Nutritionist’s Top 6 Reasons You Should Be Taking A Probiotic – Amodrn
Did you know that the gut is one of the main powerhouses of the body? So many people suffer from illnesses, ailments, and conditions that, without even realizing it, originated in the gut (hello skin conditions and moodiness). That is why it is crucial to maintain proper gut health in order to ensure that you are maximizing your health and wellness. Probiotics are live microbes, typically bacteria and yeasts, that naturally live within your large intestine. They are part of your microbiome, a diverse group of trillions of organisms that consist of bacteria, yeast, and protozoa. Everyone’s microbiome is unique, but there are common probiotic bacteria such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium that are common in probiotic over-the-counter formulas.
Probiotics are generally quite safe and are taken with the intention of reestablishing a healthy balance of microbes in your gut. The main goal of probiotics is to introduce good bacteria and maintain a healthy balance in your body. We interviewed Dr. Vikki Petersen, certified clinical nutritionist, chiropractor, and certified functional medicine practitioner, who dives into the importance of probiotics when it comes to maintaining one’s overall health and wellness.
Probiotics enhance the development of natural killer cells and stimulate the activity of the cells that line your intestine, your intestinal epithelial cells. This is integral to a strong immune response and proper digestion.
Studies have suggested that probiotics can assist you in losing weight and belly fat. The balance of two families of beneficial bacteria, Bacteroides, and firmicutes seems to be key. Overweight individuals tend to have more firmicutes and fewer bacteroidetes as compared to individuals of normal weight.
Probiotics can improve digestion in a variety of ways. They can improve the digestion of carbohydrates, assist in the absorption of protein, along with other vitamins and nutrients. Other digestive symptoms that improve with the use of probiotics include gas, bloating, digestive pain, diarrhea, and constipation.
4) Eases Constipation
Probiotics modulate the inflammatory response in a beneficial fashion… To that end, probiotics are used to treat chronic inflammatory conditions including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and celiac disease (CD).