Probiotics, health from within

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms which when consumed can result in various health benefits. The most common are  Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. There is often a negative connotation when speaking of bacteria, which we think of as infection-causing germs. However, human microbiota include communities of commensal and symbiotic microorganisms that are helpful and ensure the good functioning of our bodies. This includes the gut microbiome and even the skin microbiome! These various microbiota are necessary to digest food and absorb necessary nutrients, control immune responses and even regulate pH. 

What are the benefits?

The main benefit when consuming probiotics is to improve gut health by re-balancing its microbiome, which includes more than 10 trillion microbial cells from about 1,000 different bacterial species. One of the main functions of this microbiome is to guide the functioning of your immune system. An imbalance or inflammation of the gut flora (which can be caused by poor diet or some antibiotics) will impact the body as a whole. 

It is associated with gastrointestinal disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular diseases and possibly psychological disorders like schizophrenia. Some research has also shown that they might be beneficial for skin, oral and urinary health.