The health industry is abuzz about the benefits of probiotics. Yogurts, which are a good source of probiotics, of all kind are touted as contributing to healthy digestion. However, little has really been said about exactly how probiotics work and why you should include them in your diet.
Probiotics and Intestinal Health
Your intestinal system naturally has lots of bacteria. There are good kinds of bacteria that help with digestion and there are bad kinds of bacteria that can make you feel ill and sick. The key is to promote the good bacteria and fight off the bad bacteria and probiotics can help. Probiotics are like an injection of good bacteria that help promote good intestinal health and get rid of the bad bacteria. By eating foods high in probiotics, like yogurt, you can help keep your intestines functioning and avoid uncomfortable digestive problems, such as diarrhea, bloating, gas and constipation.
When you take antibiotics, it definitely kills off bacteria that is making you ill. However, antibiotics do not discriminate between good and bad bacteria. As a result, while your medication may be getting rid of that nasty upper respiratory infection, it is also killing off the good bacteria in your digestive tract.
If you are not currently eating foods with probiotics, like yogurt, it might be worth considering adding as part of an overall approach to healthy eating. If you are prescribed antibiotics by your doctor, you might also think about upping your yogurt intake to counteract the negative effects on your digestive system.
– The Alternative Daily
