Top 10 Health Benefits Of Probiotics

Probiotics increase the amount of beneficial bacteria that wards off the harmful bacteria that lives within your gut and improve the synergy within your entire body. The word probiotic comes from Pro and Biota meaning ‘for life’, and are essential in maintaining a healthy gastrointestinal environment. But who knew there were so many other health benefits? Probiotics can affect everything from the health of your brain to acne on your skin. Keep reading below to find our top ten healing benefits of regular intake of foods rich in probiotics:

1. Lower Blood Pressure – Around two-thirds of Americans are pre-hypertensive or already have high blood pressure. Tens of thousands of people lose their lives to this condition, and hypertension is usually an early sign of heart disease or stroke, which are some of the leading causes of death in the nation. A study conducted on those who increased their intake of yogurt, cheese, fermented milk, and rose hip drinks yielded powerful results. According to David Perlmutter, MD, there was a significant decrease in the diastolic and systolic blood pressures. Probiotics break up bile salts that the liver converts from excess cholesterol.
2. Diabetes Prevention – Incorporating probiotics into your diet regularly has been proven to help delay the onset of glucose intolerance in animals and in humans in a study conducted in 2010. Probiotics play a key role in metabolism and the storage of fat. A diet that consists of high-fat and high-glycemic foods can cause detrimental changes in the function of the gut micro biome. Another study conducted by Remy Burcelin and his team yields promising results. They examined the efficiency of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium lactis called B420, and when it flourished, fatty tissues were decreased and sensitivity to insulin was improved in pre-diabetic mice.
3. Digestive Health – According to a Harvard study, those who integrated foods high in probiotics into their diets were 60 percent less likely to experience antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). These nutrients have also alleviated those who suffer from Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Unpasteurized sauerkraut and the similar and spicier Korean dish kimchi both offer amazing benefits to sustain a healthy digestive tract.

4. Healthy Teeth – Good bacteria present in probiotics fight off tooth decay and reverse some of the symptoms of gingivitis. Incorporating foods that are high in probiotics have also been verified to improve overall oral health and even combat odor-causing bacteria that breed bad breath.
5. Urinary Health – It has been confirmed that probiotics battle urinary tract infections (UTIs), which affect the health of the bladder, ureters, kidneys, and urethra. Studies have also resulted in the prevention recurring urinary tract infections in women through regular intake of probiotics.
6. Allergies – Around 50 million people suffer when they come into contact with allergens. Boosting your immune system through the consumable probiotics, which contain micro flora, help ward off the most irritating allergic reactions. According to several allergen-specific studies, birch pollen allergies in children and cedar pollen allergies in adults have been remedied by ingesting probiotics.
7. Mental Health – Have you ever felt so anxious you felt butterflies in your stomach? Or so stressed out that your stomach feels as if it were tied into knots? This is due to the metaphoric ‘second brain’ that lies within your gut. Research has confirmed that probiotics such as lactobacillus lower stress response, which improves anxiety and depression due to the gut-brain connection.
8. Immunity – Since the helpful bacteria provided by probiotics crowd out the unhealthy bacteria, these microorganisms help boost the immune system and calm the inflammatory responses that occur in the gut. Probiotics also ensure the health of epithelial tissues present within the intestines. These tissues depend upon flora that exists in the gut, and help form a barricade against disease-causing microbes. Probiotics also regulate our immune systems by relieving extraneous inflammation in the gut.
9. Obesity – Research reveals that probiotics can have a large influence on controlling the intake of nutrient and energy regulation. The microbial ecosystem within the gut can be manipulated by introducing beneficial microorganisms such as probiotics; which in turn can reduce weight gain and body fat in those suffering from obesity.
10. Healthy Skin – Gut Pathogens published an article discussing the associations found between bacteria that exist in the intestinal tract, temperament, and acne. There has been much evidence on the relations of skin conditions and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression even connecting them to psoriasis. Another study proves that if mothers prone to allergies regularly take probiotics before may potentially reduce the risk of infants developing eczema.