Since several decades probiotics have proved to be helpful when it comes to soothing your digestion and digestive systems. If you suffer from any type of digestive problem, such as diarrhea, acid reflux, and constipation, probiotics are considered to be the best form of treatment you will ever come across. Of late, you will notice that probiotics or the good bacteria are gaining immense popularity, especially in the world of health and fitness. It is getting introduced in all sorts of products, starting from toothpastes to cereals.
Apart from finding probiotics in their natural form inside the human body, you can also find them in various types of foods such as kefir, yogurt, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut. If you want, you can also buy probiotics in the form of supplements from the store. However, it is important for you to understand that probiotics that are found in foods are not at a level to provide any type of benefits for themselves. Any added oral probiotic supplement will contain more helpful microorganisms.
Requirement of Probiotics
To things in a simple form, prebiotics are basically dietary fibers that primarily feed or even fertilize the probiotics found in your gut. This is mainly done by resisting absorption and digestion in the GI tract and also selectively stimulating the growth of good bacteria. More importantly, prebiotics help the probiotics to multiply. It is important for you to know that prebiotics can easily be found in their natural forms in specific types of foods or you may even find them in the form of pills.
In order to boost the number of desirable bacteria in the human digestive system, it is better to have foods that are rich in prebiotics, such as asparagus, onions, apples, garlic, barley, and bananas. When you talk about the desirable bacteria, it basically refers to those that are associated with reduced risks of diseases and improved overall health. Some sort of foods that are rich in prebiotics, it is best to have them in their raw state. This is because cooking them can easily alter the fiber content.
People with Immune System Problems Should Avoid Them (Cons)
It is needless to say that people with a weak immune system can easily be affected in a negative way upon consumption of probiotics as you can see on this page. Thus, it is important to talk to your doctor before you decide to have probiotic-rich foods or probiotic supplements. This is simply because people with a weak immune system may suffer from infections and similar serious issues upon consumption of probiotics. It may also lead to various types of minor side effects such as diarrhea, bloating, gas and upset stomach.
Probiotics Are Not Regulated by the FDA Like Drugs (Pros)
The FDA or the US Food and Drug Administration is responsible for reviewing the safety standards of medical devices, foods, drugs, cosmetics, and many more products. When it comes to drugs, the FDA simply checks to see whether the manufacturers have proved that the drugs are safe and effective to consume. Most of the probiotic supplements fall under the category of food or dietary supplement. This basically means that they do not require any type of approval from the FDA before they are marketed.
Since the companies that manufacture packaged probiotic products do not have to prove the authenticity of the ingredients listed on the label, they are in no position to make any health claims. Nonetheless, they can certainly make vague claims, such as improves digestive health, although there are no standard quantities or minimum levels of microbes needed.
Take Some Time to Work (Cons)
Once you start having probiotics on a regular basis, whether through supplements or foods, it is good for you not to expect great results overnight. Results are basically dependent upon the person having it, the symptoms found in the person’s body, and the type of probiotic consumed. It largely depends upon the time taken by the probiotic or the bacteria to generate. When you talk about the generation time, it basically refers to the time needed by the bacteria to double itself.
There are several types of probiotics or good bacteria. Out of those, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus have the shortest generation times. As a result of this, they can easily start working within a few minutes of consumption. On the other hand, other strains may take several days to get to their full therapeutic ability. Thus, it is better to pay some attention to the label as well as the reaction of your body to the probiotic.
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