Probiotics Work – See How this Simple Supplement Can Improve Your Health
Background
For years I have thought that the bacteria in our gut are so important to our health. In fact, I believe that perhaps the microbiome in our gut, the city that houses billions of bacteria, could be THE most important factor in determining our health.
Some researchers feel the microbiome is so important that they are mapping the genetics with the hopeful end product of being able to figure out what is beneficial and what is not.
A recent article that I read talked about someone travelling to a developing country to spend time with a local tribe. This person is a researcher. So naturally before arriving, this person checked the bacteria in his gut to get a baseline variety.
After spending a very limited time with this tribe and eating the tribal food, the diversity of bacteria in his gut increased significantly.
Is this beneficial? I would argue that it could be significantly helpful.
Function of bacteria in the gut
Let’s start with a basic idea that bacteria inhabiting our guts came about to create a symbiotic relationship. This means that we help bacteria – assumingly by giving them food, but there could be other benefits – and bacteria help us.
Supposing this is true, we need to think outside of the box, or perhaps outside of the intestines.
Probiotics and the intestines
Much of the research to date has been focused on probiotics. We think of probiotics as the “good bacteria.” These good bacteria ward off against bad bacteria so that our guts are healthy.
Most people would think of probiotics as medications used when people have gastrointestinal illness as simple as irritable bowel syndrome, or more significant like ulcerative colitis.
Research does show significant benefit for these conditions, especially irritable bowel syndrome, where probiotics have shown to improve digestion and decrease symptoms.
They have also been shown to help with bad bacteria such as Clostridium difficile. And I can tell you from personal experience that they work wonders for contaminated water, such as when I got diarrhea in Mexico on vacation, and high dose probiotics improved my symptoms within 24 hours.
They have even been proven very effective in premature infants to prevent a life-threatening condition known as necrotizing enterocolitis, an illness that causes the intestines to fail.
Probiotics effects outside of the intestines
I haven’t even made it to the best part. Probiotics have been shown to help other aspects of our health as well.
Studies show benefit for patients with IBS who suffer from depression. Known as psychobiotics, probiotics can have direct communication with the brain through hormones, the immune system, and neurotransmitters. There is potential benefit for anxiety and stress as well. In fact, other studies have shown the potential for memory enhancement.
Finally, there is perhaps some evidence that a healthy gut translates to a healthy immune system. What if you could ward off illness just by having a healthy intestinal microbiome?
What’s clear is that there are many potential benefits to having the right mix of bacteria in your intestines. The actual details of that mix, variety of bacteria, and how they interact together requires more research that could uncover a whole host of new treatments in the future.
What do you think, are probiotics and a healthy microbiome beneficial? Do you think our gut is important to our health? Do you have any experiences that support or refute the information above? Please comment below.