5 Reasons to Take Probiotics

You have probably been taught to see bacteria as the “bad guys.” They have a reputation for causing disease, and even the thought of putting bacteria in your body can probably seem like a terrible idea. This is only half accurate. 

Bacteria have a bad reputation. However, some illnesses can be prevented or treated with supplements containing certain types of live bacteria.

Confused? Let’s clear some things up for you...

What Are Probiotics?

Enter: “The Good Guys” known as probiotics. 

Probiotics have become a huge health trend in recent years and can be found in so many things like food and beauty products. However, the biggest trend is probiotic supplements. 

The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”[1] 

In other words, probiotics are the good kind of bacteria that fight unwanted organisms when there are too many of them and offer numerous benefits, especially for balancing your digestive system. They help keep your body working properly and keep you healthy. 

Seeing as your gut connects to nearly every facet of your health, it is important to take care of it. A happy gut is a healthy gut.

5 Reasons to Take Probiotics

There are numerous reasons to add probiotics to your health and wellness routine. From immunity support to digestion support, the good bacteria in probiotics has you covered.

Here are 5 reasons to take probiotics:

1.  Improves Immune Health

Different cells, tissues, organs, and proteins located throughout the body are what make up our immune system. Together, these components help protect us. However, many don’t know that 70 percent of our immune system is based in our gut.

Therefore, maintaining good gut health is important in order to keep the rest of you healthy. Thanks to probiotics, you can tackle cold and flu season with some peace of mind. 

Top off the friendly bacteria with a probiotic supplement to add an extra level of support and helps the good bacteria fight when we are most at risk of catching anything. 

Already caught a nasty cold? No need to worry — probiotics can still help you and your immune system. Research has shown that probiotics may shorten the timespan of colds.[2]

2. Balances Gut Health

Upset stomach? It happens, and probiotics can help.

Probiotics may alleviate gut health issues like constipation, diarrhea, and stomach irritation by balancing gut flora. [3,4,5,6]

3. Supports Digestion

When it comes to digestive issues, probiotics may be helpful in helping you deal with a variety of issues. These include:- Diarrhea: Slows gastrointestinal contraction to stop diarrhea
- Constipation: Decreases transit time, making stools softer and easier to pass, alleviating constipation
- Gas & IBS: Relieve symptoms such as bloating, gas, pain, cramping, and diarrhea [7]

4. Gut-Brain Axis

Did you know that your gut and brain are connected? If you’ve ever experienced butterflies in your stomach or that “gut feeling” you might have had an idea.

The gut-brain axis is the communication system between the two. Studies have shown that your gut can affect your brain and vice versa. That imbalance gut we discussed earlier can play a role in your overall mental health. More neurotransmitters, which are the chemical signals that send messages throughout your body, are produced in your gut than in your brain.[8,9,10]

Some probiotics may improve symptoms of stress, depression, and anxiety.[11]

5. Weight Loss

Digestion and weight loss, in a sense, go hand in hand. The Mayo Clinic found some evidence that gut bacteria can play a role in metabolizing and extracting nutrients from the food you eat. The gut can be negatively affected in terms of balance when unhealthy foods are consumed. This imbalance has the potential to lead to obesity. 

Probiotics, along with a nutritious diet, can help create a more positive environment in your gut, which can lead to weight loss.[12] 

Where to Buy Probiotics

Health doesn’t need to be complex, so we’re making it easier for you with superior quality products with natural, simple ingredients — delivered right to your door. Our premium products are made with the consumer in mind, no matter how active or busy your lifestyle is.

Our Probiotics come with all of the benefits, and none of the fillers. Our naturally sourced Probiotic contains 51 billion colony forming units (CFUs) from 11 probiotic strains. This carefully formulated blend works in harmony with your body to support your immune and gut health.

Ready to check it out for yourself? Click here to shop!

References

1. Hill, C., Guarner, F., Reid, G. et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 506–514 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
2. Montalban-Arques A et al (2015) Selective Manipulation of the Gut Microbiota Improves Immune Status in Vertebrates, Frontiers in Immunology. 6:512
3. Kim, S. K., Guevarra, R. B., Kim, Y. T., Kwon, J., Kim, H., Cho, J. H., Kim, H. B., & Lee, J. H. (2019). Role of Probiotics in Human Gut Microbiome-Associated Diseases. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology, 29(9), 1335–1340. https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.1906.06064
4. Wieërs, G., Belkhir, L., Enaud, R., Leclercq, S., Philippart de Foy, J. M., Dequenne, I., de Timary, P., & Cani, P. D. (2020). How Probiotics Affect the Microbiota. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology, 9, 454. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00454
5. Wilkins, T., & Sequoia, J. (2017). Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Summary of the Evidence. American family physician, 96(3), 170–178.
6. Zhang, C., Derrien, M., Levenez, F., Brazeilles, R., Ballal, S. A., Kim, J., Degivry, M. C., Quéré, G., Garault, P., van Hylckama Vlieg, J. E., Garrett, W. S., Doré, J., & Veiga, P. (2016). Ecological robustness of the gut microbiota in response to ingestion of transient food-borne microbes. The ISME journal, 10(9), 2235–2245. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.13
7. Patino, Erica. “Ways Probiotics Boost Digestive Health: Everyday Health.” Everyday Health, Everyday Health Group, 11 May 2020, www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/probiotics-boost-digestive-health/. 
8. Yano, J. M., Yu, K., Donaldson, G. P., Shastri, G. G., Ann, P., Ma, L., Nagler, C. R., Ismagilov, R. F., Mazmanian, S. K., & Hsiao, E. Y. (2015). Indigenous bacteria from the gut microbiota regulate host serotonin biosynthesis. Cell, 161(2), 264–276. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2015.02.047
9. Cryan, J. F., & Dinan, T. G. (2012). Mind-altering microorganisms: the impact of the gut microbiota on brain and behaviour. Nature reviews. Neuroscience, 13(10), 701–712. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3346
10. Mayer, E. A., Tillisch, K., & Gupta, A. (2015). Gut/brain axis and the microbiota. The Journal of clinical investigation, 125(3), 926–938. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI76304
11. Carabotti, M., Scirocco, A., Maselli, M. A., & Severi, C. (2015). The gut-brain axis: interactions between enteric microbiota, central and enteric nervous systems. Annals of gastroenterology, 28(2), 203–209.
12. Torborg, Liza. “Mayo Clinic Q and A: Probiotics, Gut Bacteria and Weight - Is There a Connection?” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 8 June 2018, newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-q-and-a-probiotics-gut-bacteria-and-weight-is-there-a-connection/.