The Healthy Secret

Are probiotics the possible secret to weight loss, healthy aging and stress reduction? By Sarah Polyakov.

Some say YES.

The human digestive system naturally is home to more than 500 types of bacteria. These bacteria help keep the intestines healthy, assist in digestion, and keep our immune systems healthy.

Probiotics are organisms such as bacteria or yeast that have demonstrated to improve health. Even though these bacteria are present in the body, they are also available in supplement form and in foods such as Greek yoghurt.

These days, many people are touting the benefits of supplementing one’s diets with probiotics. Though the idea of taking live bacteria may seem strange at first, humans have ingested probiotics through the food they eat for thousands of years.

How Do Probiotics Work?

Within our digestive system, a healthy balance of friendly bacteria must be present for our systems to function optimally. Probiotics enhance the numbers of good bacteria and stave off digestive diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome.

However, digestive disorders happen when the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestines becomes disturbed. This can occur after an infection or after taking a strong course of antibiotics. Intestinal problems can also arise when the lining of the intestines is damaged, and taking probiotics may help the intestinal tract to recover.

“Probiotics can improve intestinal function and maintain the integrity of the lining of the intestines,” says Stefano Guandalini, MD, professor of pediatrics and gastroenterology at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Weight

A recent study in the Journal of Science showed that people with a healthy body mass index have a different make-up of gut bacteria than people who have a high body mass index. Doctors are researching how to leverage bacteria to develop natural weight management techniques. Though scientists have not identified the specific combination of probiotic strain and dose, they still encourage the public to supplement with probiotics to assist in maintaining weight.

Stress and Mental Health

In a study where mice were stripped of their essential microbes, they had higher levels of cortisol and altered levels of an essential brain chemical referred to as BDNF. In humans, it has been demonstrated that such circumstances would lead to extreme stress, anxiety, and perhaps depression. Thus, it has been theorized that supplementing one’s diet with the right probiotic supplement can aid in general stress management.

Choosing the Right Probiotic

Of course, there are natural sources of probiotics that humans have been ingesting for centuries. Natural sources include: Greek yoghurt and fermented foods such as tempeh.

There are many probiotic supplements on the market, and it is difficult to sift through the information to choose the right one for you. Below are criteria that should be used when choosing a product.

· Make sure that the probiotic supplement you are buying contains live strains of bacteria.

· Read the label on each supplement and make sure it contains one or more of the following strains of bacteria: lactobacillus bulgaricus, streptococcus thermophiles, lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacteria, and lactobacillus casei.

· Look for supplements that contain around 10 billion live organisms. A daily dose of 20 billion live organisms has been demonstrated to be the most effective dose.

· Make sure that you refrigerate your probiotic supplement to ensure that live organisms do not die quickly.

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