How Consuming Probiotics Can Improve Your Gut Health and Digestion

Alliaus / November 15, 2021

Bacteria is usually viewed in a negative light as something that makes you sick, so the idea of purposely consuming a few billion bacteria a day for your health might seem a little hard to swallow. What many people don’t realise, however, is that you have two kinds of bacteria in and on your body—“good” bacteria and “bad” bacteria. A growing body of evidence suggests that consuming certain kinds of beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, can drastically improve a person’s gut health and digestion.

How does consuming these friendly microbes benefit your gut health and digestion and how can you add them to your daily routine? We’ll be answering those questions and many others in this article. Let’s get started.

What is the gut microbiome?

Imagine a busy city street on a Monday morning, bustling with people rushing to get to work. Now imagine this occurring in your gut—except with teeny-tiny microorganisms—and you’ll have an idea of what the community of about 100 trillion bacteria inside your gut look like. This community of bacteria is collectively known as the gut microbiome and includes both “good” (or beneficial) bacteria and “bad” (or harmful) bacteria.

What’s the relationship between good and bad bacteria in the microbiome?

In a healthy person, the microbes in the microbiome coexist harmoniously. The good bacteria keep the bad bacteria in check, maintaining a peaceful balance. In today’s modern age, however, it is much more difficult to maintain the proper amount of good bacteria in the gut due to the high number of toxins, medications, and chemicals we’re exposed to on a daily basis. Things like antibiotics, food preservatives, pesticides, and chlorinated water all destroy the beneficial bacteria in our guts. Even chronic stress can hinder a well-balanced microbiome.

Once the delicate balance of the microbiome is disturbed, it opens the door for bad bacteria to take over, causing health issues, including food intolerances, autoimmune conditions, mood disorders, and of course, digestive issues.

What exactly are probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed. They are the “good” bacteria that help keep your body healthy and working well. They can be found in fermented foods, such as Greek yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir, or taken as a supplement. Probiotics may contain a variety of microorganisms, the most common of which are bacteria that belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Many of the microorganisms in probiotic foods and supplements are the same as or similar to microorganisms that naturally live in our digestive tracts.

How do probiotics work in the gut?

Probiotics are best known and studied for their impact on gut health. Think of probiotics as an army that works to restore order and fight off the bad guys. They antagonise unwelcome bugs, thereby promoting a healthy, balanced microbiome.

Consuming probiotics, either via fermented foods or a supplement, supports gut health by elevating the number of good bacteria in the gut, thereby preventing disease-causing bacteria from taking over. Having adequate amounts of friendly bacteria in the gut allows for normal gut function and is key when it comes to breaking down food and absorbing nutrients.

How can consuming probiotics improve gut health and digestion?

Digestive issues are incredibly common, with more than one-third of Australians experiencing chronic or relapsing gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal pain, early satiety, bloating, constipation or diarrhoea. A large body of evidence suggests that probiotics help with a number of digestive issues, including constipation, diarrhoea, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), lactose intolerance, and ulcerative colitis. Studies have also shown that consuming probiotics can help maintain and improve the integrity of the gut wall.

Everyone could benefit from consuming more probiotics, especially in today’s modern age. It’s particularly important to consume probiotics during and after a course of antibiotics and times of stress, as they help repopulate the gut with friendly bacteria that may be lost under these circumstances.

How can you consume more probiotics?

While probiotics can be consumed via eating fermented foods, the easiest and most effective and reliable way to get a substantial daily dose of probiotics is by taking a supplement, such as Alliaus Digestive Aid. This probiotic supplement contains carefully selected probiotic strains that encourage a healthy gut and, consequently, strong overall health.

Alliaus Digestive Aid comes in powder form and can easily be mixed into any beverage. With 15.6 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) per sachet, this naturally-sourced probiotic helps:

Maintain gut health
Nourish beneficial intestinal flora
Speed up metabolism
Keep you feeling full for longer
Aid in cleansing the digestive tract

The bottom line

Your gut is home to a community of bacteria, some of which are beneficial and some of which are harmful. Taking a probiotic can help support your digestive health and overall well-being by increasing the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut.

If you’re one of the many people struggling with digestive issues, start getting back in balance by picking up Alliaus Digestive Aid today!