Whenever people hear about bacteria, they instantly think of bad bacteria that hider our health. However, did you know that all of us have bacteria in our bodies that actually outnumber our cells 10 to 1 and most of them naturally inhibit our gut? These bacteria are what’s known as your gut flora. In healthy individuals, gut flora keeps the metabolism functioning properly. However, if these bacteria are not in perfect balance, your metabolism will stop functioning properly, which may lead to some more or less serious health issues.
That’s why it’s advisable to include probiotics in your diet. Probiotics help you keep your gut flora in check and make sure your metabolic system is functioning properly. That being said, here’s a simple beginner’s guide to probiotics.
When should I take probiotics?
Simply put, there’s no good or bad time to take probiotics. Whenever you start, that’s the best time to take probiotics. However, if you’re consuming probiotics in the form of pills, you should try to take them either with a meal or about 30 minutes before you eat. This way you guarantee that your body will be able to absorb them before your stomach acid gets the chance to break them down, thus rendering them less effective. On the other hand, if you’re not using probiotic supplements, but rather get your daily dose of probiotics from the food you eat, you really don’t need to aim for the specific period during the day.
Can I get them directly from food?
As mentioned earlier, you can ensure you get enough daily probiotic intake from either food or supplements. So, the answer is yes – you can actually get enough probiotics just form the food you eat. Yogurt is one of the best-known probiotic-friendly foods, but there are many others as well. Sauerkraut, tempeh, kimchi, and kombucha are just some of the other foods rich in probiotics you should include more of in your diet. On the other hand, if you – for any reason – prefer to go with the probiotic supplement option, feel free to do so. Some people find it easier and more convenient to take this approach, especially if they don’t have enough time to plan and prep their meals in advance.
Why is it important to take probiotics?
We’ve already mentioned the importance of regular probiotic intake. Since probiotics positively affect our gut flora it’s safe to say that they help keep our digestive system in check. When our metabolism functions properly, our entire body benefits from it. Aside from the fact that probiotics help keep out metabolisms in check, they also have some other health benefits. For instance, it has been proven that probiotics help prevent or reduce systemic inflammation. Moreover, they’re also proven to reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. So, it’s safe to say that probiotics don’t only help keep your metabolism in check but your entire body.
Can probiotics help me lose weight?
The short answer is yes, but it’s important to discuss how. Probiotics help your body break down and digest food better. On top of that, they promote the absorption of all the nutrients and healthy compounds we get from the food we eat. That being said, probiotics also help prevent our bodies to store unnecessary fat. So, if you take all of that into account, it becomes clear that regular intake of probiotics can help you lose weight by simply boosting your metabolism. However, if you are gaining weight due to some other factors or conditions, probiotics alone won’t be enough to remedy the situation.
Knowing all of this makes it obvious why everyone should aim to include more probiotics into their regular diet. By doing so, you’ll ensure that you’re helping your body reach it’s operating optimum, which will have plenty of benefits in the long run.