7 Facts About Probiotics You Need To Know

Low fiber diet, too much sugar or too much fat: There are numerous reasons that can overload the intestines, causing problems such as constipation or diarrhea. Bowel problems are very common and cannot be ignored: the consequences range from mood swings and poor concentration to more serious illnesses.

For those with these problems, probiotic-rich foods can be great allies!

According to Dr. Andréa Pereira, a nutritionist at Albert Einstein Hospital, are probiotics microorganisms, mostly bacteria, that provide a number of health benefits? This is because they help in balancing the bacteria? good? and? bad? of the intestinal flora.


Here are 7 reasons to insert probiotics once and for all into your daily diet.

1. The best known effect of probiotics is to aid in the proper functioning of the bowel. This is because the bacteria present in these foods are resistant to digestive enzymes, reaching the intestines intact. Thus, they act on the bacterial balance of the intestinal flora, preventing constipation or diarrhea.

2. The advantages of probiotic foods are not limited to the gut. According to Dr. Andréa Pereira, studies indicate that they can still benefit the immune system, relieve muscle pain, stomach problems, chronic diseases, among others. Experts still recommend its consumption to aid the nutrient absorption process.


3. There are probiotic-rich products on the market, but labels do not always bring this information clearly. To find them, keep an eye on the names Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria, the most commonly used probiotics in products such as fermented milks and yogurts.

4. Probiotics can help with weight loss and weight maintenance. Does nutritionist Andréa Pereira explain that studies indicate that intestinal flora may be related? associated with genetic, nutritional, physiological and psychological factors? with obesity disease. This is because the obese have an intestinal flora with a different composition of non-obese. Probiotics are thought to be helpful in weight loss, not as a single but adjunctive treatment associated with diet, medicine and exercise. But she clarifies that, because they are recent, it is not yet known how effective it is in treating obesity.

5. Probiotics are not just in food. According to Andrea, it is possible to find in the Brazilian market some industrialized probiotics, in powder or tablet form, which can be administered by a doctor to patients.


6. They can benefit the female urinary system. Researchers believe these bacteria help fight common problems such as vaginal and urinary fungal infections. This is because some probiotics, such as lactobacilli, are able to balance the body's acidity levels, preventing the survival of microorganisms.

7. Probiotics can prevent allergies. A study of pregnant women and children found that bacteria found in probiotics stimulate the immune system and may decrease the incidence of allergies. In the research, proteins that stimulate the immune system and prevent allergic reactions were on average 50% higher in children treated with probiotics.

With so many benefits, it is clear that this is a good food to include in your daily diet. The most common products that have probiotics are fermented milks, which you can easily find in supermarkets in your city. Taking care of food is taking care of health, keep an eye!

5 tips to keep your gut microbiome healthy | UCLA Health Newsroom (March 2024)


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