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Probiotics: Bacteria with Benefits!

What’s all the buzz about probiotics lately?  You have probably heard about probiotics or noticed them in foods, supplements, and drinks but what exactly do they do for us? Given the benefits that have been touted about probiotics and improved overall health, it’s time to “go with your gut”!

Did you know that almost 80% of our immune system is located in the gut?

Our digestive tract is a rather complex system that goes far beyond just digesting food and beverages – it’s a microbiome full of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and genes that naturally live in our gut. Gut health influences our immune system, our digestion and metabolism, and even how we think and feel. Did you know almost 80% of our immune system is located in the gut?

Bacteria cells outnumber human cells 10 to 1!

Research supports the importance of nourishing our gut and the health-promoting bacteria that live there. You’d be surprised to learn that most of the cells in our body are bacteria cells, outnumbering human cells by 10 to 1! Although that sounds gross, you don’t have to think of yourself as a walking petri dish. Due to their small size and weight, bacterial cells make up less than 3 percent of the body’s mass but they play a vital role in your health.

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Your gut health might be out of balance.

Our bodies are full of a balance of both “friendly” and “not-so-friendly” bacteria. When your gut is healthy, you have a larger proportion of the friendly bacteria supporting your digestive and immune systems, and you feel great! When this balance is out of whack, you’ll begin to notice some signs and symptoms of a not-so-healthy gut. If you’re consistently experiencing some of these symptoms, your gut health may be out of balance:

  • Upset stomach
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep problems
  • Unintentional weight loss or weight gain.

How do probiotics help?

Probiotics can play a powerful role in restoring our internal ecosystem. Probiotics are the “friendly” bacteria that support a healthy microbiome and provide benefit to the following: improve protein absorption and utilization, boost immune health, improve symptoms of bloating and abdominal pain in people with or without digestive disorders, and improve stool consistency and stool regularity. Probiotics can be found in various foods or in supplement form and are measured by the colony-forming units (CFUs). As part of a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, digestive health claims are based on 1 billion CFU/day of probiotics, while immune claims are based on 500 million CFU/day of probiotics.

Studies have shown that probiotics can:

  • Improve protein absorption and utilization
  • Boost immune health
  • Decrease inflammation
  • Decrease muscle soreness
  • Speed up recovery time from exercise
  • Improve symptoms of bloating and abdominal pain in people with or without digestive disorders
  • Improve stool consistency and regularity

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What are prebiotics?

Another important component of a healthy microbiome is prebiotics. Prebiotics are indigestible fibers that feed and promote the growth of probiotics and are found naturally in plant foods. What are some great sources?

  1. Root vegetbles
  2. Legumes
  3. Whole grains
  4. Bananas
  5. Apples

Ultimately, prebiotics and probiotics work together synergistically, restoring and improving gut health. Food products that provide a combination of these are called synbiotics. Fermented foods are synbiotics, containing natural prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes beneficial for our gut. These include:

  • Yogurt
  • Kefir
  • Kombucha
  • Miso
  • Kimchi
  • Sauerkraut. 

The probiotic content varies among these foods, but be on the lookout for the claim, “live and active cultures”, on food labels. Additionally, sourdough bread has grown in popularity due to its gut health-promoting benefits and naturally tangy, delicious taste. Sourdough bread is made using live yeast and allowing the ingredients to ferment over several days. Some of these bacteria strains are considered probiotics and have great potential for improving gut health.

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How Profile used probiotics

At Profile, we have been actively researching this area and investing in studies of gut health and probiotics. With all this great information and supporting research, we felt compelled to incorporate probiotics and prebiotics into our new Protein Shakes!

The strain of probiotics that we use in our shakes is one of the most highly-studied and research-backed strains on the market. It is an incredibly unique strain because it survives in food through the digestive system, which allows it to provide the maximum health benefits.

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