Probiotics supplements are made up of helpful bacteria designed to assist in regulating the balance of your digestive system. In order to support healthy digestion and immune function, your large intestine needs to have the right balance of good and bad bacteria. If the body is not keeping things balanced on its own, probiotics can offer assistance. Of course, there are a growing number of supplements on the market today, so you need to take the time to explore all of your options and make sure that you get the best one for your health needs.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are essentially just good bacteria that can help improve your gut health and overall health in many ways. There are a number of different types of good bacteria that can be utilized to help improve the overall health and wellbeing of the body. Having too much bad bacteria or an imbalance of bacteria can lead to a number of health issues, but where does the imbalance come from? Here are just a few causes:
- Medical conditions
- Emotional and physical stress
- Antibiotics
- Poor diet
- Suppressed immune system or immune disorders
Probiotics can be used in all of these cases to help restore the balance of bacteria in the gut and provide a number of health benefits. In order to be a true probiotics supplement, a product needs to contain active, live cultures of bacteria. This is indicated on the product packaging, as required by regulatory agencies.
Tips for Choosing a Probiotics Supplement
There is no single probiotics supplement that will provide the same health benefits for all people, across the board. Plus, your body is different and so are your needs for probiotics. Therefore, the first and most important concern in choosing your supplements is making sure that you choose a product that helps with the issues that you are having in relation to your digestive health. The composition of your digestive bacteria and its balance is unique. There are billions of bacteria in your colon, including 500 different species and types, and keeping them balanced is critical to your digestive health as well as other areas of health.
Here are some useful tips to help you choose the ideal probiotics supplement for your health improvements.
- Studies have shown that some probiotic strains are more effective than others for certain conditions. If you are trying to use these supplements to alleviate a specific health issue, make sure that you take that into consideration. Look at the specific effects of different supplements, and consider a more general probiotic if you just want basic health improvement benefits.
- You need the right amount of probiotics in a supplement. What is the right amount, though? Research shows that higher doses generally produce the most health benefits, but some probiotic bacteria might be effective at a much smaller dose. Again, it depends on the probiotics your body needs and the health benefits you seek.
- Speaking of dosing, these healthy bacteria are measured in CFUs, or colony-forming units. Some probiotic bacteria may provide effective results with 1 or 2 billion CFU daily. Other bacteria may require as much as 20 billion in order to get the desired results.
- A probiotics supplement is made up of a combination of various strains of bacteria. Three of the most popular strains include lactobacillus, bifidobacterium, and saccharomyces. Since they all offer different levels of effectiveness for various conditions and health benefits, finding a balanced probiotic that specifically addresses your health needs is a must.
- Choose reputable, well-researched brands of supplements. Stay away from store brands, generic products, and those that don’t provide study results and proof of efficacy. Because supplements are less strictly regulated than chemical medications, it is easy for companies to make false or misleading claims. Do your homework and choose a reputable product that has proven results.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
Probiotics could cause changes in stools, as well as gas and bloating. These are all signs that the supplement is doing its job.
A probiotics supplement may not be recommended for those with immune disorders or a compromised immune system. If you have immune health issues, speak to a doctor about these supplements before taking them.
Sometimes, trial and error is necessary to find the best supplement. The general rule of thumb is to allow a few weeks to see the benefits of a probiotic. If you don’t notice any improvement, you may need to try another product.
Along with a supplement rich in probiotics, you can also enhance your health with prebiotic foods like beans, onions, asparagus, and others.
The Benefits of a Probiotics Supplement
When you choose the right probiotics supplement, you will find a variety of health benefits and improvements to your bodily functions. Many people use these supplements to find relief from constipation, diarrhea, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). While digestive health benefits abound, these supplements can also do a lot more for your health.
A probiotics supplement can benefit your cholesterol, as well as assisting with inflammation and improving your mood and mental clarity. Plus, they reduce bloating and water weight and help improve the absorption of nutrients in the body. This one simple supplement can provide so much support for your body by restoring the balance of bacteria in your gut. Probiotics can help break down vitamin K and B, as well as assist with the metabolization of other drugs and supplements in the body.
The Bottom Line
Remember that finding the best probiotics supplement starts with doing your homework. You have to consider what you want from a supplement like this first and foremost, and make sure that you seek out a reputable brand or company to get the best products. The benefits of taking a probiotics supplement are plentiful. Anyone who wants a natural way to improve their digestive health, immune function, or overall wellbeing can find success with the right probiotics supplement.
