Guest Post, Courtesy of Rachel O’Connor
In your studies of science, you probably learned a thing or two about ecosystems. You assuredly learned that some ecosystems are quite large, like what you may find in a tropical rainforest or in a desert. However, others can be quite small. So small, in fact, that you can’t see them with your naked eye. You may be surprised to discover that your gut is home to its very own ecosystem, too.
It’s true! Your digestive system is teeming with literally billions of small, beneficial bacteria called your gut microbiome. While the scope of the gut microbiome is still a relatively new discovery, scientists have learned that it plays a huge role in your overall wellness.
Certain things can harm your gut flora. For instance, particular medications (such as proton-pump inhibitors and antibiotics) can be quite destructive for it. On the other hand, probiotics are extremely good for your gut microbiome. As a matter of fact, one of the best things you can do for your wellbeing is to ingest probiotics on a daily basis.
While taking probiotics may seem like an unnecessary annoyance, it actually has far-reaching benefits that can seriously help you and your body stay healthy.
Probiotics Can Help Boost Your Immune System
Nothing can wipe you out quite like a summer cold. Or a winter cold. Or any bug, for that matter. You can try to stay on top of your Vitamin C and zinc, but if you’re not taking care of your gut health, you may still succumb to the latest sickness that’s going around.
Regular supplementation with probiotics can help to not only keep your gut healthy but also keep your body healthy, too. In fact, studies have shown that probiotics can help bolster your immune system, helping to protect you against bacterial and viral infections. In turn, you’ll find yourself getting sick less often.
It’s quite amazing what your gut can do for you!
Probiotics Can Help You Stay Slim
We’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic. It’s estimated that over two-thirds of the population is overweight or obese. You can try to eat right and exercise to keep the pounds off. However, if you ignore your gut health, you may still wind up struggling to maintain a healthy weight.
Research has indicated that probiotics play a major role in your weight. For instance, those who have a healthier gut flora tend to have lower body weight. Supplementing your diet with yogurt and other probiotics has also been shown to reduce inflammation and body mass, too.
With a sudden uptick in obesity, finding a lasting cure for this vexing condition is vital. Many people are turning to risky and invasive procedures to treat it. But shat if the cure for obesity were something much simpler?
If adding a few bites of yogurt to your diet could reverse obesity, then something as easy as probiotic supplementation could literally save lives!
Probiotics Can Help You Have Clear Skin
Acne is the most common skin disorder, yet dermatologists and doctors remain puzzled as to what’s driving these numbers up. They know acne is caused by a combination of bacteria and clogged pores, but could something else be at play?
As a matter of fact, yes. Your gut health may be to blame for your acne breakouts! If you struggle with acne, there could be a chance that your gut flora is unbalanced. Fortunately, the evidence is pointing toward probiotic supplementation as a solid treatment for acne, as well as other skin conditions.
While nobody is telling you to rub yogurt on your face just yet, there may come a time in the near future that doctors will be prescribing probiotics instead of antibiotics for acne!
Probiotics Can Help Improve Your Mood
Mood disorders are fairly common. Nearly 10 percent of the adult population suffers from them, with conditions ranging from depression to bipolar disorder. If left untreated, the effects of these disorders can be devastating. It’s so important to find a successful treatment for them, not only for the sake of those who are struggling with them but also for their loved ones.
Studies have painted a fairly clear picture: your gut microbiome plays a huge role in your mental health. Multiple studies have also pointed toward probiotics as a possible treatment for depression. Probiotics can help with anxiety disorders, as well.
The promise of a lasting cure for these severe mood disorders is high, especially as more information about the gut-brain axis (the link between your gut microbiome and your mental health) is revealed!
Regain Control of Your Health with Probiotics
If you’re struggling with health conditions and you’re looking to improve your wellbeing, probiotics can be an excellent step in the right direction. Research has strongly indicated that your gut microbiome is closely tied to many different aspects of your physical and mental health. Of course, probiotics aren’t meant to be a replacement for the care of a trained medical professional. That said, when used alongside other treatments, they can greatly improve your general wellbeing!
You can start boosting your gut flora today by adding a few different things to your diet. You already know that yogurt is an amazing source of probiotics. But did you know that it’s not the only probiotic food? You can also enjoy kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and even kombucha to help raise your current probiotic levels. Nearly all fermented foods are a great choice! You can also consume prebiotics to increase your healthy gut bacteria levels, too. Prebiotics are a specific type of fiber that helps encourage your gut flora to grow and reproduce.
Good sources of prebiotics include apples, artichokes, and bananas. By eating these foods, you’ll be able to increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut greatly. Together, prebiotics and probiotics can boost your gut and overall health.
Being healthy can seem challenging. With so much conflicting information out there, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. That said, if you focus on your probiotic intake, you can give yourself a head start on being healthy. A life free from obesity, acne breakouts, mood disorders, and ongoing colds really can be possible – and you have probiotics to thank for it!
