Probiotics have become a household name these days. From doctors prescribing them with antibiotics to yogurt commercials praising their powerful digestive aid. There have been many studies that show the real benefits from ingesting these powerful little microbes. In this article I’m going to break down what to look for in a probiotic and some of the benefits they provide.
What is a probiotic?
A probiotic is either bacteria or yeast that are naturally found in a healthy digestive track. The GI tract is a long tube that intakes nutrients from our food. Our powerful microbes live in a symbiotic relationship within our bodies. These probiotics are necessary and essential to the breakdown process of foods being digested. Probiotics increase the bioavailability of these foods meaning they increase the nutrients available to the body. The GI tract acts as the bridge between the outside body and the inside body. Probiotics colonize the walls adding an extra layer of defense to the immune system. Where these good microbes grow, bad ones cannot colonize the same area. Probiotics also release organic chemicals that help to lower the pH within our GI track preventing harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli from being able to grow to harmful numbers. Probiotics are a vital part of the digestive system. The power of a fully functioning microbe system in our GI tracts has not been completely understood. Many trials have been performed but many thousand more need to be done. The present amount of information leads me to believe that taking probiotics on a regular basis will improve the function of our bodies.
Proven therapeutic benefits and strong evidence towards the benefit and prevention of:
1. Nutrient breakdown and bioavailability
2. Therapeutic and preventative aid to diarrhea
3. Decreased lactose intolerance
4. Hepatic disease
5. Inflammation
6. Arthritis
7. Eczema
8. Hypertension
9. Cancer
The GI tract makes up 70 to 80% of our immune system and when a crucial piece is missing (probiotics) it can’t function at its highest level. Don’t let your system run low and wreck havoc on your gut. It is easy to add probiotics to your daily routine and there are a few ways to get the powerful benefits of these powerful microbes.
Adding Probiotics To Your Life
1. Eating a good, low sugar Greek yogurt. I prefer Fage products with a little fresh fruit.
2. Drinking Kombucha a naturally fermented Chinese Tea. I like GT’s Synergy brand found at most grocery stores.
3. Take a daily probiotic pill such as Renew Life Ultimate Care Probiotic 50 billion. This is the best on the market and I highly recommend this product. It has the highest rank from Labdoor.com which is a third party tester. Also a great source to find other highly tested vitamins.
Source
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.13652672.2006.02963.x/full