The truth is you can live without Probiotics, if you don't mind living with bloating, frequent infections, constipation, digestive troubles, acne and other skin conditions, yeast infections, bad breath or body odor. You see, Probiotics have a very important role to play in maintaining our health, and the problem is that most of us simply do not have enough of the essential friendly bacteria, otherwise called probiotics.
What are Probiotics?
According to WebMD, "Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines. The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system."
To put this in simpler terms, we basically have trillions of friendly bacteria and trillions of unfriendly bacteria living in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Under normal conditions there is a 50/50 balance between the friendly and unfriendly bacteria and they coexist in harmony. This colony of microflora helps our body absorb nutrients while also keeping toxins and foreign bacteria and viruses at bay. It is also this microflora that breaks down vitamins as well as ferments undigested foods and carbohydrates from the upper GI tract. The problem arises when this balance is thrown off track and the unfriendly bacteria takes control of your bowels, leading to possible health conditions.
While this 50/50 balance is maintained, usually all is well in the health department. However, when the friendly bacteria become compromised and the unfriendly bacteria start to take control of your bowels, you have a problem.
What Destroys Friendly Bacteria?
Friendly bacteria are easily compromised in today's world. It is destroyed by antibiotics, birth control pills, alcohol, coffee, sugar, junk food, chlorine in tap water, and even stress. It is almost impossible to maintain the essential 50/50 balance without help. This is why taking a Probiotic supplement is a must for just about everyone.
All Probiotics are Not Created Equal
Now that you may have found the missing link to improving your health, you must be wondering how to restore the proper balance of bacteria in your body. The good news is that there are countless Probiotics available to help you achieve your goal, but the bad news is that not all Probiotic supplements are created equal. What you must look for in order to gain maximum benefits is a product that is freeze dried and enteric coated for maximum effectiveness. Let me explain why.
The enteric coating of the capsules helps to protect the probiotic bacteria so that it will survive the stomach acid and make its way safely to the colon. Freeze drying further helps to facilitate the survival of the Probiotics through the GI tract. Truly, the amount of friendly bacteria in a formula isn't nearly as important as their survival rate.
If you haven't been feeling yourself lately or have been experiencing some of the discomforts mentioned above, then it might be time to give Probiotics a try. It's a quick and economical way to improve your digestion and overall health and immune system for the better.
