Did you know?
About 60%-80% of our immune system is associated with our gut?
Well, according to Wikipedia, the human gut houses around 500-1000 species of live bacteria and about 10 times more microorganisms than all the human cells in our body.
Sounds hard to digest!
Keeping jokes apart, it is interesting to know that there are over 40 diseases linked to bacterial imbalance in the digestive system, for instance:
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Depression
- Thyroid Imbalance
- Psoriasis
- Autism
The number of these helpful, live gut microbes or probiotics can be boosted by making fermented foods and probiotic supplements, a part of your diet.
But, before doing so, you need to know the 7 fabulous reasons why you should include probiotics in your diet.
Benefits Of Including Probiotics In Your Daily Diet
You might be suffering from constipation every now and then.
Ever wondered why?
This can be because of the lack of the much needed good bacteria in your gut.
Experts believe that a healthy gut should contain about 85% of good bacteria and 15% of the bad ones.
But, this ratio of bacteria, yeast, fungus, etc., can get out of proportion due to:
- Intake of prescribed antibiotics
- Consuming too much sugar, which is not required by the body
- Emotional stress
Including probiotics in your diet, promotes healthy gut bacteria and many other health benefits.
Let’s get to know them.
- Repopulate The Good Bacteria In Your Gut
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Our lifestyle includes everything from exposure to heavy antibiotics to junk food laden with sugar and additives.
Toxins in the environment, aging and stress along with the above factors, disturb the microbiome balance in our gut.
Probiotics repopulate the good bacteria in the gut, in turn, outnumbering the bad ones.
Thus, they help in dealing with things like:
- Digestive problems
- Obesity
- Mental health issues
- Allergies
- Boost Your Immunity
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According to researches, probiotics like Lactobacillus have shown to aid in the production of some natural antibiotics and vitamins such as Vitamin B Complex.
Because of this factor, natural probiotics can help in alleviating temporary infection.
Some probiotic foods are:
- Yogurt
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kimchi
- Miso soup
- Kombucha
- Raw soft cheese
- Accelerate Nutrient Absorption
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If the lining of your gut is not healthy, it will lose its power of absorbing the nutrients, no matter which superfood you eat.
Timely consumption of probiotic-rich foods and supplements ensure that the good bacteria are doing their work of breaking down the food alongside the digestive enzymes.
This helps the nutrients to get diffused in the bloodstream, easily.
- Keep Diarrhea And Other Digestive Disorders At Bay
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Since ages, probiotics are used to curb and prevent diarrhea.
Diarrhea may either occur due to an infection in the gut or as a side effect of the germicidal effect of antibiotics after one such infection.
Probiotics efficiently restore the microflora balance in the gut thus, reducing infection and enhancing the absorption of necessary amount of water in the body.
In this way the body does not face dehydration.
Certain probiotic bacterial strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are known to improve the symptoms of Colon Ulcers and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), as well.
- Keep A Tab On Your Body Weight
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Some researchers believe that, consuming probiotics on a daily basis can help you manage your weight.
This happens because the healthy microbes in the intestine speed up the metabolic activity in your body.
They also aid in breaking down complex fibers, which are hard to digest, by converting them into simple fats.
These fats are used up rapidly when energy requirement of the body shoots up in case of strain and physical workout.
Other studies have shown that an unhealthy gut may lead to mood swings and disturbed hormonal levels.
This may trigger a craving for comfort-foods and may end up with you putting on some extra kilos!
- Keep Your Mood Elevated
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You know Sherlock Holmes and “gut-feel”, right?
Well, it is more than just a premonition!
To be true, your mental and emotional wellbeing is largely based on the health of your gut.
You will be amazed to know that most of the happiness-inducing hormone of your body is manufactured by the good guys in your gut.
Therefore, replenishing the level of probiotics in the gut not only improves your digestive health, but may also help in fighting anxiety, depression and stress.
- Restore Healthy Skin
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Since, your skin is the first line of defense for your body, its health should be taken into primary consideration.
What you eat, oily, starchy or fresh, will surely, show up on your skin.
Believe it or not, but all skin problems are rooted to your gut, whether they are:
- Nutritional
- Immunological
- Hormonal
Adding a portion of probiotics to your diet will improve your gut health, which in turn will reflect on your skin.
Now that you know that the importance of probiotics, include them in your diet, little by little, and see the positive effects for yourself.
Put A Note On It
It is never difficult to add something tasty to your plate.
Start off by including sour, fermented foods like apple cider vinegar and probiotic-rich foods like goat milk yogurt in your diet.
Support these foods with a high-fiber content. Consume chia seeds or flax seeds, whenever possible.
Try to stay away from sugar, antibiotics and stress which can lower the probiotic level in your gut.
It’s time for you to rescue yourself from all your gut disorders!
Big time nutritionist and makeup artist.
Passionate about heeding the needs of her readers to help them live a healthy and beautiful life.
Find her in her den Unsullyd.com.
