The focus on natural health has spurred the exploration into numerous natural alternatives to traditional medicine that can still be used to keep people healthy. One of these substances is called probiotics. This is a term used to encompass a broad range of cultures, foods, and other food additives that are used to regulate the body’s gastrointestinal tract and GI system. These probiotics can even include live, healthy bacteria that help to keep the body balanced. Before deciding on a probiotic to take, it can be helpful to learn about the different benefits of probiotics so that people can make an informed decision.
Probiotics can Boost the Body’s Immune System
One of the most important benefits of probiotics is that they can provide a much-needed boost to the body’s immune system. Many probiotics have live bacteria contained in them and those that don’t can increase the body’s regulation of its own, natural bacteria. These bacteria colonize the body’s GI tract and help to prevent unhealthy bacteria from taking root in the human body. Furthermore, these healthy bacteria can produce substances that will even make the environment unhospitable for pathologic bacteria. This assistance to the body’s immune system is even more important with the upcoming winter season.
Help Improve Digestive Function
In addition to helping out the immune system, probiotics can provide assistance with the digestive process. First, many of the substances that we consume we cannot digest with our own enzymes. The probiotics and bacteria that live inside of us provide assistance with this process. Without these added bacteria, we wouldn’t be able to digest or access the nutrients in many of the foods that we consume on a regular basis. This means that the probiotics play a vital role in preventing post-ingestion diarrhea in addition to accessing nutrients that we need to keep our bodies healthy and strong. Rely on probiotics to help with the digestive process.
Reduce and Heal Inflammation in the Gut
Many people suffer from inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. These conditions can cause bloody diarrhea and weight loss while damaging the lining of the GI tract with inflammation. Probiotics and healthy bacteria can help heal the inflammation in the gut by producing healing compounds that will repair the epithelial lining and restore the body’s digestive function. These two processes can help reduce the diarrhea that people have and reverse the weight loss by helping with the body’s digestive process. Probiotics are a mainstay in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and can be used by people everywhere to keep the bowel healthy.
These are only a couple of the numerous, important benefits that probiotics provide. Speak with a medical provider to learn which probiotic can be helpful for your own health needs. Then, visit the grocery store and make the probiotic a part of the weekly shopping list. This is even more important with the cold and flu season right around the corner.