What they are, how they work, and why they are beneficial.
What’s in Your Gut?
Your gut contains trillions of microorganisms that make up your microbiome. This community of bacteria plays
a crucial role in digestive health and immune function. One of the most important forms of bacteria in your inner ecosystem are probiotics. Probiotics are helpful bacteria that can improve the health of your microbiome when integrated into your daily diet. There are many benefits of probiotics, so let's explore how probiotics help your gut health and overall well being.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide health benefits when ingested. They help maintain digestive balance and protect your body against the negative health impacts of highly processed foods. They are often referred to as the "good" or "friendly" bacteria. The main sources of probiotics are yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and some aged cheeses.
How Do Probiotics Work with Your Gut?
Probiotics work by colonizing and balancing the gut microbiota, which is the community of microorganisms living in our intestines. A healthy and diverse gut microbiota is essential for proper digestion, absorption of nutrients, and maintaining a robust immune system. When you ingest probiotics, the microbes pass through the stomach to colonize your intestinal tract, creating a flourishing gut microbiome. There, they establish colonies and interact with your gut microbiome.
Specifically, probiotics are shown to help:
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Crowd out and defeat pathogens by competing for nutrients
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Reinforce the gut barrier by producing antimicrobial compounds
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Regulate inflammation and strengthen immune function
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Communicate with cells that influence brain function [2]
Major Benefits of Probiotics
There are many benefits of probiotics. Research has shown that probiotics can help improve gut health, combat auto-immune diseases, and alleviate certain digestive disorders [1]. Decades of research reveal probiotics can provide these digestive and whole-body benefits:
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Alleviate issues like bloating, diarrhea, IBS, and lactose intolerance
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Reduce risk and severity of antibiotic-related gut infections
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Calm inflammation in conditions like IBD and leaky gut
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Enhance immune response and potentially reduce allergies
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Improve anxiety, depression, cognition, and more [2].
Conclusion
Probiotics can be extremely beneficial to your gut health. In this blog post, we explored the benefits of probiotics, what they are, and how they work. As research on probiotics grows, evidence regarding their crucial role in our holistic health does too. If you are interested in learning more about how changes in your diet can affect your health, try out GutChat, our gut-health specialized AI ChatBot, visit our Frequently Asked Questions, or reach out to an Injoy team member at info@injoy.bio so we can get you started on your journey to a balanced gut.
Sources:
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Agréus, L., et al. “Systematic Review : Probiotics in the Management of Lower Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Clinical Practice – an Evidence-Based International Guide.” CORE, core.ac.uk/works/18524758. Accessed 3 Aug. 2023.
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Huang, Ruixue, et al. “Effect of Probiotics on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.” MDPI, 6 Aug. 2016, www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/8/483/htm?utm_source=deleted&utm_medium=deleted&utm_term=deleted&utm_content=deleted&utm_campaign=deleted&gclid=deleted
