Many of us have heard about probiotics and we know that we should probably have some because they are apparently good for us. We hear it from the latest trendy health news article or perhaps on the label of a yogurt. More often than not though, we really don't know why we should actually be consuming a probiotic or even what it is. My goal is to give you a basic low down on what a probiotic is and why you should be on one.
To start, we should define what exactly a probiotic is. A probiotic is a live culture of organisms and are essential in maintaining proper gut health. From the time we are born, we are in contact with bacteria and a huge population of those bacteria live within our gut (around 100 trillion) that’s somewhere around 3 times as many cells as we have in our own bodies! These trillions of gut bacteria maintain what is known as a symbiotic relationship with their host (you) and make up our gut flora. What this means is that we help each other out. As we ingest food the bacteria in our gut are able to survive and in turn, provide us with life sustaining benefits. BUT! We have a problem, as modern diets have changed and we have become an excessively sterile society, our gut bacteria fails to be properly restored through ingesting new bacteria. This is further complicated by the overuse of antibiotics both from prescriptions and ones that are fed to the meat we eat. Antibiotics are largely indiscriminate in what bacteria they kill and will wreak havoc on your guts natural and required bacteria. Obviously this is not to advocate against the use of antibiotics, they are often necessary and life saving against bacteria that are much less friendly. It is however, important to remember that antibiotics can cause some collateral damage. When this damage occurs it is of the utmost importance that we replace the lost good bacteria as quickly as possible.
So what exactly is so important about this good gut bacteria? Well there are several extremely important things that only your gut bacteria can do. One of those is the break down and fermentation of starches and fatty acids in the food that you eat. This breakdown is something that our bodies are incapable of doing on their own. If the bacteria is not present is sufficient amounts irritation and inflammation of the gut will follow. Further, a dysfunctional gut flora (the gut bacteria) has also been associated with systemic inflammation and hormone dysregulation. Poor gut flora is further associated with increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases and nervous system disorders including depression, autism, and OCD. For these reasons among many others, the need for a healthy gut flora cannot be overstated. By consuming a good probiotic we are supporting and keeping our gut bacteria healthy, we are making sure that they keep our guts out of inflammation and working optimally.