Probiotics are good bacteria that fight the harmful bacteria in your body. They can be found naturally in your body in the gut, vagina, urinary tract, lungs, and skin. They balance out the harmful bacteria and yeast.
Therefore probiotics are a natural way to heal bacterial and yeast infections. Women that struggle with gut issues, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections want to know if probiotics help them. This post goes into depth if you want to learn more about the benefits of the best female probiotic!
Importance of probiotics
Probiotics are good bacteria in the body, responsible for keeping the balance. Our bodies have 100 trillion of these good bacteria. Think of them as the good guys that fight the bad guys. The tiny microorganisms work hard to keep the microbial balance in our bodies.
Due to their benefits, probiotics can help with some issues. Prbotioics can help boost our mood and fight depression. Also, they are beneficial for losing weight and strengthening immunity. However, the benefits of probiotics continue beyond there. They help with conditions like irritable bowel symptoms and cystitis.
Reduce UTIs
Urinary tract infections are so painful and uncomfortable. About 40 to 60% of the women have experienced the condition at some point in their lives. Women are at higher risk of getting an infection due to anatomy. A UTI happens when harmful bacteria from the rectum enter the urethra and bladder. Probiotics can help with cystitis as they balance out the bad bacteria preventing it from spreading.
Improved vaginal health
The vagina contains bad and good bacteria. When they are unbalanced, an infection occurs. Women suffer from yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis due to the disrupted balance in the vaginal bacteria. A healthy vagina has lactobacilli strains, which create an acidic environment that fights bacteria. However, some practices can disrupt good bacteria and their function. Taking antibiotics, birth control pills and spermicides can also kill the good bacteria. Antibiotics kill the bacteria that cause an infection, but they also kill the good bacteria. As a result of this, harmful bacteria and yeasts will spread. Probiotics will restore the balance and prevent infections.
Reduce conditions affecting fertility
As probiotics support vaginal health, they can help with conditions that affect fertility. This is beneficial for women that want to conceive.
Boost immunity
Our immune systems need some support during the flu season. As the body fights viruses, this will weaken the immune system. Good bacteria will help fight infections in your body.
Enhanced gut health
While a healthy diet helps restore your gut balance, the friendly bacteria boost the process. The probiotics can help with conditions related to your gut health, such as diarrhea, bloating, and constipation.
Improved mood
According to experts, probiotics can help boost mood. There is a connection between the brain and the gut, so they believe maintaining gut health can relieve depression.
Which foods contain probiotics
The good bacteria live in our guts. However, they might need a boost from time to time with probiotic foods or supplements. Fermented foods have friendly bacteria that aid your health. Yogurt and kimchi are excellent examples of probiotic-rich foods. Kefir, fermented cabbage, and miso are other examples of fermented foods beneficial for your gut health. However, check the label and look for foods with live cultures. In some products, the pasteurization process can kill good bacteria. Probiotic supplements are another great way to enhance the good bacteria in your body.
Choosing probiotics
Every probiotic is different, so you must choose according to your problem. Some are good for engaging your gut health, while others are good for the vaginal health. Therefore choosing the right probiotic depends on the situation you want to address. Also, it is essential to take prebiotics with probiotics. These are carbs contained in foods like bananas and oatmeal, which provide food for good bacteria to thrive.
There are three types of probiotics: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii. The Lactobacillus strains are beneficial for improving your vaginal health. If you wish to relieve gout symptoms such as diarrhea and bloating, you should go with lactobacillus acidophilus or lactobacillus casei strains. This helps restore the gut balance and relieve the symptoms. For IBS-related issues, complement with saccharomyces boulardii.
Final thoughts
Maintaining a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria is essential for everyone, especially women. The vagina flora is prone to disbalance due to usual practices in everyday life. In addition, the gut microbiome imbalance leads to problems. Therefore it is essential to choose probiotics that target your issues. Women can get their probiotics from food and supplements. Consult your pharmacist or doctor to determine the right probiotics for your needs.
