What are probiotics?Updated 10 months ago
According to the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), probiotics are defined as “living microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.” The digestive tract alone contains roughly 100 trillion bacteria. To put that into perspective, we have 10 trillion cells that make up our bodies. In other words, the bacterial ecosystem that makes us who we are outnumbers our cells on the order of 10 to 1. From a DNA perspective, the genes of the microbes that inhabit our bodies exceed the amount of human DNA we each have by a factor of 100.
Building and maintaining a healthy gut flora—which involves optimizing the balance of “good” to “bad” bacteria—is critical to digestive system health and function, overall health, immune system function, mental health and wellbeing, metabolism and weight management, respiratory (i.e., lungs) and integumentary (i.e., skin) systems, and more. When the gut flora is in a healthy balance, it provides immense support to digestive function, immune system, metabolism, skin health, mental well-being, and more.
However, when the gut is unbalanced and unhealthy, a number of issues can ensue. In fact, research suggests that having inadequate levels of healthy bacteria in your gut may contribute to over 170 different health issues, including weight gain and difficulty with weight management, as well as digestive, skin, and mental well-being-related issues. Along these lines, there are many common factors that can upset the balance of gut bacteria, including:
Aging
Environmental factors
Food choices (e.g., Certain artificial sweeteners like sucralose have been shown to reduce the levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut and negatively alter the gut flora.)
Stress
Medications (e.g., antibiotics)
Smoking
In other words, a modern lifestyle—characterized by poor food choices, stress, and antibiotics, as well as factors outside of your control like nutrient-depleted soil, environmental toxins, and pollutants—can wreak havoc on the gut flora. The great news is that there is a solution to an unhealthy gut, and you can begin restoring your gut health by supplementing with high-quality probiotics.
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