From the day we were born, there have been billions of bacteria living in our digestive tract at all times.
Most are helpful, some do harm. To maintain digestive health, the idea is to keep a proper balance between the two. When there is an imbalance, diarrhea, constipation/irregularity, bloating, gas, and other intestinal discomforts can result.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the good bacteria already inside our bodies.
Available to us mainly through dietary supplements and foods, these probiotics can restore intestinal balance by boosting the number of those bacteria that are helpful to us.
Intestinal balance is a delicate thing.
It can be disturbed by:
- A poor diet that does not give the body the proper nutrition
- Age – the number of healthy bacteria decreases as we get older
- Stress wreaks havoc on the digestive system
- Travel exposes us to harmful bacteria, especially in the water we drink
- The use of antibiotics and other medications also alters the balance in the digestive system.
When taken on a daily basis probiotics support the digestive system and restore the balance that is so important to good health. Probiotics increase the number of healthy bacteria compared to unhealthy strains.
Furthermore, the probiotic strains that enter the body compete for space and nutrients with the less desirable strains, making it harder for them to produce toxic substances. Studies even have shown that probiotics may stimulate the immune system.
In general, the use of probiotics creates a situation that is receptive to good bacteria and unfriendly to those that can do us harm.
