Probiotics are getting more and more popular these days among the masses. Due to this, probiotic supplements are getting a lot of attention as well.
There have been many misconceptions about probiotics for so many years, but people are starting to learn more about them because of their newfound interest in probiotics.
Probiotics pills can be highly beneficial for you, but there is a catch. You must only take the probiotic that you need.
This is because taking random amounts of random probiotic supplements can have an undesirable effect or none at all.
Since many of the world’s population is going towards probiotic pills, it is highly important that they fully understand them and choose the right product.
Scroll down to learn more about probiotic supplements.
Before we tell you what kind of probiotic supplements you should choose, you need to understand what probiotics are clearly.
For those who don’t know, probiotics are living organisms. If you are in touch with the health sciences, you would probably know that probiotics provide various health benefits.
Probiotics are microscopic bacteria that are found abundantly in your gut. You acquire them at birth and onward through a process called Colonization.
Since they are beneficial for your health, many of these bacteria are referred to as good bacteria. They perform many functions, such as converting polysaccharides or fibers into short-chain fatty acids, producing different vitamins, etc.
By using probiotic supplements, you can increase the number of good bacteria in your body.
It is important to note that probiotics are only beneficial when you consume them in the right amounts. There are many ways in which you can consume probiotics.
For instance, you can go to a vitamin supplements store and buy a probiotic supplement for yourself.
Alternatively, you can add or increase the amount and variety of fermented foods in your diet. A few examples of fermented foods are kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt, etc. Remember, probiotics are not the same as prebiotics. The latter are different types of fiber that the bacteria present in your gut use as their food.
Now that you know the basics of probiotics, you are ready to learn about the different types of probiotic supplements you can choose from. Probiotic supplements are divided based on the problems they fight against.
1. Probiotic Supplements That Cure Diarrhea
We all have experienced diarrhea at some point in our lives. It usually lasts for a very short time period, but it can become a chronic condition in some people. Since they live in your gut, probiotics take special care of your gut.
Many studies have proved that probiotics reduce stool frequency during diarrhea due to food poisoning and gastroenteritis.
If you’re going to your local vitamin supplements repeatedly store for suitable probiotic pills, we urge you to go for supplements that Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus.
Antibiotics can also cause diarrhea in many cases. According to studies, antibiotic-associated diarrhea can also be cured by consuming probiotic supplements.
IBS comes with either diarrhea or constipation. For diarrhea-predominant IBS, you can use probiotic supplements as well.
Certain strains, including S. boulardii, B. coagulans, and a combination of different strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, are especially effective.
2. Probiotic Supplements That Cure Constipation
Like diarrhea, constipation can become chronic in some people as well. This is the most common in older adults and bedridden adults.
Constipation-predominant IBS is a cause of constipation as well. As a cure for constipation, certain probiotic strains are getting increasingly popular these days.
B. Lactis is particularly helpful in getting rid of constipation due to IBS in children. However, other probiotics, such as S. cerevisiae, B. longum, and a mixture of L. acidophilus, L. reuteri, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, and B. animalis, have also proved effective against constipation.
3. Probiotic Supplements Good For The Brain
Believe it or not, your brain and your gut are more strongly connected than you think. As mentioned above, the good bacteria in your body ferment fiber into small fatty acids that are later used to nourish your gut.
Some of these fatty acids are good for your brain and nervous system health.
This can ease the symptoms of depression, anxiety, autism, bad memory, and OCD. Strains that are specifically helpful in this case are B. longum, B. breve, B. infantis, B. bifidum, L. helveticus, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus, and L. casei.
4. Probiotics Supplements That Improve Immunity
Probiotic supplements can enhance your immunity as well. They modify the balance of your gut bacteria in such a way that your body’s protection against foreign threats, including infections, allergies, cancer, etc., is made stronger.
Some noteworthy strains that are good for this purpose are B. bifidum, B. longum, L. GG, L. crispatus, and L. gasseri. Such probiotics help protect against many respiratory illnesses.
Additionally, they help prevent UTIs in women and eczema in children. Also, probiotics reduce inflammation that is involved in many diseases.
5. Probiotic Supplements That Improve Cardiac Health
Indeed, probiotics may also help in preventing heart diseases. Many studies prove that specific bacteria in probiotic supplements can bring changes that lead to heart health improvement.
For instance, one of these changes can be an increase in HDL level or good cholesterol. Alternatively, it may also include a decrease in the blood level of LDL or bad cholesterol.
Speaking of cholesterol levels, there are special probiotic strains that can achieve this. For example, L. reuteri, L. acidophilus, and B. longum are quite effective at decreasing cholesterol levels.
Also, some probiotics improve heart health by lowering blood pressure.
Last Words
The above-mentioned types of probiotic supplements are broadly categorized. There are many more types, for example, probiotic supplements that help you lose weight and improve overall health.
Before you go to a vitamin supplements store to buy probiotics pills, we believe you should consult with a doctor or a relevant professional first. After all, this is about your health, and you mustn’t take any chances with your health.
