Are Probiotics Really Necessary?
One of the MOST common phrases I hear is “I’m going to try a course of probiotics.”
The problem is, most people don’t truly understand probiotics and don’t actually need to take them as supplements!
Taking a probiotic supplement is commonly recommended as a way to keep your gut flora (bacteria) healthy. The problem is, this isn't always necessary, and there are other ways to get the probiotics you need without having to take another supplement. In this blog post, we'll take a look at why probiotics matter and other alternatives than a pill.
First things first: What are probiotics, and what can they do for me?
Probiotics are live bacteria that can be found in fermented foods and certain supplements. They're often referred to as "good" bacteria because they help balance the gut microbiome, which is the collection of microbes that thrive in our digestive system. This collection of bacteria help maintain a healthy digestive system, boost your immune system, and aid in the production of vitamins, among other things. While we have much more to learn about the role of probiotics, beneficial bacteria is understood to help crowd out harmful bacteria in our bodies and stabilize the protective barrier in our gut so “bad” bacteria doesn’t take root. There are many different types of probiotic foods and supplements on the market, but some of the most common types you can get from food include:
Yogurt
Kombucha
Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage)
Kimchi (a spicy Korean dish made with fermented vegetables)
Tempeh (a fermented food made from soybeans)
Whole Food Probiotics
Essential to digestive health is taking whole food probiotics. Healthy bacteria found in soil and plants are missing from our modern food supply. Ideally, these healthy bacteria protect the plants in the soil, and also protect humans who ingest them. A major discovery in the battle against digestive disorders is how beneficial bacteria can help people with “leaky gut syndrome,” as the use of beneficial bacteria can support this. Before the days of modern hygiene and chemical farming, these bacteria were in the soil and hence on the surface of our vegetables; they thus helped colonize the gut with beneficial flora whenever people ate raw fruits and vegetables–and whenever children played in the dirt! Unfortunately, this isn’t as common today as our soil has been depleted and the use of pesticides are compromising the quality of our soil.
In our modern day society, consuming lacto-fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut provide healthy bacteria. These foods were consumed in traditional diets and should be part of the diet of any person suffering from digestive problems or not.
Who needs probiotics?
One of the main reasons to take probiotics is for digestive health. Probiotics help maintain healthy levels of bacteria in our gut, which can play a big role in preventing and supporting digestive issues like diarrhea and other irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms.
Probiotics also benefit people with allergies by reducing inflammation in the body and helping to control immune system responses that cause allergies or trigger asthma attacks. In addition, probiotics have been shown to help protect against eczema and hay fever when taken regularly over time.
And finally, those who have taken a course of antibiotics would greatly benefit from taking a probiotic supplement. While antibiotics effectively kill both “good” and “bad” bacteria in the gut, they do not affect the many forms of naturally occurring yeast.
As the good bacteria lining our gut wall are killed off with antibiotics, yeasts have the opportunity to overgrow and injure our gut lining. This can lead to “leaky gut”, which can lead to foreign proteins entering the bloodstream resulting in inflammation, food intolerances/sensitivities, digestive problems, autoimmune conditions, and other imbalances in the body. Taking a probiotic supplement during and after a course of antibiotics will help with the process of restoring your friendly gut flora while you recover from an illness caused by an infection.
Probiotic supplements can help “jump start” the system in those with serious digestive problems as they will quickly populate the gut with beneficial organisms.
Do I need to buy a probiotic supplement?
Well that depends…..
Why? You might be getting plenty of them already. Probiotics are found in lots of foods, including yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut. These foods contain live cultures of bacteria that can help you maintain good digestive health. They're also produced by your gut microbiome—which is made up of all the bacteria living in your intestines. If you want to get more probiotics into your diet (and why wouldn't you?), eating fermented foods is a good place to start!
While probiotics are often touted as a way to boost your health, it's important to remember that they aren't a cure-all, and that your diet may be the best option for getting them. While many probiotic pills contain beneficial bacteria, these can be found in fermented foods, too—and those foods often have other nutrients you'll want anyway.
A supplement however, can be beneficial when dealing with a specific imbalance, when antibiotics or necessary or when traveling - with fair warning, what works for one might not work for you as your gut is unique to you!
My approach however is always,
FOOD FIRST.
I know it can be hard to resist the marketing surrounding products like these, but the best approach is adding in your fermented and probiotic rich foods. Your gut will thank you!
If you have considered taking a probiotic supplement, you are currently taking one and don’t like it or can relate to any of the cases above where a probiotic supplement may be beneficial, my favourite probiotics are microbiome labs: you can get 10% OFF here.
Stay tuned for my next blog post - all about PREBIOTICS. The “biotics” that are most overlooked yet often more critical than the hyper focus many of us have on probiotics.
xo erin
For more support when it comes to your gut, learn more about the Good Gut Method. A good gut is MORE than probiotics. This is where I’m here to help!
Book a 15-minute discovery call to see if The Good Gut Method is the right fit for you to help you overcome your food sensitivities + say buh-bye to food fear.
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* Disclaimer: This post is not medical advice but for educational purposes only *