It seems like every week I run across a common term and think, “That wasn’t even a thing ten years ago.” Gut health is one of those topics. Years ago no one talked about gut health. You certainly didn’t see stars doing commercials discussing how to become more regular but the times they are a changin’.
While there are many topics that make most people uncomfortable, any topic that can help educate people on how to maintain good health is a worthwhile topic, don’t you think? That’s why I’m choosing to write about probiotics this week. There is so much information and misinformation out there that I wanted to clear it up a bit.
When I ask people about probiotics I generally get 3 different responses:
- They have no idea what I’m talking about.
- They say it has something to do with gut health but can’t elaborate.
- They know it is a form of “good” bacteria that your body needs.
Probiotics (although most people think of it as some form of supplement) are actually found in our body naturally. They are living bacteria and yeasts that help us maintain good health especially when it comes to our digestive system.
We don’t think of good things when we are talking about bacteria but there are indeed both good and bad bacteria. Now that we know, it’s important for us to try and maintain a healthy level of good bacteria in our body.
So how do we know when we may need probiotics to help recalibrate our bacteria levels?
Antibiotic Use: We have all had to take an antibiotic from time to time. They work miracles at killing the bacteria in our body which is making us sick. However, antibiotics can’t tell the difference between good or bad bacteria so it just kills it all. Whenever you have a need to take an antibiotic in the future, talk to your doctor about starting a probiotic immediately after the course of meds. No need to take the probiotic during the course of meds because the antibiotic will just kill the probiotic too.
Irregularity: No one is immune to occasional stomach distress. Bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas are all symptoms that your gut health is out of balance and you may benefit from probiotics. This may be temporarily or on a regular basis.
Compromised Immune System: If you suffer from a disease that leaves your immune system weak or have had a spell of cold, flu, and other illnesses, you may want to talk to your doctor about probiotics. Adding good bacteria back into your system is known to strengthen the immune system and help ward off more illness.
Traveling and/or Food Poisoning: Probiotics are a great go-to when you have a run in with food poisoning. It will help build a colony of good bacteria and will help fight the bad bacteria. When traveling to places where you will be unaccustomed to the food, considering taking a probiotic before, during, and after your travel to help keep your gut healthy and your system regular.
Yeast Infections: Yeast infections are a good indicator that bad bacteria is outnumbering good bacteria in your body. You can help neutralize the numbers by adding probiotics to your system.
You can stay ahead of the game by continuing to eat a healthy diet, limit fried foods, limit processed foods, increase fruits and veggies, and hydrate. However, when the need arises for a probiotic you can find them in many foods as well as supplements. Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, and local health foods store.