In recent years, the word “microbiome” has entered our common vocabulary. No longer are health-concerned folks talking just about cardiovascular health or muscular endurance--gut health has taken on new importance. The microbiome is made up of thousands of different species, including bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. There are trillions of bacteria in each person’s body; the majority are harmless, but some can cause disease while others can not only fight it but maybe even prevent it. Everyone’s microbiome is different, but there are ways to improve or change it.
Probiotics are often named as a key ingredient to changing your microbiome’s make-up--but probiotic has become somewhat of a buzzword with the rise of health and wellness movements. So, let’s see what they’re really about.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are a form of live, good bacteria that can benefit your body. They can be found in fermented foods, like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut and, yup, kombucha or in supplements.
The roles of probiotics
The main role of probiotics is to balance out your digestive tract. But these good bacteria can also prevent or reduce inflammation, support immune function, keep bad bacteria from accumulating and making you sick, help your body absorb vitamins, support the cells that line your gut to make sure that bad bacteria that you have consumed doesn’t enter your bloodstream, and break down and absorb medication.
Through all of this hard work, these little organisms have been known to help fight off diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), yeast infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), eczema and the common cold. They can also help with weight loss, improving digestion and giving you healthier skin.
The types of probiotics
There are many different kinds of probiotics that all have different effects on the body, but most come from two categories:
Bifidobacterium:Is found in dairy products.
Lactobacillus: Is found in fermented foods and can be a good option for those who can’t properly digest lactose, the sugar in milk.
Probiotics as mood stabilizersIncorporating probiotics into your diet and protecting the gut against unhealthy bacteria have been known to have positive effects on mood disorders as well as physical conditions. A 2018 article published by Harvard University stated that over 90% of serotonin receptors--the hormone responsible for stabilizing our moods--are located in the gut. A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. So, it stands to reason that a person's stomach ache or cramps can be the causeor a symptom of anxiety, stress, or depression. That's because the brain and the gastrointestinal system are closely tied. So, consuming ultra-processed products like sugary snack foods or soda, many of which also have chemical additives, can have a negative effect on mental health.
"Over 90% of serotonin receptors--the hormone responsible for stabilizing our moods--are located in the gut"
Studies are shoring that the gut is the body’s second brain. And if we’re to treat it with that level of importance, its health and maintenance depends on having tons of probiotics.
Get your daily dose of probiotics with Gutsy Kombucha!
Cheers!