Why is probiotic important?

Probiotics are healthy microorganisms that live in the gut. They help with digestion and keep the gut healthy. Probiotics help forming gut floras (colonies of healthy bacteria). They have also been shown to help fight diarrhea, improve immune function, and prevent antibiotic-related diarrhea. Some researches have found that consuming probiotics may help improve digestive health, reduce anxiety, and even improve brain function. Because of this, probiotics have become a big topic in the last decades.

Our body is a complex ecosystem, especially in our gut floras, where not only are there healthy bacteria, but also other bacteria and fungus, such as candida yeasts. When there is an imbalance of healthy bacteria in the gut, it can lead to overgrown of other bacteria and fungus, and hence causing a number of health problems and diseases. That is why it is a battle of real estates in our gut trying to have more healthy bacteria and less of the other.

Fermented Foods

Some of the most common probiotics in supplement form include yogurt, cheese and other fermented foods, and of course probiotic supplements. Literally, you can have probiotic with fermented foods. For example, pickle, kimchi, miso and sauerkraut are great choices of natural probiotics. These foods have very potent strands of healthy bacteria, as well as enzymes that help our digestion system. If you can take these natural probiotics daily and consistently, the health benefits will be immense.

Then why do people taking probiotic supplements? Some people can't stand the taste of fermented food, which usually carry a sour taste. Some people simple don't have time to prepare their own fermented food as the preparation could take time. Raw fermented foods are always the best, as on the shelf products may have gone through pasteurization to extend their shelf live, and can potentially kill beneficial microbes and decrease the nutrition values. As an alternative, people take probiotic supplements, which is convenient but with higher price.

There are many brands and types of probiotics on the market. There are no official recommendations for probiotic use. It is best to check with ask your healthcare provider for advice about which probiotic to choose, their specific effects, what dose to take, and how long to use the product. Be mindful, some probiotics need to be kept in the refrigerator, but others can be stored at room temperature. Colony forming units (CFUs) are commonly listed in many product labels, as an indicator of total weight of the number of live microorganisms. However, higher CFU counts do not necessarily mean greater health benefits, which are associated more on the specific microorganisms it contains than the number of microorganisms it contains.

higher CFU counts do not necessarily mean greater health benefits, which are associated more on the specific microorganisms it contains than the number of microorganisms it contains.

Do your research about the probiotics you are planning to take. It may be best to request for sample first to see if there is any impacts to your body, before purchasing for consumptions. Our blog will provide some reviews of probiotic supplements very soon.