WHAT ARE PROBIOTICS?
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are microorganisms, containing live bacteria and yeasts, that are believed to be good for your health, especially when it comes to your digestive system.
What are the health benefits of Probiotics?
Usually, when people hear of bacteria it gets misinterpreted as something bad, but your gut needs the good kind of bacteria found in Probiotics to stay healthy. The reason being, there are trillions of natural bacteria, known as microflora, in the human gastrointestinal tract. They support and maintain a strong immune system and digestive system, but only if they remain balanced. Due to certain factors in people’s lives, such as infections, stress, travel or lifestyle, the balance might get compromised. This is where the healthy bacteria, found in Probiotics, come into play. They work as a supplement to restore balance. The bacteria in a Probiotic works as a protective barrier in your gut, by lining your digestive tract and helping your body to absorb much needed nutrients, while also fighting off infections or issues when they occur.
Why are they becoming popular?
Probiotics have become increasingly more popular in recent years, following many studies on their benefits. People’s diets and lifestyles have changed significantly throughout the years and people are turning to supplements, like Probiotics, to help keep their immune and digestive system protected. One of the main areas of adaption has come from the change in people’s diets. The more processed food people eat, the less likely they are going to get good bacteria naturally.
What kind of Probiotics are available?
Depending on what you want to get from the Probiotics will determine which one is right for you. They come in varying forms from capsules to soluble solutions. You may want to take a Probiotic during particularly busy periods in your life. Zenflore is a brand new Probiotic, which contains the unique 1714-SerenitasTM culture and specially selected B vitamins, providing a complete support for your mind and body by helping to support a healthy mind and combat stress-related fatigue. While Zenflore contains a specific type of bacteria, other Probiotics can contain multiple different types of healthy bacteria. Udo’s Choice Super 8, for example, contains eight strains of healthy bacteria which may help to aid proper digestion, aid the build-up of beneficial bacteria after taking antibiotics and support general health. Other probiotics can target specific health issues, such as Pro-cyan, which is specifically designed to target Urinary tract infections. It has a triple action formula scientifically developed with cranberry extract, two specifically selected live bacteria strains and Vitamin A which contributes to the normal function of the immune system and maintenance of the mucous membranes which can be found along the urinary tract. Pro-cyan is part of the Bio-Kult range, which offer a line of live bacteria supplements for the whole family. Its Bio-Kult Advanced Multi Strain and Bio-Kult Infantis are specifically formulated to be child-friendly. The Advanced contains 14 Live bacteria cultures, which can deliver higher concentrations of beneficial bacteria to the gut and therefore be able to help a more diverse range of digestive disorders. While the Infantis has 7 live bacteria cultures, it also contains Omega-3, Vitamin D3 and Preplex. Other Probiotics like Sona’s Afterbiotics can help your gut to recover from the after effects of antibiotics. When we need to take antibiotics, they can sometimes lead to infection because they destroy both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut, and often the bad bacteria return before the good. Sona AfterBiotic is a supplement designed to restore the natural intestinal flora after a course of antibiotics, thus giving the ‘good’ bacteria a chance to grow faster, preventing the ‘bad’ bacteria from taking hold again.
Don’t hesitate to call into your local Hickey’s Pharmacy and ask one of our trained team members for advice on which probiotic would best suit your health needs.
