The Benefits of Probiotics

by | Oct 14, 2022

The Benefits of Probiotics
This article is for general information. One size does not fit all. At Your Private Physician, our personalized concierge approach to wellness customizes health solutions for patients.
Probiotics are live microorganisms in foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, pickles, and sauerkraut and have been used for centuries to improve health and treat various illnesses.

At Your Private Physician, we recommend probiotic supplements because they help support the body’s natural ability to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut—this is important because it helps to keep you feeling well and may prevent certain medical conditions.

The word ‘probiotic’ comes from the Latin words meaning “for life,” which refers to how beneficial bacteria promote the growth and well-being of other organisms.

Probiotics are found in the gut—home to many microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiome. The microbiome has been shown to play an important role in our health and well-being as it helps digest food, synthesizes vitamins, and regulates immune function. Probiotics help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria and prevent infection by competing with harmful bacteria for nutrients, space, and adhesion sites on intestinal cells.

The Gut-Brain Connection

Additionally, researchers believe that probiotics may directly influence our moods and behavior and even aid in memory formation.

A study published in the Journal Frontiers in Neuroscience found that mice given probiotics had better spatial learning abilities than control mice.

Another study published in the Journal of Neuroinflammation showed that people who took probiotics experienced lessened anxiety attacks and depression symptoms.

A third study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that people taking probiotics reported fewer depressive symptoms.

References (health.harvard.edu)

As you can see, probiotics can be beneficial throughout the body. (See the end of this article for a list of diseases that may benefit from probiotics.)

Using a Quality Probiotic is Critical

Because the FDA doesn’t check probiotic products for safety or efficacy claims, it is imperative to choose a reputable brand. Most experts agree that quality probiotics must meet certain criteria:

  • Be able to survive passage through the stomach and small intestine
  • Be alive when consumed
  • Not produce toxins or cause disease
  • Have beneficial effects on the human body
  • Be present in sufficient quantities to provide benefits

At Your Private Physician, we choose companies with strict quality controls and proven track records producing the finest, most reliable probiotics.

For example, if a warehouse keeps probiotics in a facility where the temperature reaches 100 degrees or more, the probiotics in the supplement will die. So at Your Private Physician, we ensure that the probiotics we recommend come from a company that uses complete quality and temperature control and packs probiotics in blister packs with nitrogen-purged aluminum to protect live bacteria from temperature (and other environmental changes).

Quality probiotics also need to be acid-resistant so the capsule will remain intact until it reaches the small intestine.

Uses for Probiotics

These are some of the disorders that may benefit from probiotics. At Your Private Physician, we also “dig deep” to investigate the underlying conditions that cause these issues. While probiotics may help, it is often important to work with other conventional and holistic methods to see the strongest health improvements.

  • Gastrointestinal disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis
  • Colorectal cancer
  • Diarrhea, constipation
  • Chronic fatigue
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Bloating
  • Anal fissures
  • Vaginal infections
  • Yeast infection
  • Fungal infection
  • Asthma
  • Food poisoning
  • Pregnancy
  • Breastfeeding
  • Diabetes
  • Kidney stones
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Heartburn
  • Acid reflux
  • Hormonal changes
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Menstruation
  • Sexually transmitted diseases
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Cancer
  • High cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Osteoporosis
  • Arthritis
  • Joint pain
  • Migraine headaches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Memory loss
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Autism
  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • ADHD symptoms
  • Learning difficulties
  • Behavioral issues
  • Mental health issues
  • Depression
  • Schizophrenia
  • Epilepsy
  • Stroke
  • Dementia
  • Brain injury
  • Women’s health
  • Pediatric health
  • Weight management
  • Immune health
  • Hair and skin

To summarize: While using probiotics is recommended, it is critical to use a trustworthy supplement while further addressing the underlying issues that cause illness.

At Your Private Physician, we take great care to ensure that our content is accurate and reliable; however, we cannot guarantee its completeness or applicability to any particular circumstances. In addition, it may not contain all available options for every situation. As always, contact your doctor before making important decisions related to your health.