You have probably heard of the importance of having a healthy gut to have a healthy mind. Interestingly enough, gut microbes can help your body produce more serotonin which influences your mood to be more positive and balanced. Probiotics are one important factor in keeping our gut microbes fed, and with happy microbes comes increased levels of serotonin.
Increasing our probiotic consumption has many health benefits for our body, and is easy to incorporate into our daily routine. The best time to take probiotics is in the morning prior to eating, this ensures quick absorption of the supplement, and also makes it easier to remember! It is important to keep in mind that they must be consumed daily for probiotics to be beneficial to your gut health.
Probiotics can be taken as supplements or through fermented food products and drinks. Probiotics help our digestive system and support a healthy immune system, urinary system, and balanced vaginal health in women. For probiotics to work properly it is essential to use prebiotics. Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that help feed our gut microbes and keep them working efficiently. Some examples of prebiotic foods include garlic, leeks, asparagus, and oats.
What are Probiotics and Gut Flora?
Probiotics are live microorganisms consisting of good bacteria that help keep your body healthy and functioning properly. Probiotics can be found in your gut, and primarily in the large intestines. They are most known for restoring and boosting the gut flora.
Our gut and its importance to our health are becoming increasingly popular within the medical community and health conscious consumers. Our gut health has direct correlations between the health of our immune system, mental health, mood, and so much more!
The gut flora or gut microbiota refers to the microorganisms residing in our digestive tract. Approximately 70% of the immune system is found in the gut, this means that keeping our gut microbiome healthy will keep our immune system in top shape to fight off potential threats. Consistent levels of stress, high-sugar foods, or taking antibiotics can harm our gut microbiome. Getting proper sleep, reducing stress levels, and taking probiotics through supplements or food can promote a healthy gut.
ods That Contain Probiotics and Why to Eat Them!
One great source of probiotics can be found through fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, or tempeh, or fermented drinks like kombucha or kefir. Fermented foods help increase the number of probiotics found in our gut and can be easily added to our diet. Sauerkraut can be added to soups or sandwiches, tempeh makes an excellent addition to salads, and kefir can be added to cereal.
Fermented foods are rich in probiotic bacteria and often create helpful vitamins and minerals through the fermentation process. “Fermentation also can boost the nutritional value of certain foods. In some cases, it can produce a variety of B vitamins in foods that did not contain them before they were fermented.” These foods aid in better digestion as well as enhance our immune system.
Having a diet of high-sugar and highly processed foods can throw off the balance of our gut microbiota and lead to poor digestive symptoms. Eating fermented foods can help balance our gut microbiota that is impacted by our food choices as well as help restore balance after taking antibiotics.
Benefits of Probiotics for Women‘s Vaginal Health
Probiotics can help those with symptoms of yeast infections or bacterial vaginosis. They can also help restore and balance the optimal pH level for ideal vaginal health. Antibiotics kill the bacteria needed for proper balance in the vagina. When this balance is upset and there is a higher level of yeast to bacteria, candida fungus is able to flourish and cause infection. Taking probiotics prior to antibiotics and during can greatly reduce the risk of infection.
Taking probiotics can also be used as a preventative measure for urinary tract infections. Women are at a higher risk of developing bladder infections than men, which can later turn into kidney infections. Women who have had urinary tract infections in the past are more likely to develop these infections in the future. Probiotics and cranberry products may help lower the risk of future infections and may even help the recovery process of current infections.
Having a healthy immune system is especially important for pregnant women. Pregnancy can often lower a mother’s immune system, leaving her more at risk for sickness. Babies first develop their immune system through their mother’s womb and traveling through the birth canal. Taking probiotics is one way women can help nourish their digestive system and boost their immune systems while pregnant.
Possible Side Effects of Probiotics
Increasing the number of probiotics in your diet can change the composition in your gut and can sometimes lead to minor side effects while your body adjusts. You may experience gas or bloating when consuming more probiotics than you are used to. Probiotics may also cause diarrhea in some individuals. These symptoms should decrease in the following weeks when your body adjusts to its new normal! If you are taking blood thinners, have a history of kidney stones, fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, or are pregnant/ breastfeeding consult a health care practitioner prior to using probiotics.
Taking Care of Our Body and Mind
Ensuring that our diet contains healthy foods and incorporates probiotic and prebiotic content is a great way to care for our mental and physical well-being. By taking probiotics through food or supplements women can ensure their body is in optimal working condition and lead healthier and happier lives! Remember to drink plenty of water when consuming probiotics.
Probiotic supplements are an easy way to add probiotics to your routine especially while having a busy schedule. Our Women Probiotics + Cranberry is the perfect supplement for digestive health, and was created especially with women’s health in mind. Our products are made from natural ingredients and placed into vegetable based vegan capsules.
To read more about our product you may visit our product page here.
link to our women’s probiotics
