Ultimate Guide To Probiotics And Gut Health

The media has a lot of advertising about probiotics and gut health. Even though the commercials tout it, is all the hype true? People in Totowa, NJ, want a simple guide that tells whether probiotics are beneficial for gut health and if any of these products work or are they just another way to take your money? Here are some facts to help you decide whether to choose OTC health supplements.

What are probiotics?

Your body has trillions of cells and trillions of microbes. The exact number and ratio are yet unknown. Some studies show that the ratio of microbes to human cells is 1.3 to 1. Other studies say there are far more microbes. Others, primarily those counting only bacteria, say there are more cells than microbes. You have bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungi in the gut. Some are beneficial and aid body processes. Others are harmful. When the harmful ones overwhelm the helpful ones, it creates a health issue. The health issue may be as simple as constipation or as complicated as schizophrenia.

Probiotics replenish the beneficial bacteria.

The microbiome in the gut helps break down nutrients so our body can use them. They also act as messengers to the brain. People with Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, colic, IBS, lactose intolerance, and ulcerative colitis normally have a smaller population of beneficial microbes or a more limited diversity. The microbes lower the pH in the bowels and aid in the absorption of vitamins, protein, and other nutrients. Other people who may get relief are those with chronic urinary tract infections, yeast infections, asthma, or eczema.

Your diet affects the number of microbes.

Eating probiotic food and prebiotic food helps balance the microbes in your gut. While many of the pills offering probiotics may work, they must contain at least 10 billion microbes to make it past your stomach acid, where many are killed. They need a broad spectrum of microbes, too. There are over 400 species of potential microbes. It is all for naught if your diet doesn’t support beneficial microbes. Feed beneficial microbes and starve harmful ones. You may have a problem with your gut microbiome, and it may be due to what you eat. No matter how many probiotic pills you take, it won’t be enough if you’re gulping down food with added sugar and eating no fiber that feeds the beneficial bugs.

• Eating a high-fiber diet does more than feed microbes. As a thank you for the food, the microbes produce mucus that protects the gut by creating a barrier along the intestinal wall.
• An imbalance or absence of certain microbes can cause symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and IBS. It also may cause ADHD, depression, autism, OCD, and bipolar disorder. People with those mental issues tend to have those digestive issues more frequently.
• People with immune deficiencies shouldn’t use probiotics without guidance from their healthcare professional. Those who recently had surgery, have SIBO, or are critically ill shouldn’t either. Some people also have allergic reactions.
• Before turning to probiotic pills, introduce probiotic foods into your diet. They include sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt with live bacteria, and kimchi.

For more information, contact us today at Prime Fitness Studio