by Natasha Mufti —
Probiotics were defined by the Food and Agriculture Association and the World Health Organization as live organisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host1. We can think of administering probiotics in the gut like giving water to a plant; in order for the plant to reach its full height it needs to be watered. But what are the benefits that probiotics can cause to your body – how can they help make our health better? Why would one want to consume live bacteria?
Probiotics Help in Combatting Diarrhea
Research shows that probiotics help in regulating our digestion. You might be familiar with the feeling of discomfort in our stomach – like a fire burning from the bottom of your belly button till right below your chest? Yup, that one. That can be because of a microbiome that has a lot of ‘bad’ bacteria. In such a time, our bodies could benefit from ‘good bacteria’. Probiotics are those ‘good bacteria’ that can help regulate that discomfort. Think of it like a balm easing your pain after a hard day of work. It helps regulate the movement in your stomach and can help ease the discomfort caused by diarrhea, bloating, gas, and constipation.2
Probiotics Help in Digestive Conditions
Probiotics can help reduce the severity of several different types of diseases that affect our digestive system such as irritable bowel syndrome or colitis – an inflammation that occurs in our colon. Symptoms from colitis can be reduced upon the consumption of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains4 and this helps relieve some of the pain that can be caused by this disease. Research also suggests that probiotics can help in alleviating the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Consumption of probiotics can help relieve some of the symptoms of all of these diseases.
Probiotics Aid in Preventing Vaginal Discomfort
In certain cases, the lack of lactobacilli in the body can increase susceptibility to the pathogens responsible for bacterial vaginosis and this will increase the chances of contracting diseases that are sexually transmitted such as HIV infections5. Consuming supplements that can restore the quantity of lactobacilli may reduce the risk of infection. This can be done by using combinations of Lactobacillius jenseii that target the entry of HIV-1 into target cells.
Probiotics Help Our Mental Health
Research also shows that gut health can be linked to mental health. The research shows that taking probiotics of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strain for a month or two can improve a person’s depression, anxiety as well as their memory3. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are types of bacteria that can be present in certain probiotics that can benefit us. Consumption of such probiotics shows that things that cause us physical discomfort can cause us mental discomfort, too and probiotics can help us in a small way to overcome that.
It can be concluded that probiotics help our health in a variety of ways. Their consumption opens a different avenue for disease treatment and helps alleviate symptoms from various diseases. Ultimately probiotics may well end up benefitting us by improving the quality of our lives.
REFERENCES
[1] Versalovic, J., 2013. The human microbiome and probiotics: implications for pediatrics. ANNALS OF NUTRITION AND METABOLISM. 63: 42-52.
[2] Choi SC, Kim SE, Koo HS, Lee TH, Myung SJ, Park KS, Park MI, Shin JE, Jung KW., 2015. Change of fecal flora and effectiveness of the short-term VSL#3 probiotic treatment in patients with functional constipation. JOURNAL OF NEUROGASTROENTEROLOGY AND MOTILITY. pp -111-120.
[3] Braun, C., Enck, P., Lee, I-S., Wang, H., 2016. Effect of probiotics on central nervous system functions in animals and humans: a systematic review. NEUROGASTROENTEROL MOTIL. DOI: 10.5056/jnm16018
[4] Diaz, J.P., Gil, A., Gomez-Llorente, C., Saez-Lara, M.J., 2015. The role of probiotic lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacterial in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and other related diseases: a systematic review of randomized human clinical trials. BIOMED RES. INT. DOI: 10.1155/2015/505878
[5] Reid, G., 2004. When microbe meets human. CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASE. Vol 39. pp 827-830. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/423387
Image sources:
Figure 1 https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/how-probiotics-can-you-make-you-happy/
Figure 2 http://www,justthrivehealth.com/blogs/blog/can-probiotics-make-you-happy.