Image Credit: Lisa Richards

We continuously have both harmful and good bacteria running through our bodies. Most infections are usually as a result of harmful bacteria knocking down the body system. Good bacteria help eradicate these harmful bacteria, regrouping the body back to its standard shape.

Probiotics are active microorganisms, either yeast or bacteria-based, found in some supplements and foods. Probiotics consist of good bacteria that help, maintain, and restore your body’s health. Studies prove that the level of bacteria present in your digestive system plays a massive role in your overall health and disease.

Probiotics play a significant role in maintaining a healthy balance in the gut system’s good bacteria level. For this reason, probiotics have been associated with many health benefits such as immune function, weight loss, and many more. Below are the main health benefits associated with probiotics.

Probiotics help with weight loss

Certain probiotics such as the Lactobacillus family help inhibit the consumption of dietary fats into the body. This intensifies the amount of fat excreted in feces, lowering the number of calories ingested into the body. 

Besides that, probiotics help reduce weight by releasing an appetite-reducing hormone known as GLP-1. These hormones play a very vital role in burning fat and calories present in the body. Probiotics also increase the level of ANGPTL 4 proteins, leading to reduced fat storage. 

Probiotics help treat acid reflux

When treating acid reflux (a cause of snoring), you should start with curing the cause and not the signs. Therefore, you should first try to eliminate the growth of harmful bacteria and restore normal stomach acid formation. The best way to ensure that you attain this is by taking probiotics.

Probiotics help restore good bacteria in your gut, reducing the level of harmful bacteria; thus, maintaining a functional digestive system. When the digestive system lacks good bacteria, it slows down the food breakdown. Therefore, the undigested food ferments and forms a gas that pushes the acid up into the food pipe, causing acid reflux.

Probiotics help treat constipation

Constipation is one common issue that affects more than 20% of adults globally. Generally, treating constipation tends to be a difficult task, forcing people to venture into natural remedies such as probiotics. 

However, it’s good to note that probiotics are not laxatives, and they cannot stimulate your bowels. Centrally to that, they help in regulating your bowel movement and enhancing stool consistency. 

It is good to note that not all probiotic supplements can relieve constipation. For a supplement to perform this duty, it must contain a probiotic strain such as Lactobacillus as an ingredient.

Probiotics help treat IBS

IBS is a chronic disorder characterized by bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort or pain. The major causes of IBS include bacterial overgrowth, infections, inflammation in the intestines, and gut-brain interactions. However, there are many ways in which you can treat IBS, including the use of medication and probiotics.

According to reports, imbalances in the gut flora can increase the symptoms of IBS. Thus, administering probiotics to a patient can help alleviate these symptoms by diminishing inflammation and preventing harmful bacteria’s growth.

What are prebiotics?

They are compounds present in food that help induce the activity and growth of other bacteria and fungi. The benefits of prebiotics are relatively the same with probiotics as prebiotics help maintain a healthy digestive system. The benefits of prebiotics include reducing inflammation, reducing stress, and lowering obesity risks.

How to take probiotics

The period you take probiotics matters a lot in terms of reaping off the above advantages. Taking the capsule at the right time is very significant. You have to administer all the bacteria into your stomach. For the probiotics to attach themselves to the GI tract, they must survive through the harsh conditions of the gut acids. Thus, if the encasement or the capsule does not offer enough protection, the tablet might not be effective, leading to poor results

Therefore, the best time to take probiotic drinks is before you take any meal. During this period, the stomach atmosphere is less acidic, since the body is yet to produce acid to digest food. Thus drinking your probiotic will ensure safe passage through the gut, ensuring that you reap off the benefits of the probiotic drink. 

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