5 Surprising Ways Probiotics Can Transform Your Health

Probiotics, the living bacteria, which are present in foods like kefir, yogurt, and kombucha, are essential for gut health. Additionally, if you think of your microbiome as all of the bacteria in your body that are a combination of both beneficial and harmful bacteria (such as the ones that cause illness), it’s critical to have enough of the beneficial bacteria for your body to work as it should.

Enter probiotic supplements – an easy way to provide your gut with some good bacteria when you cannot get enough of them with the food you are consuming.

“Probiotics have been around for ages, but in the past few years, there’s been a surge in research that’s really shed some light on their potential benefits,” says Kristina Secinaro, R.D., a research dietitian at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. “We used to think probiotics were just about keeping our tummies healthy, but it turns out your gut is intimately connected to the rest of your body.”

And that’s exactly what’s happening with this emerging field of study – we’re learning that probiotics aren’t just good for digestion, but may also play a role in preventing a wide range of conditions. According to recent research, these little microorganisms might be the key to tackling some of our most pressing health concerns.

Here’s 5 things that probiotics can help you with:

Immunity boost

Probiotic bacteria have the ability to influence particular immunological activities and immune homeostasis by interacting with and stimulating commensal microflora and intestinal immune cells. Probiotic microorganisms have significant immunomodulatory and health-promoting qualities, according to mounting data. Probiotic administration may therefore be a viable strategy for enhancing immune system function.

Probiotic use has been linked to a lower incidence of upper respiratory infections in athletes, according to research. A better bacterial balance can also help prevent illnesses like the flu and the common cold.

Skin health

To put it mildly, skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis can be annoying, but according to some research, the correct probiotic strains may be able to assist. It all stems from the concept of inflammation. Additionally, reducing inflammation can save your skin because it’s the root cause of several skin illnesses, just like other health problems.

Allergy relief

Allergy sufferers who took a probiotic supplement called B. lactis once daily for eight weeks were significantly less sniffly two months later than those who did not, according to a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

According to the researchers, those taking probiotics also showed reduced levels of pro-inflammatory markers. This might be as a result of probiotics changing the gut wall’s permeability and preventing pro-inflammatory substances from entering the blood.

Weight loss

According to a meta-analysis published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, using probiotics can actually lower your body weight and body mass index. This finding fills a gap in the literature. The results of 25 randomized trials, including more than 1,900 healthy adults, were compiled by the researchers.

It’s interesting to note that the biggest weight loss occurs while taking multiple probiotics for at least eight weeks. It’s still quite modest, though. Weight and BMI decreased by 0.59 kg (1.3 pounds) and 0.49 kg/m2, respectively, for both men and women. BMI is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by the square of height in meters.

Probiotics affect sensitivity to leptin, a hormone that controls appetite, and enhance your blood sugar management. This is essential for everyone dealing with type 2 diabetes. This meta-analysis confirms that even a minor weight loss can reduce your risk of diseases including Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Related: Health and Weight Loss Benefits of Probiotics

Better mood

Probiotics may help reduce anxiety, tension, and depression, according to study. Although the exact cause of the positive bacteria/positive mood association is unknown, experts believe it may be related to the gut-brain axis, which is the communication between the neurological system and the gastrointestinal tract.