wiki team
- Sep 9, 2022
- 6 min read

Probiotics: What Are They, And Do You Need Them?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help your digestive system do its job. Probiotics can be found in fermented foods and supplement forms. The most common probiotic strains include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Probiotics may help relieve symptoms of IBS, diarrhea, and even eczema, but more research is needed to confirm the benefits. Some probiotic foods include sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, miso soup, tempeh, pickles, Kombucha tea kimchi, sourdough bread, and dark chocolates. Many doctors recommend taking a probiotic supplement in addition to eating probiotic-rich foods. If you have a weakened immune system or are recovering from surgery or taking certain medications, you should ask your doctor about taking probiotics.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help your digestive system do its job.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that help your digestive system do its job. They have been shown to help with digestion, the immune system, and weight loss. The good bacteria live in your digestive system, keeping harmful bacteria at bay. Probiotics can be found in foods or supplements.

Probiotics may help you with symptoms like bloating, gas and constipation because they affect the balance of healthy bacteria in the gut (the large intestine). They may also help prevent infections caused by unfriendly bacteria that cause diarrhea or vaginal yeast infections. There's research showing some probiotic strains can ease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms too!

Probiotics can be found in fermented foods and supplement forms.

Probiotics can be found in fermented foods and supplement forms. While the FDA does not regulate probiotic supplements, they have to meet specific standards

to enter the U.S. market, says Dr. Robert Cho, a healthcare surgeon at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. However, these standards aren't as strict as those of pharmaceutical drugs.

As with any supplement or medication, it's best to talk with your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement because they're not always necessary and may interact with other medicines you take (or vice versa).

The most common probiotic strains include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Lactobacillus is a bacteria found in the digestive tract and vagina. It's one of the first things to grow when you take an antibiotic, which is why it's included in many yogurt products—it helps replace beneficial bacteria after a course of antibiotics. Lactobacillus also plays a vital role in helping your body break down lactose, so if you have trouble digesting dairy, this could be a good strain.

Bifidobacterium is another beneficial bacteria; it lives in your gut but doesn't typically cause health problems unless your immune system isn't strong enough to keep it under control (a condition called dysbiosis). Once again, Bifidobacterium may help digestion by breaking down food before it gets absorbed into the bloodstream; however, its primary purpose is to keep harmful microbes at bay so they don't cause inflammation or infection.

Probiotics may help relieve symptoms of IBS, diarrhea, and even eczema, but more research is needed to confirm the benefits.

Probiotics are thought to help with IBS, diarrhea, and eczema, but there's not enough evidence yet to confirm their effectiveness.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): Probiotics may help relieve symptoms of IBS by helping reduce the number of dangerous bacteria that can cause bloating, gas, and pain in your gut.
Diarrhea: A small study found that taking a probiotic supplement during pregnancy helped prevent infant diarrhea in babies born prematurely. But more research is needed before doctors can know how effective these supplements are at preventing or treating diarrhea in people who aren't pregnant or breastfeeding.
Eczema: Researchers have found that using probiotics on skin wounds might make them heal faster than usual—but more research is needed before doctors can recommend this treatment for eczema patients.

Some probiotic foods include sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, miso soup, tempeh, pickles, Kombucha tea, kimchi, sourdough bread, and dark chocolates.

There are also foods with probiotics that you can eat. Some examples of these foods include:

Sauerkraut, kimchi, pickles and other fermented vegetables (e.g., kombucha tea)
Kefir (a cultured milk product)
Yogurt
Miso soup (a traditional Japanese soup made with fermented soybeans)

Many doctors recommend taking a probiotic supplement in addition to eating probiotic-rich foods.

When should you take a probiotic supplement?

A doctor may suggest you take a probiotic supplement if your digestive system isn't functioning correctly and you are experiencing bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. Taking a daily serving of these "good" bacteria can help keep your body on track by balancing the number of good bacteria in your intestines that illness, antibiotics, or stress have disrupted. However, as with any medication or supplement, you must talk with your doctor before starting any new regimen.

If you have a weakened immune system or are recovering from surgery or taking certain medications, you should ask your doctor about taking probiotics.

Probiotics are only one part of an overall plan to keep your digestive tract healthy. If you have health concerns, speak with your doctor before taking them.

Probiotics can be helpful for many digestive or immune system issues.

Probiotics can be helpful for many digestive or immune system issues. For example, probiotics may treat diarrhea caused by antibiotics, food poisoning, or other bacterial infections. They are also commonly used to treat inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Probiotics may also help with weight loss, skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, allergies including hay fever and asthma, anxiety, and depression.

FAQs

What are probiotics good for?

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that have been shown to improve digestion, boost immunity and even reduce anxiety. Probiotics can help restore the natural balance of good bacteria in your gut after taking antibiotics, which may sometimes cause diarrhea or yeast infections. Probiotics may also improve your mood and relieve symptoms of depression if you're feeling anxious or down.

What happens when you start taking probiotics?

When you begin a probiotic, your body may need to adjust for a few days. You may have gas or bloating, which is normal. This is because probiotics help your body absorb more nutrients from food. Your gut will also start producing more enzymes and vitamin B-12.

Who should not take a probiotic?

You should avoid taking a probiotic if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an immune disorder, or are taking antibiotics. It would help if you also talked to your doctor before giving probiotics to children under two.

Is it reasonable to take a probiotic daily?

There are no specific guidelines for taking probiotics. An excellent general rule is to take a probiotic once or twice daily with meals. You may need to take the probiotic more frequently if you have an infection. It would help if you continued taking probiotics until your symptoms cleared up.

Do probiotics have side effects?

Probiotics are generally safe for most people. However, you should talk to your doctor before taking probiotics if you have a weakened immune system or are taking medications that suppress the immune system (such as corticosteroids).

Should I take probiotics in the morning or at night?

The answer depends on the type of probiotic you're taking. Some probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, enter your body through the digestive tract and must be ingested with food. Others are taken in pill form.

What foods are high in probiotics?

Probiotics can be found in some types of yogurt and fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir. But the best way to get probiotics is through supplements.

Do probiotics help you lose weight?

Yes, it's possible that probiotics can help you lose weight. But more research is needed to confirm this.

How long after taking a probiotic can you drink coffee?

The amount of time it takes for coffee to affect your body depends on what type you drink and how much. Caffeinated coffee, which includes both espresso and brewed coffee, contains caffeine. This stimulant can increase your heart rate and blood pressure and cause jitteriness.

What fruits are good probiotics?

Raw honey is an excellent probiotic, as is kefir. Yogurt made from raw milk is also considered a good source of probiotics. If you don't want to eat any of these foods, you can take a supplement that contains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG).

Can probiotics make you tired?

Probiotics can tire some people, especially if they have low levels of good bacteria in their bodies. Probiotics are also not recommended for people who have an immune deficiency or are taking antibiotics.

Can probiotics help people with ulcerative colitis?

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, probiotics may help reduce symptoms in people with ulcerative colitis. This inflammatory bowel disease causes abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. However, more research is needed to confirm these results.

Conclusion

We are constantly learning more about the microbiome, and we can't wait to see what discoveries will come next. Please keep your eyes open for new information as it becomes available!