How to Tell if the Bacterial Colonies in Probiotics are Working?
Many people immediately think of better digestion when they hear probiotics. It’s true that beneficial bacteria in the gut play a very important role in proper digestion.
Improvements in digestion are often one of the first benefits people notice when taking probiotics. This may be more regular bowel movements, less bloating or gas, fewer cravings, and less fatigue after meals.
The good bacteria in the gut support many other important processes in the body. These include nutrient absorption, boosting the immune system, and even improved cognitive function, mood, and sleep.
Furthermore, scientists have investigated the connection between the gut and different diseases. They have already discovered a connection between an imbalance in our gut bacteria and illnesses, including anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s Disease, and migraines.
How to tell if the bacterial colonies in probiotics are working? Depending on your overall health, you may notice some of the following positive effects when taking a high-quality probiotic, which will also signal that your probiotics are working.
1. Improved Digestion and More Regular Bowel Movements
Whether you’re suffering from constipation, diarrhoea, and/or gas, the bacterial cell colonies in a high-quality probiotic food can help to balance your gut bacteria, fight the growth of potentially harmful bacteria (such as E. coli), yeasts, and viruses, and with that optimize digestion and bowel movements.
2. Increased Energy
Your body gets its energy from the nutrients and micronutrients in your food. The gut plays a critical role in absorbing these nutrients. If your gut bacteria are out of balance or your gut is inflamed, nutrients are not taken up as efficiently. This can affect your energy levels.
3. Stronger Immune System
A large portion of the immune system lies in the gut, and our probiotic bacteria play an important role in maintaining strong immune function.
Certain bacterial strains can activate the immune system or change the PH in the intestines to make the environment less pleasant for harmful microorganisms.
In addition, the gut plays a critical role in absorbing all essential nutrients from the food you ingest. Many of these nutrients are important for immune function, including your B vitamins, Zinc, and Vitamin C. If the gut wall is inflamed due to an imbalance in gut bacteria, fewer nutrients get into the body. Over time, this can take a toll on the immune system.
4. Lower Anxiety and Improved Mood
The gut and the brain stand in close communication with one another. Some even call the gut the “second brain.” Often, negative mood and depression correlate to a gut microbiome change. Our gut bacteria produce some neurotransmitters that travel to the brain and influence our mood. An imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) has been associated with depression and anxiety.
5. Better Response to Stress
Stress can kill the good bacteria in the gut. Replenishing our gut with beneficial bacteria during times of stress can help support digestion, strengthen the immune system, and even improve cognition and mood.
6. Weight Loss
There’s growing evidence that the composition of the gut microbiome is linked to a person’s metabolism and body weight. Certain probiotic supplements that contain the right combination of bacterial strains can help rebalance the composition of bacteria in the gut and help with weight loss. Another common problem is that certain bacteria and yeasts (such as Candida) can trick the body into craving sugar, which also leads to weight gain. Intense sugar cravings can be a sign of bacterial overgrowth in your gut. Certain bacteria and yeasts can trick the brain into craving lots of sugar, as sugar is their favorite food to help them reproduce as quickly as possible.
A high-quality probiotic can help rebalance the diversity of good bacteria in your gut, which in turn can affect your metabolism and what types of foods you crave.
7. Improved Cognitive Function and Memory
The gut and the brain stand in direct communication, and our gut bacteria produce important messenger signals and substances for the brain. This can affect these processes if the gut flora is out of balance.
