What Are Probiotics??Benefits & Sources!

1. What are Probiotics? Their Benefits and Natural Food Sources Probiotics are living microorganisms (usually bacteria but certain types of yeast also) that boost health when consumed in adequate amounts. There are many different types, and you can obtain them from foods prepared by bacterial fermentation or supplements. Our present-day diet, to a large extent, is accountable for the balance between the ‘good’ and the ‘bad’ bacteria going out of sync. Health Benefits of Probiotics

2. Probiotics have many advantages for both adults and children. They have been found beneficial for the whole population irrespective of the age factor. Gender-specific probiotics are also available to best suit the cause. The basic issue is, it is difficult to get it from the nutrients alone, so a probiotic supplement that contains enzymes and ingredients that are known to help with digestion is an optimum solution. Some of the common benefits include; weight loss and management, digestive tract health, bone health, skin health, disease protection, gut health, and active immune function. Dozens of different probiotic bacteria offer health benefits. Interestingly, different Probiotics address different health conditions. So, choosing the right type(s) of probiotic is need of an hour. The most common groups of Beneficial Bacteria that are present in our intestine are Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes ( like Lactobacillus, and Bifidobacterium). All group embraces different species, and every species has many strains with different impact on different areas.

3. A study shows that if elevated level of Firmicutes present, obesity tends to be the standards. This suggested that, in cases where the microflora in one’s intestines incline towards a higher concentration of Firmicutes, weight gain would arise while when the levels are in sync, a cut in weight would be encountered. This unevenness in our belly is known as gut dysbiosis. Researches have shown that Bacteroidetes are to be found everywhere, i.e. in the soil, freshwater, the oceans, and in our intestines and have been found to play a significant role in the degradation of carbohydrates as well as protein. This too looks to be related to the composition of flora in the intestines as well. Due to diet, it is often the case that the composition of our intestine’s flora is compromised, and obesity is, more often than not, the result. Where increased levels of Firmicutes have been noticed in the stomach, weight gain has more often been present. Natural sources of beneficial Probiotics There are many foods which contains the best probiotics or good bacteria food like: Yougurt is natural and does not contain any adulterated material, has a good percentage of ‘good’ probiotics, such as acidophilus, thermophilius, bifudus, bulgaricus etc.  Sauerkraut is prepared from breweded cabbage and an excellent source of not only probiotics but certain vitamins conducive to general health.  Tempeh, a wonderful substitute for protein, is made from fermented soybeans and is a great source of probiotics as well as vitamin B12.  Kombucha is fermented tea containing a large percentage of bacteria that is beneficial to one’s digestive system. It is considered to not only associated with weight loss but encourages energy and general well-being as well.  Curd or Yogurt is the best source of probiotics, which are good for bone health  Idli: It is prepared by fermentation which helps in better absorption of nutrients in the body.  Indian Cheese is a rich source of proteins and probiotics.  Traditional Buttermilk: The grandma’s probiotics, is the liquid containing very low fats and carbs along with vitamin B12, minerals and many probiotics.  Kefir: Gives various health benefits including better digestion, absorption and bone health.  Miso or Akhuni: It is fermented soy-bean paste.  Kimchi: It contains lactoic acid bacterias which improves gut health.  Pickles: They are a good source of vitamin K and low carbs contains a variety of probiotics. 

4. Probiotic supplements: Apart from being mindful of one’s eating routine, there are some extraordinary supplements available on the market (for eg. billion cheers probiotics) particularly geared towards putting back one’s natural bacterial intestinal balance.  Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics, which are dietary fibers that help feed the friendly bacteria already in your gut.