How Do Probiotics Work And What Makes Them Effective?

The human body is complex and amazing. The manner in which so many systems and organs work together to maintain health is inspiring and researchers are still struggling to understand all of the specifics.

Did you know, however, that the human body gets a little bit of assistance to do its job?

Various kinds of microorganisms coexist with us peacefully. Some of these microorganisms help the human body do its job. A number of beneficial strains can be found in the gut.

They improve digestion and help us fight pathogens. As a result, these beneficial bacteria play an important role in the immune response.

These alive and beneficial bacteria are known as probiotics.

How Do Probiotics Work?

Research focused extensively on the work that probiotics do in the 1990s. This is when the first probiotic supplements appeared on the market.

Probiotics work in a very simple, yet highly beneficial way. They keep the populations of harmful microorganisms from growing. Some probiotics are also capable of killing pathogens, thus improving digestion and preventing conditions like candida or urinary tract infections.

Probiotics are with us from birth. Some research suggests that these beneficial bacteria are found in the birth canal and this is where a newborn picks them up from.

Right from the start, probiotics establish the balance in the digestive tract and protect us from various kinds of allergies.

Probiotic Supplements

It’s been shown through clinical studies that the bacterial balance in the human gut can be disturbed easily. The beneficial bacteria will be killed because of treatments with antibiotics.

Stress, environmental factors and poor nutritional choices could also disturb the fine balance between good and bad bacteria.

In such instances, it’s a good idea to choose a probiotic supplement. These products contain live bacterial cultures. When they reach the gut, the bacteria begin to multiply.

If a probiotic supplement is taken consistently, it will help for the restoration of the balance.

Types Of Probiotic Bacteria

Most probiotic bacteria belong to two main categories – lactobacillus and bifidobacterium. Within these two main classes, there are various different strains of microorganisms. Each strain acts in a specific way.

Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus bacteria are the most common probiotics. They’re found in various types of food, including yogurt and sauerkraut. The strains of lactobacillus help with diarrhea and constipation.

They restore digestive health and could be beneficial for the individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or ulcerative colitis.

There’s some evidence that lactobacillus strains could reduce lactose intolerance in people who are allergic to dairy products.

Bifidobacterium

Bifidobacterium strains are also capable of improving digestive health. They strengthen the immune response and reduce the likelihood of experiencing digestive upset. Some types of bifidobacterium are also found in milk and fermented foods.

Probiotic supplements could be enriched with a couple of additional strains, as well. Streptococcus thermophillus is one of the top beneficial bacteria responsible for reducing the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

Enterococcus faecium improves the balance of the digestive tract and saccharomyces boulardii is the only yeast probiotic. It’s most effective for the treatment of diarrhea and digestive upset after a treatment with antibiotics.

The Health Benefits Of Probiotics

Probiotic supplements produce a range of crucial health benefits. The article has already outlined some of them but here’s an extensive list of what clinical studies have shown:

The quality of the probiotic supplement matters. If you want to enjoy all of these advantages, it’s crucial to choose a high quality probiotic that contains a big number of bacterial strains.

Their concentration (measured in CFUs) is also important. The best probiotics contain at least five billion CFU of beneficial bacteria.