What are Probiotics & Do I Need Them?

Why They Are Important For Your Health

Isabel Young
Exploring Wellness
3 min readNov 29, 2021

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Photo by Elsa Olofsson on Unsplash

What are Probiotics?

Why Should I be Taking Them?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that provide health benefits to the host. They are usually ingested in the form of capsules, tablets, powders, and drinks.

The microbiome is defined as “the unique set of all of the microorganisms that inhabit our bodies”. This includes bacteria present on our skin, in our mouths and on other parts of our body.

Some studies have found that patients with chronic illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and colitis can benefit from taking probiotics.

How Probiotics Help Your Digestion:

The human digestive system is primarily made up of two organs, the stomach and the intestines.

The stomach is responsible for churning food to mechanically break it down into smaller particles so that it is able to be digested.

The intestines are responsible for absorbing most of the nutrients from food. This is possible through a large microbial community, also known as gut microbiota.

The gut microbiota provide many benefits to their hosts by processing fermentation products that would otherwise harm us and help with nutrient absorption. They also produce important molecules that our bodies need like vitamins and serotonin.

Healthy Gut Microbiota:

A healthy gut microbiota supports the immune system, aids in digestion, and helps protect against disease.

A probiotic is a live microorganism that positively affects the host by improving their health.

Probiotics are not considered drugs or supplements because they are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Probiotics can produce beneficial substances like vitamins and short-chain fatty acids that may help regulate many aspects of your immune system.

Probiotic Supplement and/or Food Source:

Helps You To Stay Healthy:

The gut is one of the most important organs in the human body. It plays a critical role in the immune system, digestion, and absorption of nutrients.

A healthy gut means you can fight off infections and toxins more easily, while a damaged gut could lead to some serious health problems.

There are various types of probiotics so it’s important to research which ones are right for you, as well as how much you should be taking daily or weekly.

Probiotic Foods That Are Good For Your Health:

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good

for your health and also help keep your gut healthy.

Probiotics produce “good” bacteria which helps the immune system and assists in digestion.

The main food sources of beneficial probiotics include: yogurt, sour cream, sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, natto and miso.

There are many different types of probiotic foods that can be consumed to maintain a healthy gut and immune system.

Final Thoughts: Healthier You with Probiotics!

Probiotics are live microorganisms that

are beneficial to the human body.

They are often referred to as “friendly” or “good” bacteria because they can help with digestion, immune system function, and even weight management without causing any adverse effects.

Most people see probiotics as a supplement to their diet. Whether you get your probiotics from supplements or foods, they have powerful effects on improving your health.

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Isabel Young
Exploring Wellness

Motivational, Mindset, Health & Getting Better with Age - Helping people improve what they think and how they feel about themselves. https://linktr.ee/beyoung2