Probiotics

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

In most cases, bacteria are associated with a problem in the human body, but there are those that actually help the body to perform its functions normally and to break down food intake, absorbing it fully. One of these beneficial bacteria are probiotics.

There are an impressive 1 trillion bacteria in the human digestive system, of more than 100 species. In normal health, good and dangerous bacteria are in balance, but in the presence of infections, antibiotics, stress, alcohol and poor nutrition, the good bacteria begin to decrease, at the expense of which the bad ones increase.

Probiotics represent class of good bacteria that support digestive processes, improve and heal the internal microbial balance. The most famous of these are bifidobacteria and lactic acid bacteria, which are used to make yogurt and some other dairy foods.

The three most used probiotics are Bifidobacterum bifidum, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.

Probiotics that contain bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were used for many years before the lactobacilli was isolated by Louis Pasteur and the creator of immunology, Ilya Mechnik, to define the way probiotics work in his Nobel Prize-winning theory of intoxication. He managed to prove that the most important cause of aging are toxins, and eating foods containing lactobacilli helps to slow down this process.

Benefits of probiotics

The modern lifestyle, which includes a number of negatives such as stress and unhealthy eating, pollutants and chemicals, as well as frequent intake of pills, changes the balance in intestinal bacteria and makes people much more susceptible to infections, weak immunity and diseases associated with metabolic problems. Probiotics, which are vital for a number of processes, also intervene here.

Several basic guidelines can be considered the benefits of probiotics - lowering cholesterol, controlling metabolism and correcting high blood pressure.

Probiotics support the overall digestive processes by suppressing the reproduction of harmful microorganisms in the digestive system. They prevent deficiency of B vitamins, prevent and treat the disorder, suppress intestinal putrefaction, stimulate the absorption of lactose in people who generally can not.

One very important effect of probiotics is the restoration of the damaged intestinal microflora as a result of taking antibiotics. They must also be taken while taking medication to keep the body healthy.

Probiotics also reduce the risk of allergies, such as asthma, skin reactions, food allergies to milk. At the same time, they are very useful for the treatment of respiratory problems such as pneumonia, bronchitis and sinusitis.

Probiotics have and anti-cancer properties - reduce the risk of tumors of the colon and bladder. They reduce the risk of vaginal infections, cystitis and urinary tract infections.

These beneficial bacteria not only protect the body from diseases and infections, but also help produce many important substances such as amino acids, B vitamins, vitamin K and valuable enzymes, without which it is impossible to break down food.

Probiotics help for the purification of the body, because they neutralize and remove from the body the accumulated toxins, such as waste products of metabolism or medications, various heavy metals and carcinogens.

Probiotics play an important role in the fight against candidiasis. Conventional treatment of candidiasis includes topical application of creams against irritation and itching and the use of antifungal globules. For long-term control of the problem, probiotics are a resource that scientists are increasingly paying attention to, according to experts quoted by the US National Institutes of Public Health.

Candidiasis occurs against a background of low immunity and the spread of colonies of Candida albicans in the flora. The use of probiotics when candidiasis is diagnosed helps to restore the balance in the microbiome and reduce recurrences. A study by a team of Italian researchers showed that topical use of probiotics in women with vaginal candidiasis led to an 87% reduction in the risk of recurrence.

Probiotics have a beneficial effect on the skin, contributing to hydration and better protection by increasing sebum secretion, according to a study coordinated by Dr. Hiromi Kimoto-Nira of the National Organization for Agricultural and Food Research (NARO) and Grassland Science (NILGS)) from Japan, published in the Journal of Dairy Science.

The researchers came to these conclusions after conducting a study that looked at the effects of the bacterium Lactococcus lactis on the skin. The study included 23 women between the ages of 19 and 21 who consumed fermented milk or plain yogurt for four weeks. Monitoring is performed through blood tests, monitoring the appearance of the skin on the cheeks and forearms, analyzing the degree of hydration of the skin and the level of elasticity, the amount of secretion of melanin and sebum.

Probiotics have an effect on emotions. A study of rodents in the United States showed that after regular consumption of yogurt, brain activity is altered. A serving of yogurt, twice a day for a month, leads to decreased activity in areas of the brain that control emotions and pain and increased activity in decision-making.

Researchers have found that the probiotics contained in yogurt are the cause of the changes, but so far have not been able to determine why this effect occurs. Probiotics are live non-pathogenic microorganisms that are naturally present in the digestive tract. The main source of probiotics are dairy products, such as unpasteurized yogurt or unpasteurized kefir.

Until now, probiotics have been known for their role in the protection and development of the intestinal flora. Following the latest findings, researchers said they would continue to study their effects to see how useful they could be in supporting the treatment of depression, anxiety and even autism or Alzheimer's disease.

How long should you take probiotics?

When you are taking antibiotics, it is recommended that you continue to take probiotics for another 10-14 days after the end of treatment. For a long time, the ideal solution was sought for the administration of probiotics so that they would not be destroyed by stomach acidity.

When taking antibiotics, it is recommended that there be a difference of several hours between the time of probiotic administration and the time of antibiotic administration.

Sources of probiotics

At the top of the list of foods from which probiotics can be obtained is our yogurt. It contains the unique ingredient lactobacillus, which gives the stomach the strength to cope with various harmful influences. Pickles and sauerkraut are also rich in probiotics because they ferment naturally. However, in order to preserve the probiotics, vinegar should not be added to the marinade, but only water and sea salt should be added.

In the group of useful foods with priobiotics, miso and kefir, cheese and cottage cheese are served. Pickles and olives are also rich in beneficial bacteria, but if they do not contain sodium benzoate.

It is believed that white flour bread only makes digestion difficult, but when made from yeast, it becomes a real balm for the stomach.

Probiotics can also be obtained in the form of food supplements. They come in several forms, the best of which are capsules. They dissolve in a specific place and have the strongest effect.

Another type of additives are dried powders, which are dissolved in water and taken on an empty stomach. Cold water acts as an activator of beneficial bacteria, and the powder acts from the mouth before it begins to pass through the digestive system.

The most inadmissible form are additives in the form of liquids, because they are suitable shortly after their production and have little beneficial effect.

Speaking of probiotics, we can't help but mention the substances that support them - prebiotics. The largest amount of them can be obtained through the consumption of bananas, honey, red wine, artichokes, legumes, fruits and whole grains.

Probiotic deficiency

The main symptoms of lack of probiotics in the body are expressed in digestive problems - indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea, stomach pain. Deficiency of these bacteria can trigger lactose or other food intolerances, urinary tract infections or fungal infections.

What is the difference between probiotics and prebiotics?

Probiotics and prebiotics are two very big topics in terms of nutrition, especially nowadays. That's why it's good to know the difference between them and how each of them helps you.

Although the words probiotic and prebiotic look similar, the two play different roles in terms of your health. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, while prebiotics are the food for these bacteria.