Did you know that the
bacteria present in your body outnumber your body’s cells 10 to 1?
It’s surprisingly true
and most of them reside inside your stomach. Well there is no need to panic,
since most of them are quite harmless.
Having the right bacteria
has even been linked to numerous health benefits. This includes weight loss,
improved digestion, enhanced immune function, better skin and a reduced risk of
many diseases.
This leads us to the most
important question...what are probiotics?
What are probiotics?
Live bacteria and yeast
(termed as probiotics), if consumed regularly, positively affect our health.
Probiotics aid digestion, destroy the bad bacteria and produce vitamins. Also
they help to heal digestive disorders like infectious diarrhoea and
inflammatory bowel syndrome and fight allergies like eczema and hay fever.
Bad food habits and
adulterated food have been deteriorating the naturally occurring good bacteria
making the stomach more vulnerable to infections. However, probiotic supplements are really
helpful to fix a bad gut. Regular consumption of probiotics rebuild immunity
and lets your digestive system perform optimally.
What are the benefits?
Well...many!
1. Reduces blood pressure: A study suggests that a strain of
probiotics found in dairy and meats called Lactobacillus
reuteri lowered LDL levels. How? The liver
utilises cholesterol to produce bile. Researchers believe that probiotics break
up bile salts and decrease their reabsorption in the gut.
2. Keep Your Teeth Intact: Your smile is one of the most beautiful way
to express happiness. However, if you have a poor oral hygiene, it ruins it
all. Oral health is associated with serious health woes, including heart
disease, diabetes, and even low birth weight.
Studies have shown that
the probiotic Lactobacillus
reuteri
kills the bacteria that
causes tooth decay and lessens the harmful effects of gingivitis.
3. Diarrhoea buh-bye: If you experience occasional bouts of
traveller’s diarrhoea or have a weak gut, then probiotics are a blessing for
you. Many studies suggest that probiotic consumption can help reduce diarrhea
episodes.
4. Effective for preventing vaginal infection: The vagina is a
delicately balanced environment of good and bad bacteria. Unfortunately,
sometimes just taking antibiotics or birth control pills, becoming pregnant, or
having diabetes is enough to throw your system out of whack. If you’re prone to
yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, or urinary tract infections (UTIs), you
might consider protecting your lady parts with probiotics.
Probiotics may help
balance the bacteria present in your vagina and prevent the overgrowth of
harmful microorganisms.
How can you supply yourself the right amount of bacteria?
Taking care of your gut,
and the friendly bacteria that reside there, may be one of the single most
important things you can do for your health.
