There are many types and combinations of probiotics. The different probiotic supplements have different effects. To get the benefits you want, check the product labeling. Also, talk with your doctor about the benefits you can expect.
The Things You Need To Know About Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. The body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called good or helpful bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.
- Many types of bacteria are classified as probiotics. They all have different benefits, but most come from two groups. Ask your doctor about which might best help you.
- Lactobacillus
- Bifidobacterium
- Saccharomyces boulardii
A healthy balance in your body is maintained by probiotics or good bacteria. Keep your body neutral by doing this. The number of bad bacteria in your body increases when you are sick. The result is an imbalance in your body. When you have good bacteria in your body, it fights off bad bacteria and restores your body’s balance.
Keeping your immune system functioning and controlling inflammation is one of the ways that good bacteria keep you healthy. Certain types of good bacteria can also:
Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed from entering your blood.
- Break down and absorb medications.
- Help your body digest food.
- Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
- Create vitamins.
Your body naturally performs this balancing act all of the time. Probiotic supplements aren’t necessary to achieve this. Your body naturally contains good bacteria. Good bacteria are maintained at the proper level by eating a well-balanced diet rich in fiber every day.
Possible Side Effects
In general, probiotics are considered safe to take and won’t cause major negative side effects if you’re healthy. That said, as your body adjusts to the new bacteria, you may experience some mildly unpleasant changes before seeing improvements. Here are the most common short-term effects:
- Gas and bloating – these are normal response that happens when you introduce new bacteria to your gut ecosystem. As your gut microbiome adjusts, bacteria can produce gas as a byproduct and trapped gas leads to bloating.
- Irregularity – probiotics can lessen transit time or how fast food and waste move through your digestive system. As your body adjusts, this irregularity will usually resolve itself and you’ll have more regular bowel movements, but it can be uncomfortable in the beginning.
- Headaches – some probiotic foods contain substances called amines, which can trigger headaches. This side effect isn’t usually an issue with probiotic supplements but may develop if you suddenly increase your intake of probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut and yogurt.
Possible side effects over time:
- You’ll feel less bloated – increased bloating is a common side effect when you first start taking probiotics, but over time, the switch will flip and you’ll likely notice less bloating. Adding more good bacteria to crowd out the bad contributes to less gas and less bloat.
- You might go to the bathroom more regularly – the good bacteria in probiotics improve digestion, which may translate to more consistent bathroom visits. This might be a side effect that can be inconvenient sometimes, especially when you are at work or out to lunch with your friends, your body and your belly will thank you once you start reducing regularly.
- You’ll feel more energetic – probiotics help your body properly utilize and absorb nutrients. Also, when your body is getting the right amount of vitamins and minerals, that translates to more energy and just feeling better overall. This means you may find yourself spending less time in inactive mode and more time checking things off your to-do list.
The Benefits That Probiotics Give You
Among other things, probiotics help send food through your gut by affecting the nerves that control gut movement. Researchers are still trying to figure out what works best for certain health problems. Some common conditions they treat are:
- Infectious diarrhea
- Diarrhea caused by antibiotics
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Researchers have also found that they can help with problems in other parts of the body. Among the things they claim to have helped with are:
- Preventing allergies and colds
- Eczema
- Urinary and vaginal health
- Oral Health
