Every gut is made up of intestinal flora or bacteria. There are good and bad bacteria. If you have too much bad bacteria it will override the good and can rob you of important vitamins and minerals.
Over colonization of bad bacteria can also lead to various symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, jock itch, chronic fatigue and skin problems.
It is easy to feed the bad bacteria with things like stress, illness, eating junk food, food high in sugar and drinking alcohol. Taking certain over the counter and prescription medication can kill all bacteria; bad and good.
Probiotics, the good bacteria, can help make B vitamins, increase bioavailability of magnesium, iron, copper and manganese which help boost mood, improve energy and stabilize blood pressure. Probiotics indirectly can help ease symptoms of menopause and protect against breast cancer by processing estrogen and thyroid hormones.
Current diet and lifestyle and prescribing of antibiotics means most Americans’ gut’s do not contain the 3lbs of beneficial bacteria it should. Adding a probiotic to your daily regimen can help and should be considered if you have taken antibiotics in the past or are prescribed them in the future.
If you are considering eating store bought yogurts to get your daily dose of probiotic, consider that probiotics need to be alive at time of consumption to be effective. With tons of sugar and additives that kill off the good bacteria, store-bought yogurts may not be the best option.
Choosing a good quality probiotic that guarantees live culture is a better option. Many probiotics available provide a targeted approach to help ease symptoms of anxiety, allergic responses, asthma, yeast infections and diarrhea to name a few. Ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider about which probiotic is best for you.
