You may know that your body contains many helpful bacteria, but did you realize that most of these bacteria live in your gut? Having the right balance of helpful gut bacteria can lead to numerous health benefits, including:
- Better digestion
- Ease in maintaining a healthy weight
- Enhanced immune function
- Healthy skin
- Reduced risk of contracting or developing certain diseases
Unhealthy gut bacteria
Multiple studies have found that having an unhealthy balance of bad gut bacteria can lead to an increased risk for developing certain diseases, such as:
- Alzheimer’s
- Colorectal cancer
- Depression
- Heart disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Obesity
- Type 2 diabetes
Function of gut bacteria
Having the proper balance of good gut bacteria can help reduce your chances of developing many of the common conditions associated with poor gut health. Good gut bacteria can also help improve your overall health and well-being. Most of your gut bacteria can be found in your colon (large intestine). Your gut bacteria are responsible for many functions that are critical to your overall health, including:
- Helping prevent unwanted substances from entering your body
- Manufacturing vitamin K and some B vitamins
- Stimulating the immune system when a foreign substance enters your body
- Using fats to perform metabolic functions
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are a specific type of helpful bacteria that provide health benefits when ingested. There are dozens of different probiotic bacteria that each offer specific health benefits. Certain foods contain probiotics, and some people take probiotic supplements to boost their healthy bacteria even further. Foods that contain probiotics include:
- Kefir (a fermented milk drink typically made from cow’s milk or goat’s milk)
- Kimchi (a traditional Korean dish comprised primarily of fermented cabbage)
- Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage)
- Tempeh (a traditional Indonesian food made from fermented soybeans)
- Yogurt
Targeted benefits of probiotics
In addition to balancing gut bacteria and promoting the many health benefits already discussed, regularly ingesting probiotics can have positive effects on numerous other health conditions. Probiotics may help reduce flare-ups of the following digestive conditions:
- Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- Constipation
- Crohn’s disease
- Diarrhea
- Gas and bloating
- H. pylori infections, which can lead to ulcers and stomach cancer
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Ulcerative colitis
If you have a digestive condition that causes you troublesome symptoms, you may want to consider eating foods that contain probiotics or taking a probiotic supplement. Increasing your intake of probiotics may help balance your gut bacteria, and you may see improvements in the function of your digestive tract. As always, you should seek the advice of your doctor before starting a new regimen.
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