Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria and/or yeasts which naturally exist in your body. Bacteria is often viewed as something that causes you to get sick. There are two types of bacteria that live in your body: good bacteria and harmful bacteria. Probiotics contain good bacteria which helps to keep your body healthy. These good bacteria can help you in many ways. They can fight off harmful bacteria and make you feel better.
Your microbiome is a bacteria in your body that is part of Probiotics. A microbiome is a diverse group of organisms that works together to maintain your body’s health. There are trillions of microbes in your body. These microbes are a combo of the following.
- Bacteria
- Fungi (including yeasts)
- Viruses
- Protozoa
Every person’s microbiome has its own unique characteristics. There are no two individuals with the same microbiome — even twins.
A microbe must possess several characteristics in order to be considered a probiotic. These include being able to:
- Be isolated from a human
- After eating being eaten, survive in your intestines
- You can the benefits
- Consume them safely
Where do beneficial probiotics (microbes), that are found in my body, live?
Although your gut is the most commonly linked to beneficial microbes (mostly the large intestine), there are many other places in your body that can host them. These areas are located in close contact with the “outside” world and include:
- Gut.
- Mouth.
- Vagina.
- Urinary tract
- Skin.
- Lungs.
What is the working principle of probiotics?
Probiotics or good bacteria have one main purpose: to maintain a healthy body balance. It is like keeping your body in neutral. Bad bacteria can enter your body when you’re sick and increase in number. This can cause your body to become out of balance. The good bacteria fights off bad bacteria, restoring balance in your body and making you feel better.
Good bacteria is good for your health by improving your immune system and controlling inflammation. Good bacteria can also:
- Help your body digest food.
- Stop bad bacteria from spreading and making you sick.
- Create vitamins.
- Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed (through food or drinks) from entering your blood.
- Absorb and break down medications.
Are probiotics available to treat medical conditions?
Probiotics can be helpful for certain medical conditions. These can be different for each person, so what works for one person might not work for another. They can also differ depending on which probiotic is used. Such as:
- Diarrhea.
- Constipation.
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Yeast infections
- Urinary tract infections.
- Gum disease.
- Lactose intolerance.
- Eczema.
- Upper respiratory infections (ear infections, common cold, sinusitis).
Can I eat or take something to increase my probiotics (microbes in my body)?
Foods, drinks, and supplements can help increase the number of beneficial microbes in the body.
