The Health benefits associated with probiotics

Friendly bacteria in probiotic foods and probiotic supplements not only offer a large number of positive health benefits (particularly for our gut), they also help to prevent and treat a wide variety of problems.

Probiotics help to strengthen immunity
One of the key functions of friendly bacteria is to stimulate our immune response, which means that by consuming probiotic foods, drinks and supplements, we can in turn strengthen our immunity to illness and disease.  Probiotics increased production of lymphocytes - sub-types of white blood cell (Natural killer cells, T cells and B cells) that are found in our immune system and a marker of immune response.

As a result, probiotics can help to prevent and treat the following:

• Digestive issues – Probiotics can improve intestinal function and maintain the integrity of the lining of the intestines. The bacteria in probiotics stimulate the natural digestive juices and enzymes that keep our digestive organs functioning correctly.  Probiotics can help those suffering from Crohn’s Disease, ulcerative colitis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Leaky Gut Syndrome and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea (AAD).
  
  
• Urinary Tract Infections – Probiotics help to maintain significant populations of ‘friendly’ bacteria in the urinary tract and thus prevent the invasion of the ‘bad’ bacteria that lead to urinary tract infections, which are particularly common in women.
  
  
• Yeast infections – probiotics can also help to prevent and treat yeast infections that occur when the ratio of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in our body is out of balance. The most prevalent yeast infection is Candida albicans, which can affect the reproductive organs (the majority of women will suffer from a vaginal Candida infection at some point in their life), skin, intestines, mouth and throat.
  
  
• Allergies – In addition to helping with seasonal allergies, there has also been a direct link between those taking probiotics during pregnancy and reduction in the instance of eczema in their infants. In addition, infants who received probiotics in-vitro had 50 percent higher levels of tissue inflammation, which is believed to trigger immunity and limit the occurrence of allergies.
  
  
• Raised cholesterol – Lactobacillus reuteri has been shown to possibly  lower LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol levels.
  
  
• High blood pressure – other studies have found that the consumption of fermented milk containing strains of LAB (lactic acid bacteria) probiotics may help to lower blood pressure.
  
  

Probiotics help to encourage natural weight loss
Researchers have found that those who are obese tend to have different gut bacteria than those with a healthy weight – a strong indication that gut flora plays a role in weight management.  Research also indicates that probiotics can help those who have received weight loss surgery to maintain their weight loss.  Also, a  study of post-partum women demonstrated that a probiotic supplement containing lactobacillus and bifidobacterium helped to reduce waist circumference.

Probiotics also pump up the good bacteria in your gut and help the digestive process along in a healthy way. Not only will you look slimmer because you will be less bloated, but you will also get rid of a little bit of backed up waste to leave you literally feeling pounds lighter!


Probiotics help to promote mental wellbeing
Probiotics may also be beneficial for healthy brain function and mental wellbeing. In fact researchers at UCLA discovered that brain function in healthy women who regularly consumed a probiotic yoghurt actually improved. As a result, it’s thought that probiotics might have the potential to change brain neurochemistry and, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, could additionally be used to treat anxiety and depression.

Probiotics help tooth and gum health 
Taking a probiotic everyday can not only reduce the effects of gingivitis but also can help kill the bacteria that causes tooth decay.