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Probiotics have been buzzing around for quite some time. This supplement might not be new to many moms out there, but it’s still a go-to for me. Just like magnesium, I’ve been using this supplement since before I became a mother. I am the daughter of someone with multiple auto-immune illnesses, so I know the importance of gut health. As someone with a background in the medical field, I know the havoc antibiotics can cause on gut health while aiding the body in killing off illness. So today I’m sharing the many benefits of probiotics, and why I use them.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are “good” bacteria. They are live microorganisms that help balance out the bacteria in your gut. We all have both good, and bad, bacteria in our digestive system. That’s natural. The problem, is when the bad bacteria outnumber the good. This imbalance can create problems such as digestive issues/discomfort, allergies, mental health issues, obesity, and more.
The imbalance can be caused by multiple things, including medication, diet, and illness. When taking antibiotics, they not only kill the bad bacteria, but also the good bacteria. That is why it is the perfect time to take a quality probiotic during a round of antibiotics. They help replace the good bacteria that is being killed off. This fights off the negative side effects, like diarrhea. BUT, if you take probiotics while on antibiotics, make sure to take them at least 2 hours before or after your antibiotics. Otherwise they will simply be killed off in your gut by the medicine.
Probiotics are naturally found in fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, kombucha, and kimchi, as well as supplements. Even if you regularly eat fermented foods, you may still need a supplement to help maintain balance.
What are the Benefits of Probiotics?
Diarrhea, Travel, and Boosting Immunity:
Probiotics help balance the good bacteria that aids your body in properly digesting foods, as well as battling the bad bacteria that can cause diarrhea. As stated above, they help with diarrhea caused by antibiotics. Another great time to take probiotics to ward off diarrhea is during travel. The balance of bacteria in your gut will help fight any new bacteria due to travel. Proper gut health also allows your body to produce vitamins and enzymes. That means probiotics are a great way to boost your immune system while traveling.
Constipation and Boosting Digestion:
Probiotics not only fight diarrhea, they also help constipation. With proper gut balance, your body has the tools needed to breakdown and digest food properly. Probiotics allow your digestive tract to do its job more efficiently. That means decreasing, or eliminating constipation completely. They give the boost your digestion needs.
Mental Illness and Gut Health:
Some research shows that probiotics can help with mental illnesses, such as depression, anxiety, stress, and memory. Not to say that probiotics are a cure-all for these issues. It simply further shows the importance of gut health. I could go on a huge tangent about the importance of gut health in general, and how incredibly important it is, but I will save that deep dive for another day.
Skin Issues (Acne, Rosacea, and Eczema):
Probiotics can also help with skin issues like acne, rosacea, and eczema. These issues start internally. When your gut is working correctly, and disposing of toxins and bacteria efficiently, then there is no need for the “bad” things to be expelled through the skin. There is a link between what happens in the gut, in the brain, and in the skin. When the body notices harmful bacteria and microbes, it turns on the immune response to fight back. This causes inflammation, and then skin reactions such as acne, rosacea, and eczema.
Urinary Tract Infections:
Women who suffer from UTIs can benefit from probiotics as well. Studies show that the use of probiotics reduces the frequency of UTIs. They can also lower the intensity of UTIs since your gut will be better prepared to fight.
At a Glance:
- restore good bacteria
- prevent urinary infections
- boost immunity
- aid both constipation and diarrhea
- can help acne, rosacea, and eczema
- boost digestion
My Preferred Method/Brands
I am personally a big fan of kombucha and water kefir. I’m super excited that Aldi, my preferred store, stocks both items. I have also brewed my own in the past. Yogurt is another great way to get good bacteria and probiotics. We make our own with whole milk and then add in some vanilla extract and honey. I enjoy controlling the levels of flavor and sweetness. The additives in store bought versions make me weary. Now, even more so, once I realized that both of my kids have negative digestive reactions to eating them. They do not have digestive issues when eating the homemade version. I follow a simple Instant Pot recipe for making my yogurt. Maybe I will share that soon.
I currently use Garden of Life’s Probiotics for Women for myself. I’ve used them for awhile now and really like them. I will say that some brands do not agree with me, so each person will need to test which products work best for their body and any specific issues you may want to address.
Supplements for Kids
We have also used the Garden of Life Probiotic for Kids that comes in a chewable form. One of my kids doesn’t like chewable though, so I usually lean towards the Digestive Advantage Probiotic gummies from Costco. With both the gummies and chewable, it’s best to take them with food to keep stomach acid from destroying the probiotic strains before they can make their way to the digestive tract. Ultimately I rely more on yogurt, smoothies with yogurt, kombucha, and kefir (both water and milk versions), to get probiotics into my kids.
4 of My Favorite Supplements for Mamas:
Do you take probiotics?
DISCLAIMER: Simply Holly Jo and its materials are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. All material on Simply Holly Jo is provided for educational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.
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