Discover the health benefits of probiotics, understand how these bacteria act in our intestinal system and when ingestion is necessary.
Supplementation with probiotics is increasingly talked about and rightly so since there are situations in which it is indispensable.
It is known that our health cannot be dissociated from the intestinal flora, since it is an important determinant of states of health and disease. Recent investigations show that even in obesity the flora can have a preponderant role.
So, do you need to take a probiotic?
The best way to be sure is to do a stool analysis to determine the type of microorganisms that inhabit your intestine.
In this way it can be checked whether there is dysbiosis – imbalance of microorganisms that inhabit your intestine.
The resident flora (bacteria), transient flora (bacteria), fungi, parasites, viruses and yeasts such as candida albicans (this does not exist only in the vagina) are evaluated.
After checking the results, it would be possible to concretely prescribe a probiotic supplement that, in the presence of dysbiosis, should be taken for at least 6 months.
Candida albicans – it can be in excess and you don’t even suspect it
The yeast Candida Albicans is a microorganism that is part of our intestinal flora, but potentially very dangerous if it proliferates in unusual amounts.
It can produce substances that can have great toxicity, altering and disturbing the overall functioning of the organism.
It is common in cases of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease), irritable bowel syndrome, recurrent depression, chronic fatigue, and autism spectrum disorders.
Extreme tiredness can be synonymous with candida. The only way to detect it is through stool analysis.
Treatment includes antifungal medication, probiotics and dietary care.
If you haven’t done any tests to specifically assess your intestinal flora, there are some situations in which the use of probiotics is justified.
Constipation
If your gut isn’t working well and it doesn’t get better when you drink more water, exercise more and eat healthier, then try taking probiotics.
Your intestinal flora may be in need of repopulation. Choose a probiotic with a good percentage of bifidobacteria.
Diarrhea
In the case of persistent diarrhea, it is best to consult a doctor.
If you have acute diarrhea, know that Saccharomyces boulardii yeasts and Lactobacillus acidophilus bacteria are the most suitable for this case.
Take twice a dose of each of these probiotics throughout the day.
Keep taking it for one or two weeks.
Non-specific intestinal upset
If your bowel function is simply erratic, you have frequent flatulence, and your stomach is often bloated with gas, a probiotic can help.
It will improve your digestive process, repopulating your flora with microorganisms that produce less gas.
antibiotics
If you have taken broad-spectrum antibiotics for some reason, be aware that you must restore your intestinal flora as this will likely be affected by the medication.
The flowers of the skin and oropharynx are easily populated by microorganisms since they are permanently in free contact with the external environment.
The same does not happen with the vaginal flora and the intestinal flora.
If you have taken antibiotics, you should repopulate your intestinal flora with probiotics.
To rebalance the intestinal flora, you may need 6 months of supplementation.
intestinal diseases
Usually, cases of intestinal diseases benefit from taking probiotics.
The most prudent thing would be to first assess your intestinal flora before starting supplementation.
If your intestine and digestion work very well and you don’t have any intestinal, immune, inflammatory disease, you probably don’t need probiotics.
If you are going to take probiotics, do it with your meal and choose quality probiotics as the bacteria have to be able to survive until they reach your intestines to fulfill their function.
In addition to supplements, find out about foods with probiotics here.
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