Probiotics Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Properties: Immune system booster, Antidiarrheal, Gastrointestinal ills

What is Probiotics?

Probiotics is a name for live organisms that have health benefits.¹ While we typically think of microorganisms and bacteria as “bad” for us, there are many microorganisms that help our bodies function properly. For example, a range of bacteria naturally live in your gut and help you digest food, produce vitamins, and even destroy other microorganisms that are bad for your health.¹ Probiotics are sold as supplements, skin creams, or foods like yogurt.¹ Most of the microorganisms in probiotic products are the same ones naturally present in the body.¹ Probiotics benefits include improving the immune system, healing digestive issues, and helping with neurological and mental disorders.² Doctors suggest taking a probiotics supplement when you’re also taking antibiotics. The reason for this is because antibiotics can’t distinguish between “good” and “bad” bacteria, so taking a supplement will help replenish some of the good bacteria in your body.³

Probiotics Uses and Health Benefits

Probiotics benefits range from helping the digestive system to using probiotics good for skin health, such as taking probiotics good for acne treatment and prevention. Probiotics good for diarrhea, like Lactobacillus Acidophilus, can help treat and prevent the condition.³ Research is also looking at the effectiveness of a probiotics weight loss diet.² Other probiotics benefits include taking supplements for the following conditions:

Bacterial Vaginosis - Bacterial vaginosis is a condition that results in smelly vaginal discharge and vaginal inflammation. Taking probiotic supplements orally or inserting certain probiotics treatments into the vagina may help fight the cause of bacterial vaginosis as well as prevent the reoccurrence of it.⁴
Irritable Bowel Syndrome - Drinking a probiotics supplement daily can help reduce irritable bowel syndrome symptoms.⁵
Crohn’s Disease - Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease. Take probiotics orally to help treat the symptoms.⁶
Urinary Tract Infection - A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection in any part of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. Taking probiotic supplements, like yogurt, orally can help treat and prevent conditions like UTIs.⁷
Celiac Disease - Another digestive issue that probiotics can help combat is Celiac disease, also known as gluten intolerance.

Probiotics Side Effects and Precautions

Probiotic supplements are generally considered safe whether you’re taking probiotics good for diarrhea treatment or probiotics good for skin health. However, when you eat too much, potential probiotics side effects may include:

Gas
Upset stomach
Diarrhea³

Symptoms like gas and bloating are nothing to worry about. In fact, they’re considered “transition symptoms,” which means that the supplement is working and your body is adjusting to it.⁸ Therefore, stopping a probiotics supplement may ease the symptoms, but it may never get a chance to restore the good bacteria to your gut.⁸

People with artificial heart valves and weakened immune systems should talk to their doctors before starting on a probiotics supplement.³ Other probiotics side effects may include interactions with certain prescription medications, so it’s important to talk to your health care provider if you’re taking other medications or herbal remedies.³ Consult your doctor if you are pregnant, and avoid giving young children and infants probiotics unless it’s okayed by their doctor.⁹

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