Signs You Need Probiotics: How Probiotics Help Gut Health
In this blog, you’ll learn all about probiotics, how they’re used, possible side effects, and if they are right for you and your body.
What are probiotics and what do they do?
Probiotics are tiny living organisms, like bacteria and yeast, that are good for your body, especially for your gut. Keeping your digestive system healthy is crucial, since between 70% and 80% of your immune system lives there. Your gut is also responsible for other crucial functions, including creating the building blocks for chemicals that keep your mood stable and help you focus. Your gut microbiome also affects your skin, allergies, neurotransmitters, autoimmune conditions, and your ability to manage your weight.
Good digestion is not just about comfort after eating. Food digestion is how your body breaks down food into small enough particles for all of the nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream so they can be circulated and delivered all over the body to fuel everything your body does. If this doesn't happen well, our bodies become under-nourished, and are unable to perform all functions at 100%. One of the first systems to be forced to take a backseat is the reproductive system. Your body simply won't prioritize making hormones like estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone if nutrients are low. Instead, it will use those nutrient resources to power more essential areas like your heart, lungs, and muscles.
We typically think of bacteria as bad, but that's not always true! Our bodies actually need some types of bacteria to stay healthy, and those are the probiotics. These good guys help you break down food, absorb nutrients, build up the lining of your intestines, and fight off harmful germs. When you have enough of the right probiotics in your gut, it can help keep your belly happy and your immune system strong. When bad bacteria take charge in your gut, they steal nutrients and produce toxic by-products that cause damage to the lining of the gut, potentially leading to leaky gut.
You can find probiotics in fermented foods like sauerkraut and pickles (traditionally fermented in a salt brine). You can also take them as supplements if your healthcare practitioner recommends it.
There can be some side effects to probiotics. If you’re not using the proper strains or keeping the balance right, it can have a negative impact on the bacteria in your gut. It’s really important to know what is happening on a bacterial level in your gut microbiome, so you can use the right probiotics at the right time.
It’s also important that your body is able to maintain and manage levels of healthy bacteria, even without supplementing. Talk to your functional health practitioner about when it might be the right time for you to take additional probiotics, as it's typically best to limit probiotic supplements to times when your body is undergoing additional stress, coping with an infection, or when you’re taking certain medications.
Why do you need probiotics?
Sometimes, your body needs a little extra help to stay balanced and healthy, and that's where probiotics come in.
There are times when the good bacteria in your gut can get out of balance because of illness, taking antibiotics, or eating too much food that doesn’t agree with your system. When this happens, it can lead to discomfort like bloating, gas, or diarrhea, and even affect your immune system.
That's when adding probiotics to your diet can be really helpful. They work to restore the balance of good bacteria in your gut, which can help you feel better and stay well. So, if you're looking to support your digestion and overall health, adding probiotics to your routine might help.
Signs You Need a Probiotic
What are the signs you need probiotics? Sometimes, our bodies send us signals that they need a little extra support. If you've been experiencing tummy troubles like bloating, gas, or irregular bowel movements, it could be a sign that your gut bacteria are out of balance. Other signs might include feeling tired or run-down often, having frequent infections, or even skin issues like acne or eczema.
How to know if you need probiotics: Pay attention to how your body feels and listen to what it's telling you. If you notice the signs above, it might be worth considering adding probiotics to your routine to help restore harmony in your gut and support your overall health.
The best way to know for sure if you need a probiotic is to test – don’t guess! Tests like the GI-MAP can help you investigate what’s happening with the bacteria in your gut. Test results will help you identify whether or not you need to use probiotics, what kind you need, and the right strategy for your personal health goals and needs.
Sometimes you use a probiotic while you’re trying to get rid of bad bacteria, and other times you might use a probiotic right after you’re done getting rid of some bad bacteria. Sometimes you might use a probiotic in order to just help balance your system… It’s very individualized and situational, and it requires having good context by knowing what’s going on inside of your body.
What do probiotics do for women?
Probiotics can be especially beneficial for women's health. They work to support the balance of good bacteria in your body, which is super important for overall well-being. For women, probiotics can help maintain a healthy balance in the vagina and urinary tract, which can help prevent infections like yeast infections or urinary tract infections (UTIs).
We sometimes call the gut the “second brain” because it has a huge influence over your entire body, with lots of access points. The digestive tract has natural communication pathways with the hormones in a woman’s body. It can positively impact the bacteria that are in the female reproductive system, including the bacteria in the vagina itself.
It’s easy to think that you have compartmentalized sections in your body, but everything is actually very connected. Remember, the gut sits on top of the female organs and on top of the vagina, so if you get all of this balanced, it’s going to impact one another. By keeping your body in balance, probiotics contribute to your overall health and wellness.
What do probiotics do for men?
Probiotics are not just helpful for women; they're also great for men's health! They work in the gut to support digestion, which can help with issues like bloating or discomfort after eating. If your body is digesting poorly, it will prioritize the hormones it produces, and testosterone is at the bottom of that list. A healthy gut will allow the body to produce testosterone in healthy amounts, which can benefit energy, drive, focus, mood, muscle mass, and libido. But that's not all – probiotics also play a role in maintaining a healthy balance in the whole body, which is important for overall well-being.
This can mean supporting a strong immune system, which helps fight off infections and illness. Probiotics also help maintain balance in the urinary tract for men. Some research indicates that a healthy microbiome can also support prostate health. As with women, gut flora can also affect the male reproductive system and male hormones, so probiotics can be very beneficial.
Can too many probiotics cause constipation?
While probiotics are usually great for our gut health, it's essential to find the right balance.
Some people might wonder if taking too many probiotics can lead to constipation. It can happen – everyone's body is different, so it's possible for some individuals to experience this side effect. It’s another reason why we always recommend you partner with a qualified functional health practitioner before starting any supplement.
What to Do if Probiotics Cause Constipation
If you're noticing constipation after starting a probiotic supplement, it’s time to seek help from a healthcare practitioner to determine if it might be worth trying a lower dose, stopping the probiotic, or switching to a different strain or strategy altogether. Probiotics can act as a band-aid at times if they’re not used appropriately, so it’s important to test your gut to find out exactly what is needed.
Also, remember that staying hydrated and eating fiber-rich foods can help keep your digestion regular, whether you're taking probiotics or not. As always, it's a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider if you have any concerns or questions about probiotics and your health. Your need for a probiotic will be totally individualized. There can be situations where some people have constipation, diarrhea, or bloating, and all of those situations need to be looked at individually by a practitioner or healthcare provider.
Holistic Help with Probiotics
When it comes to supporting our health, taking a holistic approach means considering your whole self – body, mind, and spirit. Probiotics fit perfectly into this holistic picture! These friendly bacteria not only help keep our digestion in check by replenishing and fortifying the beneficial bacteria in your gut, but they also contribute to your overall well-being, since your gut’s health impacts all other areas of your body.
But holistic health goes beyond quick fixes…it's about nourishing yourself in all aspects of life. Along with taking probiotics, you can also focus on eating a balanced diet full of protein, vegetables, and fruits. And just as important to your overall health is getting regular exercise, managing stress through activities like yoga or meditation, and getting enough quality sleep. By taking care of yourself in this holistic way, you can support your body’s natural ability to thrive and feel your best.
If you're experiencing any symptoms or have questions about probiotics, don't hesitate to book a free 1-on-1 consultation with one of our practitioners to discuss the best approach for your health journey. Take charge of your well-being today!