What Exactly Are Probiotic Supplements?

ByUday P Thakur

More than 300 trillion bacteria live inside the human body. Most of these bacteria live in the gut. A majority of them are pretty harmless and some are even helpful. However, a small number of these bacteria can cause disease. 

Numerous health benefits have been linked to having the right kind of bacteria in the gut. Some of them are given below: 

  • Improved digestion
  • Weight loss
  • Healthy skin
  • Enhanced immune function
  • Reduced risk of some of the dangerous diseases 

Certain types of friendly bacteria that offer significant health benefits when they are eaten are known as probiotics. They are often taken as probiotic supplements. These probiotic supplements help in colonizing the gut with good microorganisms. 

What exactly are probiotics? 

Probiotics are living microorganisms. They provide health benefits when ingested. They are usually bacteria but there are certain types of yeast too that count for being probiotic.

 

Let us list down some of the foods that prove to be the best probiotics for gut health. They are: yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, and tempeh. 

The most common probiotic bacteria are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. Other common kinds are Streptococcus, Saccharomyces, Escherichia, Enterococcus, and Bacillus. 

One can get probiotics either from foods prepared by bacterial fermentation or from probiotic supplements. 

Difference between probiotics and prebiotics 

There shouldn’t be any confusion between prebiotics and probiotics. Probiotics, as we know, are helpful bacteria that are found in probiotic supplements or foods. In contrast, prebiotics are carbohydrates or dietary fibers that are helped for getting digested by the friendly bacteria already present in the gut. Some products contain both prebiotics and probiotics. Such products are referred to as synbiotics. 

Both prebiotics and probiotics are essential for human health. Eating an equal or balanced amount can help achieve the right balance of bacteria for keeping the gut microbiota healthy. 

However, there are certain types of fibers that the human body cannot digest. But the best probiotics for gut health can help in their digestion. Some of the foods that are high in prebiotic fibers are as follows: 

  • Legumes, beans, and peas
  • Oats
  • Bananas
  • Berries
  • Jerusalem artichokes (not the same as regular artichokes)
  • Asparagus
  • Dandelion greens
  • Garlic
  • Leeks
  • Onions 

The best probiotics for gut health and its benefits 

There are many kinds of probiotics available. Different probiotics address different health conditions. Therefore, it is challenging and equally essential to find out the best probiotics for gut health. 

Probiotics offer many health benefits in addition to weight loss, improving heart health, digestion, immune function, and so on. Some of them are as follows: 

  • It reduces systematic inflammation
  • It reduces anxiety and depression
  • It reduces LDL cholesterol levels
  • It reduces blood pressure
  • It reduces the risk of infections that cause the common cold
  • It boosts immune function
  • It helps treat skin disorders like acne, eczema, etc.
  • It has the ability to anti-aging by replacing old cells with new cells
  • It is helpful in many neurological disorders 

Probiotics are the microorganisms that boost health when taken in an adequate amount. One can obtain them from foods or probiotic supplements. However, one needs to find out the best probiotics for gut health which is unique to every individual.