The Skinny on Probiotics
Gut health is more than a trendy term, and having a healthy gut goes beyond digestive and GI health. What many people don’t know is that your gut is home to billions of different types of good bacteria. Known as probiotics, this bacteria works to keep you regular while also promoting overall health and wellbeing.
Here’s what you need to know about probiotics and how they impact you from the inside out.
What are probiotics?
Many people hear the word bacteria and automatically think of negative types such as E.coli and staphylococcus. However, not all bacteria are harmful. Probiotics, such as Lactobacillus, are the prime example of this.
In simplest terms, probiotics are good bacteria that live in the gut and GI tract. The gut naturally contains billions of different strains of bacteria that work to maintain a healthy gut microbiome.
Foods that are high in probiotics, along with probiotic supplements, help to replace lost good bacteria, which is common after taking antibiotics and other medications. Probiotics are also beneficial in that they replace the bad bacteria with good bacteria. This helps to keep your body working as it should.
The connection between the gut and overall health
A healthy gut microbiome supports and improves overall health. While it’s true that the gut microbiome plays a role in digestion and keeping you regular, there are all sorts of other benefits of having a healthy gut.
When your gut microbiome is balanced, your immune system is more effective at preventing infections. The gut microbiome has also been linked to mental health. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, bacteria in the gut manufactures more than 90% of the body’s serotonin supply. This neurotransmitter influences mood as well as GI activity.
Introducing probiotics as part of your daily regimen is a simple yet effective way to maintain your health from head to toe.
How to add probiotics to your daily care regimen
There are many ways to add probiotics to your health regimen. You can start by eating foods that have live, active probiotic cultures. Some of the best foods that contain a large amount of probiotics include:
- Raw cheese
- Yogurts
- Apple cider vinegar
- Kefir
- Kombucha
- Tempeh
- Pickles
- Fermented foods
Start off the day with a bowl of yogurt and mixed berries. Or snack on pickles and raw cheese to keep your gut health in check.
Aside from probiotic-rich food, another way to introduce probiotics is with a high quality supplement. Elm & Rye offers a Daily Probiotic supplement that promotes a balanced, healthy gut while also boosting the immune system.
Each capsule contains single-strain Lactobacillus acidophilus, which plays an important role in human health. The bacteria converts sugar into lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide, which inhibit the growth of bad bacteria in the intestines.
Can probiotics be taken daily?
Some people choose to take probiotics on an ongoing basis while others take them periodically. Ideally you want to eat probiotic-rich foods or take a probiotic supplement on a daily basis. This is because there are so many different factors that negatively affect probiotic colonies in the gut.
Things like stress, lack of sleep, and poor diet can all cause your gut microbiome to become imbalanced. But by adding probiotics as part of your daily care routine, you minimize the impact of these negative sources.
Remember, the body doesn't produce probiotics, unlike most vitamins and minerals. Supplementing and eating foods high in probiotics lessen the chance of poor gut health impacting your overall well being.
With the help of probiotics, you can give your health a much-needed boost. By taking Daily Probiotics from Elm & Rye, you’ll see and feel the difference!