The importance of the “gut microbiome” to our physical wellness has become an area of intense interest among scientists and those of us who are dedicated to improving and maintaining excellent health. Probiotics contain live bacteria and yeast that populate the digestive tract and confer beneficial effects on our bodies.
They promise to prevent “dysbiosis,” a dangerous imbalance of microbial growth, and help create a favorable gut microbiome. This helps prevent or even cure a wide variety of ailments. An unhealthy gut microbiome, on the other hand, contributes to many diseases. This can include inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic gut overgrowth of harmful bacteria such as H. pylori, which may cause ulcers.
The reported benefits of probiotics include fighting off harmful bacteria, fungi, yeast, and even viruses; oral inflammation; and vaginal and urinary tract infections.
Probiotics may be especially beneficial during and/or after a course of antibiotics that may cause serious antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
By contributing to a healthy gut microbiome, probiotics can improve immune function, reduce inflammation in the body, and facilitate regular bowel habits.
They also helps break down and absorb essential nutrients in our food and produces vital nutrients.
For a probiotic to have any benefit it must contain viable, living bacteria or yeast that have survived the processes used in commercial production, including the heat used in pasteurization.
The viable microbes must then be able to survive the journey through the gut, beginning with the acid environment of the stomach. Some important bacteria in probiotic foods and supplements are anaerobic – they are rapidly killed by exposure to oxygen, including that contained in air. For this reason, manufacturing of probiotics featuring anaerobic bacteria is very challenging. The aerobic microorganisms commonly featured in probiotics include lactobacillus and biifidobacteria species.
One of the most popular and well known probiotic on the market features lactobacillus acidophilus. This bacterium is found in the gut, lungs, vagina, and urinary tract, where it contributes to a healthy and balanced microbiome.
It is available as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules, liquid, or powder) and in various foods, including fermented products such as yogurt, kefir, miso soup, kimchi, kombucha, and pickle juice.
It may be difficult to tell whether the probiotic(s) you take are “working.” If you have an ailment such as abdominal pain, constipation, or diarrhea, you will see if probiotics make things better. Otherwise, it is best to do due diligence in researching the effectiveness of the product you are taking or considering given the explosion of products and manufacturers of probiotics on the market.
Note: Although I am a physician, the content in this article is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent illness or disease in the reader – it is for educational purposes only.
References
- Gao Y, Wang X, Xue C, Wei Z. Latest developments in food-grade delivery systems for probiotics: A systematic review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2023;63(20):4371-4388.
- Zaib S, Hayat A, Khan I. Probiotics and their Beneficial Health Effects. Mini Rev Med Chem. 2024;24(1):110-125.
- Lalthavel Hmar EB, Paul S, Kumar Sharma H. An insight into the combination of probiotics and their implications for human health. Endocr Metab Immune Disord Drug Targets. 2023 May 02
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