What Are Probiotics?
The term probiotics comes from the greek “for life”. They are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for us, especially our digestive and immune systems. As we are in a day and age of the overuse of antibiotics which kill bad but unfortunately also good bacteria it is important for us to know about probiotics and probiotic supplements and what our good bacteria does for us and our health, in particular the immune system.
How do Probiotics Help with the Immune System?
A better understanding of gut bacteria is now being known as science has finally started to research the gut, bacteria and the effect of the gastrointestinal tract on immune system health. We as humans are host to almost 500 different species of bacteria inside us. Most of these are referred to as “good bacteria” or “probiotics” which are all responsible for different things in our body. It’s estimated that up to 80% of our immune activity is in our gut.
Probiotics help prevent the overgrowth of bad bacteria which can be disease causing by competing for attachment sites in the gut and also by competing for nutrition with them. As the bacteria breaks down the particles of food in your intestines, they also break down any bacteria, viruses, germs, and fungi clinging to the food.
Probiotic supplements also support your normal healthy response to allergens. Probiotics help to train your immune system to distinguish between harmful and nonharmful antigens, and to respond in an appropriate normal way.
Our intestinal walls are lined with lymph nodes. These nodes are responsible for filtering dangerous particles. Identification of pathogenic bacteria and viruses triggers an inflammatory response. Allergies, infections, and the flu however can also be a result of inflammation, which is sometimes present from no trigger. Beneficial bacteria in the gut help to mount a defence against this unwarranted inflammation.
Our gut is lined with epithelial cells which all help to form a barrier against harmful microbes. This is reliant on intestinal flora. Probiotics help the epithelial cells regenerate, strengthen cell barrier function and initiate protective responses from our cells. They also act as a barrier in the intestinal lining making sure that no harmful bacteria and viruses can enter the bloodstream.
Probiotics and probiotic supplements also help with digestion meaning that we absorb nutrients from food more effectively. This in turn helps with the immune system by absorbing your immune boosting nutrients. They also help to prevent constipation, bowel irregularity and IBS meaning the immune cells have more time to fight invaders. Probiotics also help with the inflammatory response that can be triggered from high inflammatory lifestyle sugar, alcohol, processed food, stress etc.
How Can I Incorporate Probiotics and Probiotics Supplements into my Diet?
Probiotics are found in food and drinks such as live yoghurt, kefir, kombucha, kimchi, tempeh, sauerkraut and some types of cheeses. Probiotic Supplements are also widely available in many forms with various strains or amounts of live bacteria and are sometimes combined with other ingredients to support immunity, help IBS, help to kill pathogenic bacteria, stomach flus and many more.
In conclusion the gut flora is a huge factor in the health of our bodies and our health. Either a probiotic supplement or getting them through food is a very beneficial thing to incorporate into our diets, especially at times of stress, poor diet and after antibiotics.