Most of us have tried a probiotic at some point in our lives, whether this be a therapeutic dose - in the form of a capsule, or via fermented or cultured foods. A probiotic is a live strain of carefully selected microbes, utilised for their health benefits. Probiotics play an important role in maintaining the structure and integrity of our digestive linings, supporting the immune system and fighting off pathogens.
As mentioned, they can be found in supplemental forms such as a capsule or powder, or in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut and kimchi.
Keep in mind that food sources of probiotics can be as potent as supplemental probiotics if taken correctly. If food sources have been pasteurised or heated they may not hold as much value. Probiotics have a strict ideal temperature range, and if warmed beyond a certain temperature, they die, and their benefits are lost. Raw forms of these living foods enable you to reap the benefits of their probiotic properties.
Once consumed, the specific strains of probiotic species are more likely to reside in, and therefore have a more noticeable effect on, particular microbiomes of the body. For this reason, it can be beneficial to enquire about the particular strains in a given probiotic based on the desired effect or intention of supplementation.
Specific strains of probiotics have been studied and are well-documented at treating conditions such as infectious diarrhoea, respiratory tract infections, eczema, UTI’s and so much more. Quality probiotics are useful in these instances because they administer targeted strains of microorganisms that help to re-establish and manipulate the microbiome by competing with pathogenic bacteria. They displace those nasty bugs and prevent them from multiplying - stimulating immune function, vitamin synthesis and absorption, reinforcing the gut barrier and help to regulate metabolic processes (such as cholesterol absorption and glucose metabolism).
It must be noted that although supplementing with probiotics is widely prevalent in today's society, supplementation may not always be necessary or helpful. Supplemental probiotics are useful when there is obvious dysbiosis (an imbalance in good and bad bacteria) in the gut; this could be caused by medications or antibiotics, chronic dis-ease, poor digestive function, nutrition and stress.
In some cases, pre-biotic support might be of higher value, we will touch on this soon!
Although this realm of the health market is heavily saturated and sometimes conflicting, we like to simplify the process of achieving optimal health, emphasising the importance of treating the root cause of any given symptom or condition, and as always, by taking an individual approach.
Keep an eye out for our next post to learn how we can support our digestive microbiome with the foods we eat, thus, positively impacting all-round wellness.
Healthy Gut | Healthy Mind | Healthy Life