The health benefits of probiotics

Probiotics are a combination of live beneficial bacteria and / or yeasts that naturally live in your body. The word “bacteria” may scare you, but it doesn’t need to. There are two types of bacteria in and on the body: beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria. Probiotics are composed of beneficial bacteria that keep your body working properly and healthily. Probiotics have a positive effect on your health, provided they are consumed in sufficient quantities. Probiotics are naturally incorporated in fermented products such as sauerkraut, yogurt and pickles. In addition, probiotics are also available in the form of capsules.

What are the health benefits of probiotics?

Probiotics can ensure a healthy intestinal flora. The intestinal flora is a collective name for all bacteria that live in your intestines. Those bacteria can be beneficial or harmful. It is very important for your health to have a healthy intestinal flora in which the beneficial and harmful bacteria are in balance. The ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of the gut flora has several health benefits. In this article, we’ll go through four of these health benefits for you.

Probiotics can help prevent and cure diarrhea

Antibiotics kill the bacteria in the body that cause illness. However, these antibiotics also kill some good bacteria. This can cause imbalance in the intestines, which can lead to diarrhea. The risk of diarrhea is reduced when probiotics are used during treatment and for a few days after you stop taking antibiotics. The best probiotic strain for diarrhea control is the Saccharomyces boulardii strain.

Probiotics can help to keep your heart healthy’

High cholesterol increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The lower the cholesterol level, the better it is for health. Probiotics can help lower cholesterol. Probiotics prevent cholesterol from being produced and absorbed. It also helps to break down cholesterol. The probiotic strain Lactiobacilli has been found to be particularly effective for this.

In addition to helping to lower cholesterol, probiotics can also be used to lower blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke and heart failure. Certain probiotics can significantly lower blood pressure, especially in people with high blood pressure. The probiotic strain that works best for lowering blood pressure is the Lactobacilli plantarum strain.

Probiotics can help with losing weight’

Probiotics can help with losing weight. For example, probiotics can help to burn more calories and store less fat. This is partly caused by increasing levels of certain hormones, such as GLP-1.

However, it differs per probiotic strain what the effect of the probiotic is on body weight. For example, the probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus is known to be very suitable for stimulating weight loss. In contrast, the probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus can actually lead to weight gain. So always do good research on the type of probiotics before you start taking capsules, not all probiotics have the same effects.

Probiotics can help treat certain skin conditions

Applying probiotic skincare products can reduce acne breakouts, fight dry skin and control eczema. In addition, probiotic skincare products can help fight skin aging. The skin’s pH level increases with age, making it drier and allowing more ‘bad’ bacteria to grow. Some probiotics contain healthy bacteria that rebalance the skin’s pH level. The probiotic strains known to have various skin health benefits are Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Vitreoscilla.

Are you looking for products that support your health? Vital Products offers a wide variety!