Probiotics for a Balanced Microbiome

The Importance of Probiotics: Everything You Need to Know

    2021-06-1206/12/21   
Supplements  

Is taking a probiotic supplement worth it? Aren't probiotics made from bacteria? Shouldn't we avoid unnecessary bacteria? Read on to answer your probiotics questions.

Last year American's consumption of probiotics increased by 66%. But why this sudden interest in probiotics? What's the importance of probiotics, and how can they affect our health?

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are made from live bacteria. Unfortunately, the same live bacteria are also found in the body. Fortunately, not all bacteria are bad, and our body requires this good type of bacteria to stay healthy.

Probiotics are made from that good bacteria. When consumed or put on the body, probiotics can help to maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in the body.

The good bacteria found in your body are responsible for a whole host of functions that need the correct bacterial balance to take place.

Your body has over 100 trillion microorganisms that are responsible for keeping you in good health. Probiotics contain some of these microorganisms and are a part of this vast ecosystem of microorganisms in the body.

There are many different probiotic strains. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are two of the most common groups of bacteria used for probiotics. Some probiotics contain these two bacteria groups; some probiotics have combinations of other bacteria.

It's important to remember that each type of bacteria has a different role in the body. The different probiotic strains have independent uses.

What's the Importance of Probiotics?

Want to know how probiotics work? It's pretty straightforward - the body uses them to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria (good and bad). This is to keep you in optimal health.

Probiotics are also part of critical processes such as digestion, fighting disease and immunity, losing weight, and vitamin absorption.

Probiotics are constantly at work in your gut to stop harmful bacteria from entering your bloodstream. This can help your body fight disease and infection.

There's a strong link between balanced microorganisms and a healthy immune system. For this reason, many people have turned to probiotics during the pandemic to ensure a robust and healthy immune system.

Where Are Probiotics In The Body?

There are various and specific parts of our body where probiotic bacteria (our microbe) live. These are the areas that need to constantly maintain a healthy bacterial balance to avoid getting sick. So let's take a look at some of the parts of the body affected by probiotics:

The Gut

Our gastrointestinal tract is where the highest concentration of microorganisms lives. Keeping these bacteria healthy is crucial for metabolism and keeping pathogens at bay.

Unbalanced bacteria in the gut are linked to various infections and inflammatory diseases.

One of the main benefits of probiotics is keeping this complex system of gut bacteria in balance. This can help avoid issues such as diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

A healthy, well-balanced gut is also a healthy immune system that impacts all aspects of our health, including our mood and mental health.

Skin

The first barrier between our body and the outside world; human skin is also the home to a complex combination of microbes.

Applying probiotic skin products can help to heal afflictions of the skin, such as acne or eczema.

The Mouth

Another part of the body that's home to probiotic bacteria in the mouth. Consumption of probiotics may help prevent and treat oral diseases.

The digestion process starts in the mouth when you chew your food. Thus it makes sense that maintaining healthy bacteria levels in your mouth will impact the bacteria in your gut.

The Vagina

When a baby is born, its gut bacteria are colonized with the bacteria in the mother's vagina. This helps the baby to develop a healthy immune system as it grows. 

Keeping a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina can help to maintain the PH levels in the vagina and avoid issues such as bacterial vaginosis. The probiotic women commonly take for vaginal health is L. acidophilus.

The Urinary Tract

Ensuring the balance of probiotics in your body is also essential for urinary tract health. This is because the bacteria in the urinary tract can become infected with pathogens. This can lead to discomfort and urinary tract infections.

How to Take Probiotics

You can consume probiotics as part of your diet, or you can buy probiotic supplements.

Fermented foods are full of probiotics, and including them in your diet can help maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your body. The following foods contain probiotics:

  • Yogurt
  • Tempeh 
  • Kombucha 
  • Miso 
  • Sourdough
  • Kimchi
  • Sourkraut

You can also take probiotics as a capsule, liquid, or powdered supplement. If you want to ensure you are getting a regular and steady probiotic boost, it's best to take a supplement rather than rely on your diet.

It is possible to take too many probiotics; you won't have severe side effects but may feel bloated, gassy, or nauseous.

Taking a probiotic supplement will give you a regulated dose that's safe for your body. You usually take probiotic supplements on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

Maintain a Balanced Microbiome

Our health is dependant on a complex system of processes. The importance of probiotics in these processes can't be underestimated. In addition, the balance of our living bacteria is crucial to maintaining good health. 

We can influence the balance of our microbiome (the living bacteria) through our daily actions.

Keep the living bacteria in your body healthy and balanced with a combination of a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and supplements. Remember to discuss your supplement program with your doctor before you start it.

If you're feeling like your gut and immune system are sluggish and need a healthy boost, why not try a cleanse with probiotics?

headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
Author

Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

  Related Content

We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


Unhappy Woman holding pill with water

Antibiotics Contributing to Obesity?

Your intestinal tract, AKA "the gut" is becoming something more and more scientists are paying attention to for a wide variety of illnesses and long term health issues. Antibiotics may be helpful at times but need to taken with precaution.


modern grocery store with gluten free and dairy free foods on the outer isles

Help for Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Living

Eliminating or minimizing Gluten and Dairy from your diet isn't necessary for everyone but some certainly benefit from making these lifestyle changes. Regardless, we all benefit from eating more natural, whole foods and less processed foods. Learn more about gluten-free and dairy-free nutrition options and take advantage of the educational resources, shopping list, and recipes.


How to Grocery Shop and What to Eat

We are what we eat. Studies from reputable health organizations suggest that 40-60% of Americans are living with one or more chronic diseases, which negatively impacts their quality of life, reduces employment productivity, and drives up health care costs.1 Lifestyle choices, in particular, the foods we choose to put into our bodies, are making us sick. However, we do have choices regarding our nutrition.

Learn practical tips for healthy and affordable grocery shopping and consider using a list similar to the recommended natural, whole foods grocery shopping list provided to get you off to a good start!


woman using her hands to illustrate where the gut microbiome is on her body

How to Improve Microbiome Imbalance

How can you ensure you maintain a healthy gut? What daily lifestyle changes can you make to keep stomach upsets and digestive problems at bay? Try these tips and you should see improvements in your digestion in no time.


human with shield in front of gut reflecting objects attacking him

Our Immune System Health & Lifestyle Choices

Most people know that the immune system is responsible for fighting off pathogens and ensuring ongoing good health, but few are aware of the interaction between the immune system and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This relationship is mediated by a complex community of gut bacteria, known collectively as the gut microbiome.

Learn more about how our lifestyle choices affect our immune health and practical things we can do to live better today.


woman's face illustrating good and bad skin

Pretty Skin Begins Here

Do you wonder, "What else can I do for my skin?" If you've tried over the counter solutions, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, avoiding the sun, and all sorts of other potions, you may need to re-think your skin regimen.


a woman's belly with hands depicting a colon cleanse

What is a Probiotic and How Does it Affect Our Immune System Health?

The term "probiotic" refers to bacteria that live within our bodies and perform beneficial functions. Research is focusing on how the bacteria that live within our bodies affects our health and our immune system.


healthy and unhealthy foods on four forks show a continuum from healthy to unhealthy depicting the standard American diet

What Is the Standard American Diet (SAD)?

How aware are you of what's going into your body? Are you eating to live or living to eat? In reality, we all have different nutritional needs, but the standard American diet (SAD) doesn't suit most of them (or most people, for that matter). Your diet might be making you sick, sluggish, and at-risk.


Drawing of Boy In Bubble Protected by Immune System

Why You Should Care About Gut Health

The Gut (think intestinal/digestive tract) is where approximately 80% of your immune system lives. It's been overlooked in the general healthcare world, and here's why you should care about and for it.

  • Blog Post

    Last year American's consumption of probiotics increased by 66%. But why this sudden interest in probiotics? What's the importance of probiotics, and how can they affect our health?

    What Are Probiotics?

    Probiotics are made from live bacteria. Unfortunately, the same live bacteria are also found in the body. Fortunately, not all bacteria are bad, and our body requires this good type of bacteria to stay healthy.

    Probiotics are made from that good bacteria. When consumed or put on the body, probiotics can help to maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria in the body.

    The good bacteria found in your body are responsible for a whole host of functions that need the correct bacterial balance to take place.

    Your body has over 100 trillion microorganisms that are responsible for keeping you in good health. Probiotics contain some of these microorganisms and are a part of this vast ecosystem of microorganisms in the body.

    There are many different probiotic strains. Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are two of the most common groups of bacteria used for probiotics. Some probiotics contain these two bacteria groups; some probiotics have combinations of other bacteria.

    It's important to remember that each type of bacteria has a different role in the body. The different probiotic strains have independent uses.

    What's the Importance of Probiotics?

    Want to know how probiotics work? It's pretty straightforward - the body uses them to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria (good and bad). This is to keep you in optimal health.

    Probiotics are also part of critical processes such as digestion, fighting disease and immunity, losing weight, and vitamin absorption.

    Probiotics are constantly at work in your gut to stop harmful bacteria from entering your bloodstream. This can help your body fight disease and infection.

    There's a strong link between balanced microorganisms and a healthy immune system. For this reason, many people have turned to probiotics during the pandemic to ensure a robust and healthy immune system.

    Where Are Probiotics In The Body?

    There are various and specific parts of our body where probiotic bacteria (our microbe) live. These are the areas that need to constantly maintain a healthy bacterial balance to avoid getting sick. So let's take a look at some of the parts of the body affected by probiotics:

    The Gut

    Our gastrointestinal tract is where the highest concentration of microorganisms lives. Keeping these bacteria healthy is crucial for metabolism and keeping pathogens at bay.

    Unbalanced bacteria in the gut are linked to various infections and inflammatory diseases.

    One of the main benefits of probiotics is keeping this complex system of gut bacteria in balance. This can help avoid issues such as diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.

    A healthy, well-balanced gut is also a healthy immune system that impacts all aspects of our health, including our mood and mental health.

    Skin

    The first barrier between our body and the outside world; human skin is also the home to a complex combination of microbes.

    Applying probiotic skin products can help to heal afflictions of the skin, such as acne or eczema.

    The Mouth

    Another part of the body that's home to probiotic bacteria in the mouth. Consumption of probiotics may help prevent and treat oral diseases.

    The digestion process starts in the mouth when you chew your food. Thus it makes sense that maintaining healthy bacteria levels in your mouth will impact the bacteria in your gut.

    The Vagina

    When a baby is born, its gut bacteria are colonized with the bacteria in the mother's vagina. This helps the baby to develop a healthy immune system as it grows. 

    Keeping a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina can help to maintain the PH levels in the vagina and avoid issues such as bacterial vaginosis. The probiotic women commonly take for vaginal health is L. acidophilus.

    The Urinary Tract

    Ensuring the balance of probiotics in your body is also essential for urinary tract health. This is because the bacteria in the urinary tract can become infected with pathogens. This can lead to discomfort and urinary tract infections.

    How to Take Probiotics

    You can consume probiotics as part of your diet, or you can buy probiotic supplements.

    Fermented foods are full of probiotics, and including them in your diet can help maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your body. The following foods contain probiotics:

    • Yogurt
    • Tempeh 
    • Kombucha 
    • Miso 
    • Sourdough
    • Kimchi
    • Sourkraut

    You can also take probiotics as a capsule, liquid, or powdered supplement. If you want to ensure you are getting a regular and steady probiotic boost, it's best to take a supplement rather than rely on your diet.

    It is possible to take too many probiotics; you won't have severe side effects but may feel bloated, gassy, or nauseous.

    Taking a probiotic supplement will give you a regulated dose that's safe for your body. You usually take probiotic supplements on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.

    Maintain a Balanced Microbiome

    Our health is dependant on a complex system of processes. The importance of probiotics in these processes can't be underestimated. In addition, the balance of our living bacteria is crucial to maintaining good health. 

    We can influence the balance of our microbiome (the living bacteria) through our daily actions.

    Keep the living bacteria in your body healthy and balanced with a combination of a nutritious diet, regular exercise, and supplements. Remember to discuss your supplement program with your doctor before you start it.

    If you're feeling like your gut and immune system are sluggish and need a healthy boost, why not try a cleanse with probiotics?

    headshot of Jay Todtenbier 2018
    Author

    Jay Todtenbier is an original founder of SupplementRelief.com in 2010 and has operated the business ever since. He is also a tennis instructor and gospel musician. Formerly he spent 25 years in business development, technology and marketing with startups and major corporations having gone through the tech boom in Silicon Valley in the 90s. He became passionate about, and began studying and practicing Wellness as a Lifestyle after experiencing chronic, personal health challenges including depression, auto-immune disorders, and being overweight that impacted his ability to live a healthy, vibrant life. Since then, he has been an advocate for healthier living encouraging others to live better through making small, gradual changes to lifestyle behaviors relating to whole-foods nutrition, stress management, reasonable exercise, proper sleep, and the use of targeted, high-quality supplements.

    Learn more about Jay Todtenbier.

  • Related Content

      Related Content

    We encourage you to take advantage of these FREE Wellness Resources on our website.


    Unhappy Woman holding pill with water

    Antibiotics Contributing to Obesity?

    Your intestinal tract, AKA "the gut" is becoming something more and more scientists are paying attention to for a wide variety of illnesses and long term health issues. Antibiotics may be helpful at times but need to taken with precaution.


    modern grocery store with gluten free and dairy free foods on the outer isles

    Help for Gluten-Free & Dairy-Free Living

    Eliminating or minimizing Gluten and Dairy from your diet isn't necessary for everyone but some certainly benefit from making these lifestyle changes. Regardless, we all benefit from eating more natural, whole foods and less processed foods. Learn more about gluten-free and dairy-free nutrition options and take advantage of the educational resources, shopping list, and recipes.


    How to Grocery Shop and What to Eat

    We are what we eat. Studies from reputable health organizations suggest that 40-60% of Americans are living with one or more chronic diseases, which negatively impacts their quality of life, reduces employment productivity, and drives up health care costs.1 Lifestyle choices, in particular, the foods we choose to put into our bodies, are making us sick. However, we do have choices regarding our nutrition.

    Learn practical tips for healthy and affordable grocery shopping and consider using a list similar to the recommended natural, whole foods grocery shopping list provided to get you off to a good start!


    woman using her hands to illustrate where the gut microbiome is on her body

    How to Improve Microbiome Imbalance

    How can you ensure you maintain a healthy gut? What daily lifestyle changes can you make to keep stomach upsets and digestive problems at bay? Try these tips and you should see improvements in your digestion in no time.


    human with shield in front of gut reflecting objects attacking him

    Our Immune System Health & Lifestyle Choices

    Most people know that the immune system is responsible for fighting off pathogens and ensuring ongoing good health, but few are aware of the interaction between the immune system and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. This relationship is mediated by a complex community of gut bacteria, known collectively as the gut microbiome.

    Learn more about how our lifestyle choices affect our immune health and practical things we can do to live better today.


    woman's face illustrating good and bad skin

    Pretty Skin Begins Here

    Do you wonder, "What else can I do for my skin?" If you've tried over the counter solutions, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, avoiding the sun, and all sorts of other potions, you may need to re-think your skin regimen.


    a woman's belly with hands depicting a colon cleanse

    What is a Probiotic and How Does it Affect Our Immune System Health?

    The term "probiotic" refers to bacteria that live within our bodies and perform beneficial functions. Research is focusing on how the bacteria that live within our bodies affects our health and our immune system.


    healthy and unhealthy foods on four forks show a continuum from healthy to unhealthy depicting the standard American diet

    What Is the Standard American Diet (SAD)?

    How aware are you of what's going into your body? Are you eating to live or living to eat? In reality, we all have different nutritional needs, but the standard American diet (SAD) doesn't suit most of them (or most people, for that matter). Your diet might be making you sick, sluggish, and at-risk.


    Drawing of Boy In Bubble Protected by Immune System

    Why You Should Care About Gut Health

    The Gut (think intestinal/digestive tract) is where approximately 80% of your immune system lives. It's been overlooked in the general healthcare world, and here's why you should care about and for it.


The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products referred to are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

comments for discussion forum
Discussion Forum

Ask questions. Share your thoughts.  Note that we cannot answer questions relating to specific medical conditions - please refer those to your qualified healthcare provider. Post a new Comment or Reply to an existing one.

Discussion Forum

Share your thoughts.  Post a new Comment or Reply to an existing one.

Post Comment
 Discussion Forum Help

Comments are displayed in order of the last one posted so the most recent Comment is at the top and older Comments are towards the bottom. Replies within a Comment are displayed in reverse order with the oldest Reply at the top and the most recent one at the bottom.

Each post identifies who made the post and the date and time the post was made.

Mouse over the icons for tooltips that explain what the data means.

If you see this icon you can attach an Audio file to your post.

If you see this icon you can attach a Document file to your post.

If you see this icon you can attach an Image file to your post.

If you see this icon you can attach a Video file to your post.

You will see the Ban icon (Report Post as SPAM) immediately following the Timestamp of the post. Click this icon if you feel strongly that the content posted is not appropriate and should be reviewed by the Forum Moderator. You will be provided with a confirmation dialog to be sure you wish to submit this post for review. If submitted, the Forum Moderator will be notified to review the post and will determine what type of action to take.

Click in the upper right corner of this Help modal or anywhere on the web page outside of the modal to exit Help.

×
Blog Post Page Help ×
  

* Disclaimer: This page is available exclusively for SupplementRelief.com clients. None of the information on this website is intended to replace your relationship with your healthcare provider(s). Nothing should be considered medical advice. The information, knowledge, and experience shared on this website is the opinion of SupplementRelief.com. This site and its content is intended to enhance your knowledge base as YOU MAKE YOUR OWN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS in partnership with your qualified health professional.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products and services are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

* There is NO GUARANTEE OF SPECIFIC RESULTS for the products or services offered and the RESULTS CAN VARY for each individual.

FirstFitness Nutrition and NuMedica may be promoted and sold on the internet ONLY by Authorized Resellers who have been approved by, and have registered their website domain with these companies. They strictly prohibit, and actively monitor, the UNAUTHORIZED SALE or RESALE of their products in ALL online public shopping portals including Amazon, eBay, and others and into other countries. All products purchased in SupplementRelief.com are for PERSONAL USE ONLY and CANNOT BE RESOLD to others. Please report violations of Reseller Policy directly to FirstFitness Nutrition at 800.621.4348 and to NuMedica at 800.869.8100.

The content and photographs on this website are copyrighted or Licensed Material and may not be downloaded for other than personal use. Republication, retransmission, reproduction or any other use of the content or photographs is prohibited. ©2010-2023 SupplementRelief.com.