Probiotics have been creating a buzz in the health and wellness industry and for good reasons. You might hear healthcare providers saying you need probiotics, and they are right. They are a natural way to support women health and well-being.
But before knowing how probiotics can support your body’s overall health, let’s learn what they are. Probiotics are friendly live microorganisms in your gut that promote an ideal balance of gut bacteria and offer several health benefits. You can consume them through fermented foods or supplements.
Given probiotics ‘ small size, it’s amazing to think that they can greatly impact your overall health and well-being. Take a closer look at the health benefits of probiotics you can reap by adding them to your regular diet.
Why should you add probiotics to your diet?
They Boost Immunity
If you get sick more often, having probiotics might help boost your immunity. Older research suggests that probiotics can reduce the likelihood and duration of respiratory infections by boosting the immune system. Moreover, the Cleveland Clinic reports that they have been researched to strengthen immunity by replenishing and enriching the good bacteria in the human body.
Regularly eating foods that contain probiotics can make it easier for your body to produce vitamins and enzymes that can help keep your intestines happy.
They can Improve Hormonal Health
The women’s hormone support formula containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus and reuteri probiotics can improve the intestinal ecosystem, allowing estrogens to be removed efficiently from your body.
Estrogen is a dominant sex hormone in female bodies and is regularly recycled and eliminated from their bodies. However, their insufficient elimination can lead to estrogen build-up, causing painful cramps, endometriosis, and other conditions.
As per a study in 2019, women who were supplemented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus and reuteri experienced lower pain symptoms than other women who took a placebo.
They Help Balance the Good Bacteria in the Digestive System
You can experience bacteria imbalance, which involves too many bad and too few good bacteria. It can happen because of illness, poor diet, or antibiotic medication. As a result, you might suffer from digestive issues, mental health problems, obesity, allergies, and more.
Probiotics include good bacteria and can help restore gut bacteria’s natural balance. Therefore, these live microorganisms can aid in maintaining your gastrointestinal (GI) tract health and preventing digestive problems.
They can Help Protect the Gut Barrier
The gut barrier is a protective wall that blocks bad substances like toxins and germs. However, it needs to stay in shape to function properly.
Probiotics help strengthen the gut barrier and keep it in top shape. These live microorganisms aid in renewing the cells that form your gut lining and produce mucus and antimicrobial peptides, which are vital in keeping the gut barrier strong. In addition, they prevent bad bacteria from harming your gut. Consuming probiotic supplements can help maintain a healthy gut balance, which in turn prevents inflammation.
They can Treat Vaginal Infections
Probiotics can help prevent vaginal yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and urogenital infections by keeping the vaginal microbiome in balance. Multiple studies have shown that taking Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains can positively improve vaginal flora.
They Prevent Urinary Tract Infections
Around 40 to 60% of women experience urinary tract infections or UTIs. The best way to support women health and prevent urinary tract infections is taking probiotics. These good microorganisms can help reduce the frequency with which you experience UTIs. And when they occur, probiotics can potentially help subdue the symptoms often accompanying urinary tract infections.
They Support Cognitive Health
You should know that the gut is not an isolated system and that nerves communicate from the brain to the gut and vice-versa through the gut-brain axis. Bacteria in the gut break down food particles that release short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The vagus nerve (that links the gut and brain) senses SCFAs.
According to researchers, SCFAs in cerebrospinal fluid and SCFA concentrations have been linked to behavior, mood, and cognitive function alterations.
A 2021 research study found that the older adults taking probiotics for 12 weeks showed greater improvement in a mental flexibility test than the participants who received a placebo. In addition, researchers found that chicory root, a prebiotic supplement, can improve SCFA production.
They Help Prevent Diarrhea
Probiotics are widely known in the health and wellness space for their ability to prevent diarrhea or reduce its severity. Diarrhea is usually the common side effect of taking antibiotics, as they negatively affect the balance of friendly and harmful bacteria in your gut. A 15 day cleanse gut support supplement that contains probiotics can help restore the balance of bacteria in your gut.
Many studies suggest that incorporating probiotics into your diet can reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea risk. One study even found that taking probiotics can reduce C. difficile infection (CDAD) by 60%. Besides this, probiotics can also reduce the risk of traveler’s diarrhea.
Probiotic strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus, the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, and Lactobacillus casei can most commonly help reduce the risk of diarrhea.
They can Improve Fertility
Trying to conceive can be tough for many women, but probiotics can make it easier. Research says that consuming a good proportion of probiotic strains can improve the chances of fertility.
They can Help Manage Weight
Research suggests that probiotics can potentially help lose and manage weight. These friendly microorganisms can affect your weight by influencing the gut microbiome’s composition, which can impact your energy balance and metabolism.
Studies show that people with obesity have a different gut microbiome composition than lean people. Particularly, obese individuals have lower levels of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. By supplementing probiotics, you can restore a more balanced microbiome and, thus, lose weight.
Bottom Line
Many studies show how the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system can impact your health. Probiotics are friendly microorganisms that can help promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and facilitate several health benefits. These include protecting the gut barrier, promoting vaginal and cognitive health, improving fertility, etc. Even consuming probiotic strains with bloating tablets can improve digestion and help you lose weight, improving your physical appearance.