Helpful bacteria allow the body to properly digest food, absorb vitamins, regulate weight and inflammation, boost your immunity, and more. Your body needs that good bacteria -- but it does not need excess harmful bacteria, which can sometimes start to overgrow in your gut. When bad bacteria overgrow in the gut, you may begin to experience digestive problems like gas, bloating, constipation, and more.
The collection of good and bad bacteria in your gut is called your gut microbiome. This balance is key to your digestive health. There are a few ways that adding good bacteria -- probiotics -- to the gut microbiome will help with dysbiosis. First, ingesting probiotics adds beneficial bacteria directly to your gut microbiome, which helps to tip the balance of bacteria toward the good guys.
Here comes the big one - probiotics and prebiotics reduce inflammation within the gut and subsequently the rest of the body. Inflammation is particularly detrimental to proper digestion. It exaggerates intestinal permeability, interferes with insulin signaling, and can cause digestive symptoms read more about how inflammation interferes with digestion here. Why does dysbiosis cause inflammation in the first place?
Well, bad bacteria living within the gut have toxic molecules called lipopolysaccharides LPS in their outer membrane, which trigger an immune and inflammatory response in the body. The World Gastroenterology Organization Global Guidelines has compiled a comprehensive list of evidence-based conditions that probiotics can help.
The list includes specific strains of probiotics and recommended doses. Read the label carefully to find the right strain, dose, how to take it, expiration date, and how to store. For certain people, probiotics are not the right choice.
Be sure to discuss taking any supplements with your doctor first. The communication system between your gut and brain is called the gut-brain axis. This article explores this gut-brain connection, plus how to improve…. If you find your body is out of whack with digestive problems, inflammation, or other chronic diseases, the underlying cause could be imbalanced gut….
Eating fermented foods with live probiotics can have powerful benefits for your body and brain. Here is a list of 11 super healthy probiotic foods.
Your gut bacteria play several important roles in your health. Here's how your gut bacteria can influence your weight. The two most common types belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Some foods may naturally contain probiotics, while some companies may add them to products during the manufacturing process. Fermented and dairy foods are common sources of probiotics. These include:.
Click here to learn more about probiotic foods. Click here to learn more about vegan probiotic options. People can also take probiotic supplements, which come in various levels of different strains. These are typically available in capsule form. Supplements are a simple way to get large amounts of healthy microbes into the body.
However, it is important that people follow the instructions and take the correct dosage. Probiotics may have several benefits due to how they interact with the body. While they may affect many systems and organs, the main advantages of probiotic use focus on aiding gut flora and digestive health.
A study in Medicine notes that they may play a role in several digestive issues, such as:. However, the study researchers call for more long-term research into chronic digestive conditions, as there is limited evidence to make any claims about probiotic use. A review notes the benefits of taking probiotics :. It is important to note that these effects persist for as long as the person takes probiotics.
Also, there is limited evidence discussing the long-term benefits, so more research is necessary. Probiotics are generally safe. There is no current research to suggest the body becomes dependent on probiotics. Healthcare practitioners can read more on the subject of long-term use of probiotics, and whether that can lead to dependency, in the following FAQ: Is there a risk of dependency when taking probiotics?
In regards to overdosing, even when taken on a daily basis and at high doses it is extremely difficult to overdose on probiotics. For more on this subject you may like to read our FAQ; Is it possible to overdose on probiotics? Probiotics are some of the safest natural supplements available, and have very few contraindications. There are a few groups of people who we recommend exercise a degree of caution when they are considering supplementation with live cultures, an example of which is people who are immunosuppressed or taking immunosuppressant medication , and people with dark blood in their stools.
Under these circumstances, it would be wise to seek the advice of a GP before considering probiotic supplementation. In fact if ever in doubt, always speak to your doctor about any health supplements.
For more information see our contraindications FAQ. With regards to medications and natural remedies, there are no known contraindications. The only point to take in to account here is if a supplement has antibacterial or anti-fungal properties. If it does, like garlic for example, then it is recommended that you take the probiotic at least a couple of hours either side of the other supplement, so as not to damage the bacteria.
But with regards to safety, probiotics can be taken alongside all natural remedies without any problem.
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