Do Probiotics for Gut Health Work?

Updated on April 25, 2022
Illustration about Probiotics with soft Pen on old Paper

Your body comprises many complex systems that work in tandem with each other and independently to keep you healthy, energized, and thriving. However, if any part of your body’s normal process falters or becomes unbalanced, the elaborate connections between functions are altered; with even one piece of your system out of whack, you will experience physical symptoms indicating the irregularity.

Often, people live with these imbalances in their systems for a long time, whether because they don’t pay ample attention to the signs, don’t know how to approach the problem, or don’t think it’s anything serious. These imbalances can range from mostly inconsequential to extremely serious, which you’ll never know until you look into them. Regardless of the severity, wouldn’t you rather live life with properly functioning internal systems that alleviate the risk of adverse symptoms?

If the answer is yes, then it’s time to consider the state of your gut health since imbalances in the gut are common. Some symptoms that indicate an imbalance in the gastrointestinal tract, or GI system, are bloating, irregular bowel movements, stomach pains, and unexpected weight changes. At best, these issues are unpleasant to live with and indicate a much larger issue in your gut at worst, so you need to treat these irregularities.

How Do You Treat Gut Imbalances?

The simplest way to promote a healthy GI system is by taking probiotics for gut health. This method is straightforward and low maintenance (since probiotics are taken in daily doses without any mess), but it is also highly effective. You don’t even need a prescription for probiotics from your health practitioner since they are considered generally good practice for most people. However, it’s always recommended to run your choice of a probiotic formula past your doctor before you begin taking it, especially since different mixtures offer different results. In addition, what brand works well for one person may have an altered effect on another since bodies and their gut flora is unique.

What Are Probiotics?

So then, the question is: what exactly are probiotics, these miracle workers? Probiotics are good bacteria and yeast that work with good and bad bacteria in your gut to balance and maintain healthy levels. These microbiomes are living organisms that can interact in such a way because they’re alive. As fragile as that may sound, probiotics often don’t need special treatment, not even to be stored in the fridge.

Storing Probiotics

If your probiotic formula was heat-dried, it most likely needs to be kept in a cool environment like the fridge, but if it was freeze-dried, it requires less specific treatment and can be kept at room temperature.

What Do Probiotics Do for Gut Health?

Your gastrointestinal system includes major organs responsible for breaking down food and liquids into energy and sending the nutrients into your bloodstream to be carried to the proper locations. These GI organs include your stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and esophagus. The importance of your GI system’s role on your overall health means you don’t want to let an imbalance in your gut be left untreated—it could hinder the absorption of vitamins and essential nutrients, prevent the breakdown of food, and fail to provide you with the energy from your sustenance.

The live bacteria in probiotics have multiple benefits on your GI tract and body. They keep good and bad bacteria levels in balance, which helps keep your immune system strong, since bad bacteria cause illness; since harmful bacteria do enter, they protect your bloodstream from receiving the germs, so your sickness doesn’t spread; they also aid in the gastrointestinal system’s role of breaking down food into nutrients, and additionally help you absorb everything good, like medication and vitamins.

Are There Alternate Ways To Consume Healthy Bacteria?

Whether probiotics work to support your gut health is, yes, they do! Even if you overlook one of the tell-tale signs of a potential gut imbalance, everyone can benefit from high levels of healthy bacteria to fight off bad bacteria and keep the body running smoothly. If you’re not sure about taking probiotic supplements, there are other ways to consume healthy living cultures. A few common foods that contain good bacteria are yogurt, kefir, pickles, miso, sourdough, and sauerkraut. 

It’s a wise idea to ingest more of these foods regularly because they will offer the boost in healthy organisms that your gut loves. 

It’s Time to Explore Probiotics for Your Gut Health

With your newfound understanding of the importance of a healthy gut comes the opportunity to assess how you can better support your GI system. Taking probiotics and eating foods with live cultures will provide your body with loads of healthy bacteria that will fight to keep you healthy. Today’s simple changes will have lasting results as long as you stay consistent in feeding your gut healthy ingredients!

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