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Have you ever heard of probiotics? They are good bacteria that live in your gut. They play a vital role in your overall health, providing various benefits for digestion, nutrient absorption, and boosting the immune system. This article explores probiotics in detail, what they do, and how they can improve your well-being.
Understanding Probiotics and Gut Flora
Probiotics are live microorganisms, primarily bacteria, that when ingested in sufficient quantities have beneficial effects on the health of the host. The gut flora, or gut microbiota, is the microbial ecosystem that populates our gastrointestinal tract. It is home to billions of these good bacteria.
However, different factors can unbalance this flora, such as the use of antibiotics or unbalanced and unhealthy eating habits. When this imbalance occurs, bad bacteria proliferate, outcompeting good bacteria, leading to a variety of diseases and weakening the immune system.
The Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics offer several undeniable benefits, including:
Helps digest lactose
Increases the absorption of nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals
Improves digestion, regulates the intestine, combats constipation and heartburn
Combats and prevents intestinal diseases, such as colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, intestinal inflammation, candidiasis, hemorrhoids and urinary tract infections
Strengthens the immune system, increasing the production of defense cells, called macrophages
Prevents the proliferation of bad bacteria in the intestine
Prevents problems such as obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, allergies and food intolerances
Developing a healthy intestinal flora
A healthy and diverse intestinal flora begins from birth, especially if the baby is born vaginally and is exclusively breastfed in early life.
There are several food sources of probiotics:
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