Probiotics

Best Probiotics

What Are Probiotics?

According to the World Health Organization, probiotics are living microorganisms that when consumed in sufficient numbers can provide excellent health benefits that go beyond basic nutrition. Probiotics are cultures that have been shown to provide specific health benefits such as supporting digestive and immune health and contributing to the maintenance of a balanced gut microbiota, which is important for the proper functioning of the digestive system and the entire body.

By now you’ve probably heard of the microbiome, the community of trillions of microorganisms that live inside and on your body. But did you know that microbes are so fundamental to life that they outnumber human cells by 10 to 1?

Our microbiome is full of all kinds of microbes, both good and bad. When our microbiome is balanced, the good guys work hard to keep us vibrant and healthy. However, when too many of the bad guys are hanging around, the good bacteria lose their footing and can’t do their jobs properly.

The good news is that we can swing the balance of the microbes in our microbiome in favor of the good guys by consuming probiotics, or beneficial bacteria. Probiotics work to replenish the beneficial bacteria in our body and provide a myriad of important health benefits.

Top  Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics are live bacteria (found in foods like kefir, yogurt, and kombucha) are essential for good gut health. And if you consider that your microbiome (all of the bacteria in your body) is a mix of good and bad bacteria (like the kind that makes you sick), it’s important to have enough of the good bacteria so your body will function properly.

Probiotics do much more than alleviate stomach problems. While most people just thought of probiotics as beneficial for digestive health, your gut is connected to your entire body.

As a result? Emerging research suggests they help prevent a wide range of conditions, starting with these five.

Promote a healthy microbiome

From modern diets filled with sugar and additives to exposure to antibiotics in both medicine and food, your lifestyle can wreak havoc on your body’s delicate balance of bacteria. Even aging, stress, environmental toxins, and medications (such as antacids, birth control, and steroids) can have indiscriminate effects on your healthy microflora balance.

When the good guys are overwhelmed, your microbiome can quickly shift and create issues that are less than ideal. Luckily, consuming probiotic supplements can increase your body’s levels of healthy bacteria and encourage optimal conditions in your body.

Weight Loss

Taking a probiotic can lower your body weight and body mass index, Probiotics can also improve your blood sugar control and affect sensitivity to leptin (a hormone that helps regulate appetite.) This is key for anyone struggling with type 2 diabetes.

Keep temporary inflammation in check

By supporting immune system, probiotics can help to alleviate temporary inflammation—improving the health of your bones, joints, skin, and other areas of your body.

In a study published in Gut Microbes, researchers measured participants’ levels of temporary inflammation before and after taking Bifidobacterium supplements. By the end of the 8-week trial, inflammation levels significantly decreased in the probiotic group, proving that these good bacteria can effectively keep temporary inflammation in check3.

Reduce fatigue

Have you ever felt tired even after getting enough rest? Well, it turns out that a balanced gut can help reinvigorate you. That’s because fatigue (and the resulting irritability) are often signs of poor digestion, which occurs as a result of an unhealthy gut.

Recent research highlights the connection between probiotics and energy. Scientists at National Taiwan Sport University administered Lactobacillus plantarum to mice for six weeks. At the end of the trial, the mice showed increased grip strength, muscle weight, and endurance; and decreased fatigue4.

The good news? Taking beneficial probiotics can help give you energy and support your body’s ability to properly digest and process all the healthy nutrients you eat so you can regain your vitality.

Balance your blood sugar

Did you know that probiotics can help balance blood sugar levels? Yes, gut bacteria communicate with your cells to send chemical messages throughout your body. This communication process, in turn, enables your body to support and maintain healthy glucose levels.

Taking a daily probiotic ensures that enough of the good guys are working on your behalf to optimize all of your body’s processes;

Improve the appearance of your skin

It’s not just about vanity! Your skin is your largest organ, and it protects your body from countless external threats. But, what many people don’t realize is that your skin is an important reflection of your internal health. Skin problems can result from nutritional and hormonal imbalances, as well as immune system disruptions, all issues that begin in the gut. By helping you to better absorb the nutrients from your foods and supporting immune system response, probiotics can reduce temporary inflammation and help you achieve healthier-looking skin that glows.

Skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and rosacea can be troublesome, to say the least, but some studies suggest that the right strains of probiotics can help. It reverts to the whole idea of inflammation. And since some skin conditions, like other health issues, stem from inflammation, minimizing it can be a skin savior.

Balance Immune Function

Tired of feeling sick and run down? Research has shown less of an occurrence of upper respiratory infection after the use of probiotics,” And it makes sense why: Probiotics are a better type of bacteria, they can help prevent infection. Making sure you have a better balance of bacteria can also ward off issues like the cold and flu.”

Can you believe that the vast majority—approximately 80%—of your immune system is located in your gut? Because so many of your immune cells inhabit your intestinal tract, a healthy and balanced immune response is largely dependent on strong communities of beneficial bacteria existing within the gut environment.

A high-quality supplement (preferably with multiple strains of good bacteria) works to crowd out the bad guys and support the foundation of your health at its core.

Enhance nutrient absorption

No matter how many superfoods you eat, your body won’t be able to benefit from them if your gut environment isn’t teeming with healthy bacteria. You see, enzymes and digestive bacteria break down the food you eat into molecules that make their way into your bloodstream to nourish your body. Inadequate or unbalanced microbial populations in the gut can derail this process and can even lead to malabsorption of critical nutrients.

A daily probiotic can help your body naturally absorb all of the goodness from your food and supplements so that you’re getting the most out of your efforts to stay healthy.

Allergies

A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that allergy sufferers who took a supplement of a probiotic called B. lactis once a day for 8 weeks were far less sniffly two months down the road than those who didn’t. People who took probiotics also had decreased levels of pro-inflammatory markers, the researchers say. That could be because probiotics alter the permeability of the intestinal wall, and help to keep pro-inflammatory compounds from entering the bloodstream, says nutritionist Molly Kimball, R.D.

Fight bad breath

You may be surprised to learn that our mouths are home to an incredible amount of bacteria. Studies show that certain probiotics, like Streptococcus salivarius K12, can help support the oral microbiome by suppressing the growth of bad breath-causing microbes2.

Unlike mouthwash or mints that simply mask bad breath odor, probiotics can help overcome this occasional, yet embarrassing, issue by encouraging long-term equilibrium of oral bacteria.

Mood Disorders

Your “gut feeling” is more than just a hunch. In fact, your mental and emotional balance hinge on a healthy gut environment. The good guys in your intestinal tract produce hundreds of nervous system chemicals that regulate your moods. Indeed, almost 95% of your body’s serotonin—the happiness chemical also found in the brain—is manufactured by your gut bacteria, so replenishing them often is one of the best things you can do to support healthy emotional function.

In a study of 40 people without mood disorders, those who took a probiotic supplement every night for 30 days felt happier and reported feeling generally happier and less bothered by life’s problems than those who took a placebo. Other research suggests that probiotics can help lower levels of depression, stress, and anxiety.

Real Supplements gives you the best Probiotics on the market today. Our top-rated lists are fresh and current so you get the best options.

Real Supps Team

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