Probiotics seem to be the latest health craze, but you may be wondering what they are and how they could possibly help improve your health. Yes, probiotics are real things, not some marketing scheme thought up to increase yogurt sales. Not only are they real, but they can provide you with health benefits that might surprise you.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are living organisms that your intestinal tract needs for healthy functioning. Your intestinal tract naturally has both good and bad bacteria residing in it, but keeping both of those organisms in balance can be challenging at times. When they are out of balance and you have more bad bacteria in your gut, you can experience intestinal discomfort, such as constipation and diarrhea.
The biological balance of bacteria can be easy to knock off base. Medications, illness, diet and environmental factors can quickly make your intestinal tract get out of whack rather quickly. By using probiotics, you put more good bacteria in your system and help it function better.
Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics can be beneficial in a number of ways. One of the primary benefits comes from their ability to help the digestive tract function optimally. Probiotics can help the body filter out damaging toxins, chemicals, harmful bacteria and other waste products.
Probiotics can also help boost the immune system. By making the intestinal tract function properly, good bacteria can help the immune system fight off infections and germs. Symptoms such as fatigue, diarrhea, urinary tract infections and muscle pain have been associated with imbalances in bacteria in the digestive tract.
By eating foods with probiotics, such as yogurt, you can improve your immune system and find relief from these uncomfortable symptoms. As part of a healthy diet, include foods with probiotics in them and you will add one more tool in your arsenal of healthy eating habits.
– Susan Patterson
