Top Three Signs You Could Benefit From Taking Probiotics
Sylvia C. Dikas, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacist | Health Content Writer for Chronic Disease Prevention and Lifestyle Change
The word “bacteria” often has negative connotations, but did you know that your body needs bacteria to function properly? Believe it or not, bacteria reside all over your body– including in your skin, mouth, genitals, and mostly, your gut. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are also called “good bacteria” because of their health benefits. Probiotics can be beneficial when the balance between good and bad bacteria in your gut is changed by factors like stress, medication, unhealthy eating habits, and lack of sleep.
Probiotics are available in different forms, they can be found commercially as capsules, powders, and liquids, or in foods such as yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kombucha.
Probiotics have numerous health benefits, but if you experience digestive issues, take antibiotics, or need a boost to your immune system, you are most likely to benefit from using them.
1. Why probiotics can be helpful if you have digestive difficulties
An imbalance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive system can cause digestive difficulties. But, probiotics can restore that balance. A probiotic may help if you regularly experience any of these digestive issues.
Diarrhea
Diarrhea is often caused by an infection in your digestive system. Probiotics suppress the germs that cause diarrhea and help your body fight them by restoring and maintaining a healthy balance of gut bacteria. According to a meta-analysis study, probiotics can resolve diarrhea about one day faster than a placebo.
Constipation
Probiotics are also helpful to people with constipation. A collection of clinical trials found that on average, probiotics significantly improved gut transit time, increased the number of weekly bowel movements, and softened stools, providing relief for people with constipation.
Lactose Intolerance
People with lactose intolerance don’t have enough lactase —the enzyme needed to digest lactose. This makes it difficult for them to digest food containing lactose such as milk and yogurt, and usually results in uncomfortable symptoms like gas and stomach pain.
Probiotics can be useful in this condition because they reduce the concentration of lactose in fermented products such as yogurt, and increase the activity of lactase. This makes it easier for the body to digest foods with lactose and reducing symptoms of intolerance.
Other Digestive Issues
In addition to the conditions listed above, probiotics can relieve gastrointestinal symptoms in people experiencing:
2. Why probiotics can be helpful if you are taking antibiotics
Antibiotics are known to kill or stop the growth of bad bacteria, but did you know they can kill good bacteria too? To help restore the good bacteria, doctors recommend that probiotics be taken along with antibiotics. Taken along with antibiotics, probiotics prevent and treat antibiotic-associated diarrhea in all age groups.
It's recommended that you take probiotics throughout the course of the antibiotics, and that you take them at least a few hours after the antibiotic so they don’t cancel each other out. For example, if you’re taking an antibiotic in the morning and at bedtime, it’s best to take the probiotic around lunchtime.
3. Why probiotics can be helpful if you want a boost to your immune system
Since 70-80% of your body’s immune cells are located in your gut, optimal gut health is vital to protect you against infections. Although more studies are needed, probiotics have been shown to inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria, thereby strengthening the immune system.
Also, some probiotics promote the production of natural antibodies in the body, which strengthens your immune system even further.
A large review found that taking probiotics reduced the risk and duration of respiratory infections. In infants, a 2008 clinical trial found that the probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lacti significantly reduced the incidence of ear and respiratory infections during their first year of life. Infants receiving probiotics experienced 28% less risk of acute otitis media and 27% less risk for recurrent respiratory infections compared to infants taking a placebo.
The probiotic strain Lactobacillus crispatus has also been shown to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women by 50% when given intravaginally. Low vaginal lactobacilli are associated with more UTI risk, which implies that restoring the lactobacilli may be beneficial. Since there’s naturally a large number of lactobacilli in the urinary tract of healthy women, it has been proposed that restoring that flora with lactobacilli may protect against UTIs. So if you experience recurrent UTIs, probiotics may be helpful.
Other Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics have also been associated with:
More studies are needed to clarify the link between probiotics and these conditions.
Possible Side Effects of Probiotics
While probiotics are safe and most people rarely experience side effects while taking them, reactions may still occur. Possible side effects include:
Final Thoughts
You are most likely to benefit from taking probiotic supplements or eating probiotic-rich foods if you have digestive issues, take antibiotics, or want a boost to your immune system. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what type of probiotic might be best for you.
References
Registered Pharmacist of 6+ years
3yThis article was very informative! I never thought that incorporating probiotics could help with stubborn belly fat, I just learned something new!
Dental Health Content Writer | Experienced Dentist | Creating Engaging and Meaningful Health Content
3yGreat article Sylvia!