ARE PROBIOTICS WORTH THE HYPE?
1. Context
Whenever talking about gut health, ‘probiotics’ are likely to crop up during the conversation. As such, it would not be wrong to say that it has become a buzzword when it comes to gut health
In the last few years there has been a huge surge in probiotics. It seems as though everywhere you look there are probiotics: in teas, chocolates, gummies, cookies… it leaves you to wonder, are they actually that beneficial or have they now become a marketing tactic
2. What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms promoted with claims that they provide health benefits when consumed, generally by improving or restoring the gut microbiota
Probiotics are considered generally safe to consume but may cause bacteria-host interactions and unwanted side effects in rare cases
Probiotics are a combination of live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts that naturally live in your body. Bacteria is usually viewed in a negative light as something that makes you sick. However, you have two kinds of bacteria constantly in and on your body good bacteria and bad bacteria
This community is made up of things called microbes. You have trillions of microbes on and in your body. These microbes are a combination of:
- Bacteria.
- Fungi (including yeasts).
- Viruses.
- Protozoa.
3. Benefits of Probiotics
They influence our body’s immune response, and help our body’s community of microorganisms return to a healthy condition after being disturbed
Good bacteria keeps you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Certain types of good bacteria can also:
- Help your body digest food.
- Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
- Create vitamins.
- Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed (through food or drinks) from entering your blood.
- Break down and absorb medications.
4. Limitations
- While probiotic foods can be beneficial for digestive health, they should not be considered a cure-all for digestive issues.
- It is advisable to consult a healthcare provider and a qualified dietician before adding probiotic-rich foods to the diet, especially in case of any underlying medical condition
- The data shows it does not help those with Crohn’s disease, nor does it help those with pancreatitis
- Probiotics are live microorganisms, the ‘friendly’ bacteria that reside in the gut and provide numerous benefits. These bacteria help us fight infections caused by ‘unfriendly” ones’
- An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms representing more than 500 different species inhabit every normal, healthy bowel
- The most common are bacteria that belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium
- Other bacteria may also be used as probiotics, and so may yeasts such as Saccharomyces boulardii
Source: Cleavelandclinic
