By now, you may have heard about probiotics for gut health. There are mixed stories about probiotics. For this reason, we have come up with this guide to help you understand some of these myths and know the truth.
MYTH: All probiotics are the same
You may have seen people taking probiotics to solve their digestive issues. There are different types of probiotics sold in shops and online. Most people just buy yoghurt and assume that they will benefit from the probiotics. However, it is important to understand that not all probiotics are created equally.
Each strain of probiotics is a live bacterium that comes with different functions in the body. Studies have shown that multi-strain probiotic products are more effective than products with a single-strain. It is therefore very important that the bacterial strains in probiotic supplements are combined in a scientifically backed way. The combination of the strains should be tested as a whole to ensure the strains work well.
For the best results, it is important to search for quality products that have multi-species and multi-strain probiotics, supported by studies to demonstrate efficacy.
MYTH: Prebiotics are sufficient for good gut health
Prebiotics are a form of fibre. It is the best food for gut bacteria. Some of the best sources of dietary fibre include whole grains, leafy greens, legumes, sweet potatoes, and so on. Unfortunately, the standard diet for most people is deficient in dietary fibre.
We are starving our good gut bacteria of the foods that are necessary for them to thrive. This means that increasing your intake of fibre is important for good gut health.
If you have been starving your good bacteria and stressing them by bad lifestyle choices, it is likely that you do not have a healthy balance of good gut bacteria and you need to take probiotics for health and prebiotics.
MYTH: I only need to take probiotics when I am taking antibiotics
It is a must to take probiotics when taking antibiotics. Antibiotics kill bad bacteria that make us sick. They also kill a lot of good bacteria that live in the gut and support critical functions of our bodies. By taking supplements of probiotics with your antibiotic treatment, you replenish the important good bacteria in the gut and with that, you reduce the risk of diarrhoea that is associated with antibiotics.
However, antibiotics aren’t the only thing disrupting the good bacteria in your gut. Other factors include an unhealthy diet, stress, alcohol and so on. Modern lifestyles pose a lot of threats to the good bacteria in our guts. Taking a high-quality supplement of probiotics is an excellent idea to support your well-being.
MYTH: Probiotics cause digestive discomfort
Taking high-quality probiotics for gut health helps you optimise your digestion, rather than creating digestive discomfort. Probiotic bacteria occur in a healthy human intestine naturally and shouldn’t have any negative reactions to it. If you experience any digestive discomfort when using probiotics, you should check whether the supplements contain additives such as dairy or gluten that you might be reacting to .
