All You Need to Know About Probiotics – Pros & Cons

Which foods are the best source of Probiotics?

Even though supplements are usually found to contain probiotics, there are a lot of food sources that are very rich in probiotics. These are Yoghourt, specifically plain Greek yogurt, a tangy dairy drink called kefir, fermented vegetables which are present in pickles and sauerkraut.

What are the most common types of Probiotics found in stores?

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the most common types of probiotics found in medical stores. The other kinds include Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Bacillus. On their label, they are usually identified by their specific strain, genus, species, and subspecies and lastly, by the letter number of the strain code.

Some supplements commonly referred to as broad-spectrum probiotics or multiple probiotics combine different species of probiotics which are then put together in the same product. Research is going on the specific strains of probiotics to be used, the dosage and duration of treatment, the long-term effects of the same, and the interaction of age, gender, health conditions, and lifestyle with probiotics.

What are the risks of Probiotics?

Since the research in this field is comparatively new, some supplements in the market are not well researched, and thereby sometimes they can make an already ill person more ill.

As they fall under the category of supplements, they are not looked at closely by the Food Department so some products which say that they contain probiotics might not contain it. Since microbes are already present in one’s body, the consumption of probiotics is considered safe.

However, they can also trigger allergic reactions. The first few days of starting probiotic consumption may trigger mild stomach problems. In research, it has been shown that the gut and brain are connected in a system which is called the gut-brain axis and some microbes in the gut can affect one’s brain via the axis in both health and diseases.

How to take Probiotics supplements?

Probiotics come in several forms such as foods, drinks, capsules, powders, and liquids. They are usually advised to be combined with prebiotics which are complex carbohydrates that feed the microorganism in one’s body. They are the “food source” of good bacteria that enter the body.

They include insulin, pectin, and resistant starches. A supplement that contains both the prebiotics and probiotics is called Synbiotic which usually combines friendly bacteria with some food fit for consumption of the prebiotics.

Are Probiotics even effective?

There is ongoing research about the effectiveness of probiotics regarding the treatment of various conditions. Even though most of the research has yielded good results, some more research should be done to make them fit for public consumption.

Keep an eye out while buying products as most of them claim to only contain probiotics but in reality, they do not have any. Pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised to not consume probiotics until they consult with their doctors.

They can also interfere with the medicine one is taking. They usually help in directions other than digestion, such as weight loss, enhanced immune function, healthier skin, and reduced risk of some diseases. Some researches show that supplementing with certain strains of probiotics may be preferable to taking psychotropic drugs to cope with mental health problems.

How should one store Probiotics?

Probiotics, at least some of them are very fragile in nature and need to be protected from heat, oxygen, light, or humidity as exposure to these factors will cause them to break down. They should be refrigerated or kept in areas that are free from the aforementioned elements.

Refrigeration will ensure that they will provide the full benefit even if they have been stored in a container for a long time. It is advised to look at the label for storage information. Like any other product, it should be used within the expiration date.