Probiotics are live microorganisms that can be consumed through fermented foods or supplements.
More and more studies show that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is linked to overall health and disease.
Probiotics promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and have been linked to a wide range of health benefits.
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Explore new cuisinesThese include benefits for weight loss, digestive health, immune function, and more.
This is an overview of the key health benefits linked to probiotics.
1. Probiotics help balance the friendly bacteria in your digestive system
Probiotics include “good” bacteria. These are live microorganisms that can provide health benefits when consumed.
These benefits are thought to result from the ability of probiotics to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria.
An imbalance means there are too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria. It can happen due to illness, medication such as antibiotics, poor diet, and more.
Consequences can include digestive issues, allergies, mental health problems, obesity, and more.
Probiotics are usually found in fermented foods or taken as supplements. What’s more, they appear to be safe for most people.
Summary: Probiotics are live microorganisms. When taken in sufficient amounts, they can help restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. As a result, health benefits may follow.
2. Probiotics can help prevent and treat diarrhea
Probiotics are widely known for their ability to prevent diarrhea or reduce its severity.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics. It occurs because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut.
Several studies suggest probiotic use is associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
In one study, researchers found that taking probiotics reduced antibiotic-associated diarrhea by 42%.
Probiotics can also help with other forms of diarrhea not associated with antibiotics.
A large review of 35 studies found certain strains of probiotics can reduce the duration of infectious diarrhea by an average of 25 hours.
Probiotics reduced the risk of travelers’ diarrhea by 8%. They also lowered the risk of diarrhea from other causes by 57% in children and 26% in adults.
Effectiveness varies, depending on the type and dose of the probiotic taken.
Strains such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii are most commonly associated with a reduced risk of diarrhea.
Summary: Probiotics can reduce the risk and severity of diarrhea from several different causes.
3. Probiotic supplements improve some mental health conditions
An increasing number of studies link gut health to mood and mental health.
Both animal and human studies find that probiotic supplements can improve some mental health disorders.
A review of 15 human studies found supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 1–2 months can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and memory.
One study followed 70 chemical workers for 6 weeks. Those who consumed 100 grams of probiotic yogurt per day or took a daily probiotic capsule experienced benefits for general health, depression, anxiety, and stress.
Benefits were also seen in a study of 40 patients with depression.
Taking probiotic supplements for 8 weeks decreased depression levels and reduced levels of C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation) and hormones such as insulin, compared to people who did not take a probiotic.
Summary: Research shows taking probiotics may help improve symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress, and memory, among others.
4. Certain probiotic strains can help keep your heart healthy
Probiotics may help keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and blood pressure.
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Certain lactic acid-producing bacteria may reduce cholesterol by breaking down bile in the gut.
Bile, a naturally occurring fluid mostly made of cholesterol, helps digestion.
By breaking down bile, probiotics can prevent it from being reabsorbed in the gut, where it can enter the blood as cholesterol.
A review of 5 studies found that eating probiotic yogurt for 2–8 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 4% and LDL cholesterol by 5%.
Another study conducted over 6 months found no changes in total or LDL cholesterol. However, the researchers did find a small increase in HDL (“good”) cholesterol.
Consuming probiotics may also lower blood pressure. A review of 9 studies found that probiotic supplements reduce blood pressure, but only modestly.
To experience any benefits related to blood pressure, supplementation had to exceed 8 weeks and 10 million colony-forming units (CFUs) daily.
Summary: Probiotics may help protect the heart by reducing “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and modestly lowering blood pressure.
5. Probiotics may reduce the severity of certain allergies and eczema
Certain probiotic strains may reduce the severity of eczema in children and infants.
One study found eczema symptoms improved for infants fed probiotic-supplemented milk, compared to infants fed milk without probiotics.
Another study followed children of women who took probiotics during pregnancy. Those children had an 83% lower risk of developing eczema in the first two years of life.
However, the link between probiotics and reduced eczema severity is still weak and more research needs to be done.
Some probiotics may also reduce inflammatory responses in people with milk or dairy allergies. However, the evidence is weak and further studies are needed.
Summary: Probiotics may reduce the risk and severity of certain allergies, such as eczema in infants. However, more research is needed.
6. Probiotics can help reduce symptoms of certain digestive disorders
Over one million people in the US suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
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Certain types of probiotics from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains have improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis.
Surprisingly, one study found that supplementing with the probiotic E. coli Nissle was just as effective as drugs in maintaining remission in people with ulcerative colitis.
However, probiotics appear to have little effect on symptoms of Crohn’s disease.
Nevertheless, probiotics may have benefits for other bowel disorders. Early research suggests they may help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
They have also been shown to reduce the risk of severe necrotizing enterocolitis by 50%. This is a fatal bowel condition that occurs in premature infants.
Summary: Probiotics may help reduce the symptoms of bowel disorders like ulcerative colitis, IBS, and necrotizing enterocolitis.
7. Probiotics may help boost your immune system
Probiotics may help give your immune system a boost and inhibit the growth of harmful gut bacteria.
Also, some probiotics have been shown to promote the production of natural antibodies in the body. They may also boost immune cells like the IgA-producing cells, T lymphocytes, and natural killer cells.
A large review found that taking probiotics reduced the likelihood and duration of respiratory infections. However, the quality of the evidence was low.
Another study including over 570 children found that taking Lactobacillus GG reduced the frequency and severity of respiratory infections by 17%.
The probiotic Lactobacillus crispatus has also been shown to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women by 50%.
Summary: Probiotics may help boost your immune system and protect against infections.
8. Probiotics may help you lose weight and belly fat
Probiotics may help with weight loss through a number of different mechanisms.
For example, some probiotics prevent the absorption of dietary fat in the intestine.
The fat is then excreted through feces rather than stored in the body.
Probiotics may also help you feel fuller for longer, burn more calories and store less fat. This is partly caused by increasing levels of certain hormones, such as GLP-1.
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They may also help with weight loss directly. In one study, dieting women who took Lactobacillus rhamnosus for 3 months lost 50% more weight than women who didn’t take a probiotic.
Another study of 210 people found that taking even low doses of Lactobacillus gasseri for 12 weeks resulted in an 8.5% reduction of belly fat.
However, it’s important to be aware that not all probiotics aid in weight loss.
Surprisingly, some studies found certain probiotics, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, can even lead to weight gain.
More studies are needed to clarify the link between probiotics and weight.
Summary: Certain probiotics may help you lose weight and belly fat. However, other strains have been linked to weight gain.
The best way to benefit from probiotics
You can get probiotics from a variety of foods or supplements.
If you want to buy a probiotic supplement, then there is an excellent selection on Amazon with thousands of customer reviews.
Live probiotic cultures are often found in fermented dairy products such as yogurts and milk drinks. Fermented foods like pickled vegetables, tempeh, miso, kefir, kimchi, sauerkraut, and soy products may also contain some lactic acid bacteria.
You can also take probiotics as tablets, capsules, and powders that contain the bacteria in dried form.
However, be aware that some probiotics can be destroyed by stomach acid before they even reach the gut — meaning that you get none of the intended benefits.
If you want to experience any of the health benefits discussed above, you must consume adequate amounts.
Most of the studies showing benefits used dosages of 1 billion to 100 billion live organisms or colony-forming units (CFU) per day.
