Do you know that billions, or most probably, trillions of single-cell organisms are living in your body? Though they live in different body organs, the vast majority of them reside in the gut, especially in the large intestine.[1]
Most of them are bacteria, a beneficial one, and some of them are even fungi. They live in symbiosis. It means that they get nutrients from our body and, in exchange, provide vital nutrients, train immunity, produce certain vitamins, and even help prevent the body’s colonization by pathogens.
Together, this population of beneficial microorganisms is called “microbiota,” and the combined genome is called “microbiome.”[1]
A thriving population of microbiota is vital to good health. However, overuse of antibiotics, certain ailments, different medications, and environmental toxins may disrupt their population. These changes in the population of gut microbiota, called dysbiosis, are bad for health.[2]
Fortunately, there is a way of correcting dysbiosis, boosting the gut’s microbiota population. One can enhance gut microbiota through probiotics use. One can either consume foods rich in probiotics, like yogurt or other fermented foods. Alternatively, one can use probiotic-rich supplements.
For example, health supplements like Zenkgo Women’s Multivitamin contain probiotics. Thus, it can help normalize gut microflora and have wide-ranging health benefits.
Types of Probiotics
There are different kinds of commercially available probiotics. However, most probiotics contain strains like: [3]
- Lactobacillus
- Bifidobacterium
- Other Types of Probiotics- Saccharomyces, streptococcus, enterococcus, Escherichia, and bacillus.
Health Benefits of Probiotics
There are innumerable health benefits of probiotics. Here, we look at some of the more significant reasons for using probiotics.
Improvement of Digestive Health
Probiotics help regenerate or revive the population of healthy gut bacteria. This helps prevent the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. Additionally, probiotics also assist in digestive processes. They even produce certain nutrients.[4]
Probiotics can help overcome issues like chronic diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. Probiotics also enhance digestive processes, thus ensuring better availability of various nutrients.
Enhancement of Immune System
Probiotics are not just good for boosting immunity; they can also modulate immunity. Hence, they are good for preventing seasonal ailments and managing issues like autoimmune disorders and allergies.[5]
Some probiotic strains known to be especially good for immune health are lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Both these strains are present in Zenkgo Women’s Multivitamin supplement. Thus, this supplement helps in multiple ways. It provides vitamins and minerals, along with improving gut microbiota.
Probiotics are not just good for gut or seasonal infections. Since they can modulate immunity, they are particularly good for changing immune responses. Hence, probiotics may reduce the severity of autoimmune conditions and even help prevent flares of autoimmune disorders.
Additionally, probiotics are also good for managing allergies, both respiratory and skin allergies. Thus, for example, probiotics are especially good for eczema management.
Management of Mental Health
People have always believed in gut feeling. However, now science is discovering the truth behind it. It appears that gut health can influence mental well-being in multiple ways. Those with poor gut health are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, and even brain disorders like dementia.
It seems that the gut produces many important bioactive compounds. The gut even produces neurotransmitters like serotonin. The human gut is also rich in nerve endings that constantly keep sending different signals to the brain, thus influencing its activity.
Probiotics combined with vitamins might be especially good for women, who are more likely to experience mood swings due to hormonal issues.
Beneficial for Women’s Health
Probiotics are good for women’s health. They help regulate mood and boost immunity. They help prevent anxiety-related gut issues. They also help prevent mood problems caused by poor gut health.
Interestingly, probiotics are also good for preventing cystitis. Thus, they might have a role in managing chronic urinary tract infections. Additionally, they also prevent vaginal infections. Thus, probiotics may help with post-coital vaginitis.[6]
Conclusion
Trillions of microorganisms living in the human body are not parasites. They live in symbiosis. It is a give-and-take relationship, a mutually beneficial relationship. The human body provides residence and nutrition to these microorganisms. In exchange, these minute unicellular organisms provide the human body with vital bioactive compounds. They also help fight infections and train immunity.
Depleted microbiota is harmful to health. Dysbiosis or depletion of microbiota may occur due to toxins and prolonged antibiotic use. Since people are frequently exposed to harmful substances that alter gut microbiota, it is vital to boost the population through probiotic use.
Moreover, probiotics are not just safe. They help in a very gentle way. They have both short-term and long-term health benefits. Diverse and healthy microbiota can help prevent numerous health conditions.
References
[1] Ursell LK, Metcalf JL, Parfrey LW, et al. Defining the Human Microbiome. Nutr Rev. 2012;70:S38–S44.
[2] Carding S, Verbeke K, Vipond DT, et al. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota in disease. Microb Ecol Health Dis. 2015;26:10.3402/mehd.v26.26191.
[3] Office of Dietary Supplements - Probiotics [Internet]. [cited 2023 Nov 4]. Available from: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-HealthProfessional/.
[4] Amara AA, Shibl A. Role of Probiotics in health improvement, infection control and disease treatment and management. Saudi Pharm J. 2015;23:107–114.
[5] Yan F, Polk DB. Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27:496–501.
[6] Mei Z, Li D. The role of probiotics in vaginal health. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022;12:963868.