With the rise in the number of people making amends to their erroneous lifestyle habits, several health fads have gained immense popularity. People often resort to options that tend to offer them “quick fixes” instead of taking the tougher road that involves eating right and exercising. Here, the onus lies on your ability to differentiate between the health trends that actually work and the ones that simply look appealing in magazines and blogs. Out of all the popular diets that guarantee overall good health, the probiotic diet emerged a winner.
So, what exactly are probiotics? Well, the word “probiotic” is derived from the Latin “pro” meaning “for” and the Greek “biotic” which means “life”. So, probiotics are the helpful bacteria that live in your gut, and these gut microbes are entrusted with keeping your gut healthy. In fact, it even plays a vital role in promoting your overall health by fighting pathogens and yeast that can weaken the immune system. Owing to the numerous benefits of these gut microbes, several probiotic supplements came into existence. If you are still skeptical about including probiotics in your daily diet, here are some prominent benefits probiotics have to offer:
1. Improved gut health
The gut is the home to several bacteria, good and bad alike. The good bacteria are the ones that keep the gut healthy and balance the bad bacteria. When this balance is disturbed due to several factors like illness, poor diet, or antibiotics, it gives rise to several health issues. This imbalance can have devastating consequences at times as it can lead to severe digestive issues, allergies, mental health problems, and obesity. Which is why it is essential to restore or maintain the balance of the bacteria in the gut. Probiotics contain good bacteria which are instrumental in restoring the natural balance of the gut bacteria.
2. Preventing and treating diarrhea
Probiotic supplements are quite effective in preventing diarrhea and treating it as well. Diarrhea usually occurs when the gut bacteria’s balance is disturbed and this occurs especially after taking antibiotics. Probiotic supplement plays a vital role in restoring the balance of the good and bad bacteria in the gut and thereby helps in preventing and treating diarrhea.
3. Healthy heart
It is common knowledge that high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol and high blood pressure can have a disastrous impact on the heart. Probiotics are quite effective in protecting the heart and ensures that your heart remains healthy. Probiotics can lower the LDL cholesterol levels and even stabilizes high blood pressure as it contains certain strains that produce lactic acid, which break down the bile in the gut and reduce cholesterol. When the probiotics break down bile, they prevent the bile from being reabsorbed in the gut through which it enters the bloodstream as cholesterol.
4. Reduces allergies and eczema
Probiotics supplements lend a helping hand in managing chronic skin conditions like eczema and other common allergies. Moreover, probiotics are quite effective in controlling inflammatory responses in people who have milk or other dairy allergies. In fact, studies have revealed that the children of women who consumed probiotics during pregnancy had 83 percent lower risk of developing eczema in the first two years of their lives.
Though probiotics are healthy and aid in maintaining your overall health, it is advisable to consult with a doctor before you make it a part of your everyday diet.
