5 Benefits of Adding Probiotics to Your Diet

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Many have heard that probiotics are beneficial to the body. The reality is that probiotics are beneficial in a number of ways. Here is a look at just a few of them. 

Benefit #1: Balancing the Bacteria

One benefit of probiotics is that they help to balance the friendly bacteria in your digestive system. Probiotics themselves are live microorganisms that are often referred to as “good” bacteria. This is because they have the ability to restore the natural balance of gut bacteria. An imbalance of gut bacteria can lead to allergies, digestive issues, mental health issues, obesity and more. 

Benefit #2: Treat and Prevent Diarrhea 

When taking antibiotics, the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut can be negatively affected. Numerous studies have shown that probiotics can help to reduce the risk of diarrhea associated with antibiotics. Other research has found that probiotics can help to treat and prevent diarrhea that is not associated with antibiotic use, too, including travelers’ diarrhea.

Benefit #3: Improve Mental Health

Gut health has been linked to mental health by a variety of studies, and probiotics can help to improve gut health in order to help address a variety of mental health conditions. In fact, studies have found that supplementing the diet with certain probiotic strains can improve anxiety, autism, depression, memory and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Other studies have found that those who consumed probiotics on a daily basis experienced benefits with anxiety, depression and stress.

Benefit #4: Reduce Severity of Allergies

Studies have also found that certain probiotic strains may reduce the severity of certain allergies as well as eczema. Some evidence suggests that probiotics help to reduce the inflammatory response that is associated with milk or dairy allergies in general.

Benefit #5: Aid in Weight Loss

Additional studies have shown that probiotics help prevent the absorption of dietary fat in the intestines, which is then excreted through feces rather than being stored in the body. They may also help you to feel full longer while also burning more calories, all of which aids in the process of losing weight.