, is also known as Bifidobacterium animalis DN-173 010. This strain of probiotics is used exclusively in Dannon’s popular Activia products, which Dannon claims promote regularity.

Keep in mind that in order for a yogurt to be considered probiotic, it must contain one of the strains listed above. All yogurts are required to be treated with the strains Lactobacillus bulgaricusand Streptococcus thermophilus.

Food marketers have found a new niche with probiotic-containing foods, which include

• Probiotic cereal
• infant formula.

However, their claims may be based only on preliminary scientific findings.

More research is needed to see whether probiotic bacterias’ beneficial effects are the same when they’re treated or added to food products. Dried probiotics may survive a trip through the intestines if prepared and stored properly. Heat often kills live active cultures.

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Taking Probiotics At Night Could Make Them Way More Effective

Probiotics are one of the biggest wellness trends of the moment. Not only can you find supplement versions, but everything from bottled water to tortilla chips are being laced with the friendly microbes.

In case you need a refresher, probiotics are good bacteria thought to boost the health of your microbiome, or the balance of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that lives in your intestines. You can and should get them from foods , but you may also want to throw back some Bac in pill form.

While studies havent proven that probiotic supplements are beneficial for already healthy peeps, they have been shown to help treat a handful of specific conditions, like digestive disorders such as diarrhoea, constipation, and acid reflux.

Theres also evidence that probiotics can help reduce inflammation for people who have ulcerative colitis, can be helpful for people who have a condition called travellers diarrhoea , and can help if you have bad diarrhoea after having taken antibiotics.

You should talk to your doctor to find out which probiotic strain is best for you to take for whichever condition or issue youre dealing with, since not every strain works for every aliment. Once you have a doc-recommended supplement, its also important to consider the timing of when you ingest it.

How often should I take probiotics?

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Cranberry Juice Helps Tackle Utis

Weve all heard or heeded the popular advice: Drink cranberry juice to treat UTIs. But is there any evidence of that?

Cranberry juice or concentrated cranberry extract capsules are full of antioxidants and acidic compounds, which are powerful infection fighters that can help bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall.

that 100 percent cranberry products can be especially beneficial in preventing UTIs in women with recurrent or recent UTI issues. Just make sure you stay away from the sugar-loaded cranberry juice varieties, which can actually make things worse down there.

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Probiotics And Lactose Intolerance

People with lactose intolerance can often consume yogurt with few symptoms because of the probiotics it contains. These probiotics help digest the lactose in the small intestine before it reaches the colon. In addition, the yogurt starter cultures Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus help break down the lactose. Yogurt is a good way for people with lactose intolerance to consume the recommended servings of dairy without experiencing uncomfortable symptoms.

Is It Safe To Take Probiotics Daily

For healthy individuals, probiotics have a long history of being safe and beneficial to use daily. Thats because most probiotic supplements typically use the same microbes that already exist naturally in the human gut.

The risk is greater for people with severe medical conditions or who are immunocompromised as supplementation. If you have a severe medical condition or are immunocompromised, please consult with your healthcare practitioner before you start using a probiotic supplement.

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Protect Against Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics may be needed to help the body fight infections, but they can disrupt the gut environment. Antibiotics often decrease the variety of good bacteria in the gut, which can reduce their ability to fight against other disease-causing microbes.

Sometimes, harmful bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics which is a real threat to treatment. Some strains of Lactobacillus bacteria have been shown to protect against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , an infection resistant to several common antibiotics.

How Long Should You Take Them For

Dont expect miracles overnight. Whether you decide to take prebiotics or probiotics or both the experts say it can take two to three months to see benefits. If youre looking to treat a specific health concern, it could be worth doing some research, as studies done on IBS show the best results after four months, whereas a migraine study found benefits after two months, says Kim. Constipation and regularity issues, meanwhile, can be resolved in a matter of weeks. Both prebiotics and probiotics are safe to be taken in the long-term, too, she adds. They can be helpful throughout different times of the year and throughout different times of our lives.

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Is Too Much Probiotics Bad For You

Bacteria can make gas by getting to the food before us, according to Farhadi. Swelling, particularly around the stomach, is possible as a result of an excess of gas. Diarrhea can, however, occur, which is not as serious as it could be.

Yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut are just a few of the foods that contain probiotics. The most common strains of probiotics are Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus. When you take probiotics, you give your gut bacteria that can aid in the health of your body. When you take probiotic supplements in large quantities, you may experience bloating, gas, nausea, and diarrhea. Constipation can be relieved by taking probiotics, but it can also cause an increase in bathroom trips. As the gut flora adjusts to the new conditions, these symptoms should go away in a few days. People may develop side effects from probiotics supplements that are unrelated to the microbe itself, but are caused by another ingredient, such as lactose, soy, or egg.

Why Are Men’s Probiotic Needs Different To Women

So, how individualized should your probiotics be? Aragona says that men and women often experience different digestive issues, which is another reason they tend to require different probiotics.

The type of probiotic strain being ingested is always dependent on the person, as not one person has the same gut bacteria or microbiome, he says. And the same goes for men’s and womens probiotics. While they offer similar benefits, ultimately, they have been made specifically for their sex. For example, while women more commonly experience greater issues in the lower digestive tracts, such as constipation or IBS, men experience more in the upper gastrointestinal such as acid reflux, and so the needs differ and it is best to stick to the probiotic made for you.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

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Issues To Be Aware Of

If you’re considering trying probiotics, there are a few issues you need to be aware of.

Probiotics are generally classed as food rather than medicine, which means they don’t go through the rigorous testing medicines do.

Because of the way probiotics are regulated, we can’t always be sure that:

• the product actually contains the bacteria stated on the food label
• the product contains enough bacteria to have an effect
• the bacteria are able to survive long enough to reach your gut

There are many different types of probiotics that may have different effects on the body, and little is known about which types are best.

You may find a particular type of probiotic helps with one problem. But this doesn’t mean it’ll help other problems, or that other types of probiotic will work just as well.

And there’s likely to be a huge difference between the pharmaceutical-grade probiotics that show promise in clinical trials and the yoghurts and supplements sold in shops.

Page last reviewed: 27 November 2018 Next review due: 27 November 2021

Possible Side Effects Of Probiotics

Probiotics are living bacteria and yeasts that provide health benefits when consumed in large amounts.

They can be taken as supplements or consumed naturally through fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha .

The health benefits of probiotic supplements and foods have been well documented, including a lower risk of infections, improved digestion and even a reduced risk for some chronic diseases .

While there are many health benefits linked to taking probiotics, there can also be side effects. Most of these are minor and only affect a small percentage of the population.

However, some people with serious illnesses or compromised immune systems may experience more severe complications.

This article reviews the most common side effects of probiotics and how to reduce them.

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Makes Up To 30 Quarts

Natren YOGURT STARTER is an easy and delicious way to add probiotics to your diet. This yogurt is a tasty, Bulgarian recipe full of protein, calcium, and super strain probiotics. The creamy thick deliciousness is a nutritional treat your whole family can enjoy!

YOGURT STARTER:

• Uses a traditional recipe for smooth, yummy yogurt

• Is naturally sweet with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors.

• Provides the beneficial bacteria that makes it a healthy treat

• A delicious source of protein and bioavailable calcium

Natren YOGURT STARTER dairy powder is a recipe passed down over generations. It has graced the table of royalty the world-over. The Bulgarian recipe is filled with creamy healthy goodness. Eat it plain, straight from the fridge, use it as a sour cream substitute on your tacos and potatoes, or dress it up with your favorite fruit and honey to satisfy that sweet tooth!

100% potency guaranteed through the printed expiration date.

YOGURT STARTER PRODUCT AVAILABILITY

• Full Description

• Megadophilus® is step one in Natren’s three-step custom probiotic system. This Lactobacillus acidophilus probiotic product provides support to the small intestine. Lactobacillus acidophilus prefer to reside along the walls of the small intestine, where most of the digestive process takes place.

How To Choose A Probiotic Supplement

LactobacillusBifidobacteriumSaccharomyces boulardii

Here are some other things to consider when choosing a probiotic supplement that is right for you.

Be choosy.Lactobacillus rhamnosusBifidobacteriaLactobacillus

Read the label. Make sure any probiotic you choose is free of any ingredients you do not want, such as food allergens. Your healthcare team can help you translate any terms you dont understand.

Practice caution. Understand that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesnt review dietary supplement products for safety and effectiveness before theyre marketed. Therefore, consider following the FDAs tips for dietary supplement users. Again, consult your healthcare team before adding a probiotic supplement to your diet especially if you have an underlying condition.

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What Effect Does Probiotics Have On Dogs

The use of probiotics in dogs is beneficial to both the dogs health and the environment because it can help the dog digest food, make and absorb vitamins and minerals, and maintain a healthy immune system. One of the most promising ways to improve your dogs health is to give him friendly bacteria.

Should I Give My Dog Probiotics Every Day

It is true that you should give your dog probiotics on a regular basis.

There are probiotic foods that dogs consume. It has a significant impact on your dogs overall health and immune system. The key to successful probiotics in dogs is to ensure that they perform their functions properly. Probiotic supplements have grown in popularity as one of the fastest growing supplements for dogs. The gut, also known as the second brain, is known to be a second brain, and there is mounting evidence that the gut and overall health of your dog are closely related. Your dogs gut bacteria play an important role in producing vitamins like K and B, as well as serotonin, which influences his mood and brain function. Most dog probiotic supplements contain strains that die off from heat before being taken to your home.

Bernies Perfect poop is made from Bacills, which are made up of two spores: Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus Coagulan. Miscanthus grass, which has only a few fibers, can be found in your dogs small intestine. Bernies Perfect poop contains probiotic-rich ingredients that are not available in other foods, and it is formulated to support your dogs gut. Inulin is a soluble fiber that aids in the regulation of your dogs blood sugar and weight, as well as the digestion of the good probiotics in his gut. As you can see, this is analogous to the adage An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

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