5 Health Benefits of Probiotics
So what are probiotics? Probiotics are bacteria that play a valuable role in your gut health. They can be found in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, and other fermented vegetables. There are also several other sources available to you.
These good bacteria can help improve digestion, strengthen your immune system and reduce inflammation within your body. As if all of these benefits weren't enough for you, they're also great because they can treat diarrhea and yeast infections!
1) Anti-Cancer Agent
Research has shown that Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Lactobacillus casei may have the ability to fight against cancer cells. Using mice with colorectal cancer, researchers found that when they were fed yogurt enriched with Lactobacillus rhamnosus or Lactobacillus casei cells, the mice had an 80% lower chance of getting cancer! If you're not a fan of yogurt, don't worry. You can take supplements as well.
2) Blood Sugar Balance
Many people use probiotics to balance their blood sugar levels because it helps improve insulin sensitivity. It also triggers the body's insulin production to help regulate blood sugar levels within the normal range. This is why individuals who are diabetic should take probiotics daily. It will prevent spikes in blood sugar during times of stress and following meals.
3) Prevents Diarrhea
When traveling to foreign countries, you can often get diarrhea. This is due to the bacteria in foreign countries is different from the bacteria existing within your gastrointestinal tract. Taking probiotics with food or drinking fermented milk can help replace "good" bacteria that have been killed off by bad bacteria during times of unhealthy eating. Sometimes these good bacteria are even taken as supplements to reap their health benefits.
Probiotics can help your gut to digest food and absorb nutrients better. When there are too many bad bacteria in your stomach, they can cause indigestion, bloating, and diarrhea. The good bacteria found in probiotics work together with your digestive enzymes that break down protein, fat, and carbohydrates into usable energy. They also help fight against harmful microbes like salmonella and E. coli.
4) Eases Allergies
If you're suffering from an allergy that causes watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing, taking a supplement containing lactobacillus casei can ease your allergy symptoms by increasing your body's immune response towards the allergen. This is because lactobacillus casei prevents the release of chemicals that trigger inflammation. This can help you breathe easier during times of high pollen count.
5) Treats Yeast Infections
When people experience yeast infections, they take anti-fungal medications. However, taking probiotics can be effective too because it helps to balance your intestinal bacteria, which also regulates the pH levels in the vagina. As a result, this prevents the overgrowth of bad bacteria that causes infections in women. Making sure to include foods high in probiotics will improve your health, and it doesn't take long before you start seeing results. Many people have found relief from digestive problems within just one week of taking daily supplements or eating more fermented foods.
To summarize, you can get all of these health benefits with probiotics by taking them either in supplement form or via fermented foods which contain live cultures. This is why it's important to keep your gut healthy because once you do, you'll experience overall health improvement!