#HealthBytes: Here's all that you need to know about probiotics
What's the story
Probiotics are good bacteria that are naturally present in your body. However, these live bacteria are also consumed as supplements for their added health benefits. Probiotics aren't to be confused with prebiotics, which are nutrients that stimulate the growth of useful bacteria in the body. With their growing popularity in recent years, here's all that you need to know about probiotics.
Natural sources
Yogurt, buttermilk, and soft cheese are good dairy sources
Probiotics are found in a wide range of foods and including them in your diet is beneficial for overall health. Yogurt, buttermilk, and soft cheese are few dairy products that are rich in probiotics. Miso and tempeh are healthy alternatives to animal-based probiotics. You can also consume juices and cereals fortified with probiotics to reach the recommended daily probiotic intake.
Health benefits
Excellent for gut microbiome, increases vitamin D levels of body
Though probiotics are known to be excellent for the gut microbiome, their benefits go way beyond that. Probiotics foods containing the Lactobacillus bacteria help reduce the "bad" cholesterol in the body. Studies prove that consuming Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 has a significant impact on psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome. Probiotics also increase the vitamin D levels of the body, thereby preventing high blood pressure.
Tips
Tips to choose a good probiotic supplement
A good probiotic supplement must contain live bacterial cultures. Discuss the contents on the label with your doctor or simply Google it. It is also important to choose a brand that you trust or one that has a high rating. This is because a few products may not have all the listed bacteria and a few may have extra strains other than those mentioned.
Caution
Few things to keep in mind before taking probiotic supplements
Because probiotics already exist in the body, the supplements are known to have very few side effects in healthy adults. However, some strains might cause allergic side effects and adverse reactions. The amines present in probiotics might trigger migraine headaches in some people. Persons with immunity diseases or those who have had surgery need to check with a doctor before consuming probiotic supplements.