Probiotics Boost Immune System & Digestive Health

The Probiotic Health Advantage

What does the word ‘probiotic mean? It means ‘for life.’ Probiotics are the good bacteria that reside in your intestines and that encourage the production of microflora in your gut. This is what provides you with a healthy functioning body.

If an imbalance occurs between the healthy probiotic microflora and the pathogenic microorganisms, the gut becomes an environment that can cause illness and disease.

There are several reasons that your body system may be imbalanced and causing problems in your health. They include:

• Too many antibiotics and strong, over-the-counter medications.

• Toxins in the environment.

• Diet where too many processed, sugary and acidic food and drinks are consumed.

• Chronic stress.

• Cleaners and personal care products that contain anti-bacterial chemicals.

If you introduce foods that contain probiotics into your diet, you can turn your immune system and digestive health around and have these powerful microorganisms working to keep you healthy.

Probiotics can be found in many foods such as yogurt. Fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kefir and other types of dairy products also contain beneficial probiotics.

Some of the ways that probiotics can benefit your health are:

• Urinary Tract Health – Evidence exists that probiotics can ward off bad bacteria that can invade the urinary tract and cause infections. Probiotics help by stopping the persistent infections to return.

• Immune System – Probiotic foods can help you maintain beneficial intestinal floral that helps keep your immune system healthy.

• Allergies – Studies have been conducted in pregnant women who had a history of allergies and took probiotics during their pregnancy. These studies show that there was a reduction in the child’s incidence of allergies.

• Digestive Health – We all have various types of bacteria in our digestive systems that help to break down food and help our bodies absorb essential nutrients. Many doctors are now prescribing probiotics to help restore that balance of bacteria that taking drugs have caused.

• Weight Problems – Research has shown that our digestive bacteria help us maintain a healthy weight. Probiotics are healthy and low-calorie, so they’re a good alternative to keeping the body in balance and assisting potential weight problems.

• Women’s Health – Women can benefit from probiotics because of the effects it has on the reproductive organs. They can also be instrumental in preventing cramps and difficult menstruation.

• Candida Overgrowth – Probiotics have been used for years for helping fight a candida overgrowth. The good bacteria helps fight the bad bacteria and helps get your body back in balance.

Probiotic Foods

The above image is Sauerkraut and it is one of the foods you can add to your diet so that you can benefit from probiotic-rich foods.

• Yogurt – As I mentioned earlier, yoghurt is one good source of probiotics.
• Sourdough Bread
• Miso Soup
• Sauerkraut (as shown above)
• Pickles and Olives
• Some cheeses and soy milk
• Dark Chocolate.

There are many more too, these are just my own personal favorites. I thought I would leave my favorite probiotic food of all here… (just don’t eat too much as too much of a good thing, isn’t really good at all!)

So to simple understand probiotics, think of them as being the ‘good guys’ in keeping our digestive system clean and our immune system working as it should.

Do you eat foods that are high in probiotics? If so what ones are your favorites!