What are probiotics and why are they important for women?
Probiotics are good bacteria that occur naturally in our bodies. Because of their role in controlling harmful bacteria, they are often called friendly bacteria. There are 100 trillion of these powerful living microorganisms whizzing around our stomachs and intestines. What is their job? How can we help our bodies maintain perfect microbial harmony?
Helps our bodies perform many important daily functions. Did you know that probiotics can help fight depression? They also help boost our mood, support weight loss, and fight colds and flu. Not only that, but they can help lower blood pressure and relieve the discomfort of cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome. That's impressive stuff for something you can't even see.
6 benefits of probiotics for women
From fertility to urinary tract infections, probiotics can help protect the female body from many common female health issues.
Reduce urinary tract infections
If you've ever had a urinary tract infection (UTI, commonly called cystitis), you're not alone. Evidence shows that 40-60% of women suffer from a urinary tract infection at some point in their lives. When it happens, you'll know it. Women are at higher risk of developing urinary tract infections than men. But the good news is that probiotics can help. First, they replenish naturally occurring vaginal bacteria. Second, they balance the bad and good bacteria that cause infection. Overall, this can reduce the frequency and risk of uncomfortable UTI episodes.
Promote vaginal health
The right probiotics help keep your vaginal microbiome balanced. This can reduce the risk of vaginal yeast infections, genitourinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis. The predominant Lactobacillus strains found in healthy vaginas often create an environment that is too acidic for harmful microorganisms to survive. However, spermicides, antibiotics, and birth control pills can disrupt the natural balance. Probiotics help restore balance and control common female genitourinary problems.
assisted reproduction
Probiotics may be beneficial for women trying to conceive. By keeping your vagina healthy and happy, they can help solve some of the problems that affect fertility.
Support immunity
We all get a little burned out from time to time. Cold and flu season can definitely take a toll on our immune systems. Add in busy schedules, hectic work-life balance, and COVID-19, and it’s easy to see the appeal of supporting your immunity with some infection-fighting friendly bacteria.
Promote better gut health
Maintaining a healthy gut is more than just eating healthy and making sure you eat five meals a day. Research shows that probiotics can help maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract. This helps avoid common gastrointestinal illnesses. If you suffer from bloating, constipation, or diarrhea, finding the right probiotic can help you keep things under control.
Emotional management
There is a bidirectional relationship between the brain and digestive tract called the gut-brain axis. Based on this, some experts suggest that keeping your gut healthy may help relieve conditions like depression.
Where to find probiotics for women?
Probiotics are found naturally in our gut. However, boosting them with probiotic-rich foods and supplements can help the good bacteria do their job.
Which probiotics are best?
Not all probiotics are the same. Different strains have different effects and provide various benefits depending on the conditions. Some people fight the infection in their intestines, and some people fight it in their vagina. Some need to be strong enough to survive the acids in our guts so they can make it to the stomach intact. And those who need to fight tooth decay only need to reach the mouth.
It goes without saying that choosing the right strain for your own personal health needs is important. Knowing which specific probiotic strain to choose will help your body target it where it's needed most.
It is also recommended to take prebiotics and probiotics together. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates. You can find them in foods like whole-grain oatmeal, bananas, and even onions.
Three major categories of probiotics
Most probiotics come from one of these three groups:
Lactobacilli (commonly found in yogurt and other fermented foods)
Bifidobacteria (found in some dairy products)
Saccharomyces boulardii (a type of yeast)
For a healthy vagina: Look out for Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus fermentum strains. They help maintain the balance of vaginal microorganisms.
Help with fertility: Add supplements and foods containing Lactobacilli to your shopping list. This strain protects the vaginal microbiota from pathogenic infections associated with infertility, preterm birth, and pregnancy risk factors.
Gut Health: For bloating and constipation, Lactobacillus acidophilus or Lactobacillus casei can help restore intestinal flora. For diarrhea caused by gastroenteritis and food poisoning, Lactobacillus strains may be more effective. However, if IBS is the cause of your upset stomach, try a probiotic from Saccharomyces boulardii and a combination of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains.
Probiotic dosage form classification:
Probiotics are available in a wide range of dosage forms, including solid drinks, hard capsules, tablets, chewable gummies, liquid oral solutions, etc. However, in terms of their physical properties, they can be divided into two simple categories: solids and liquids. Their characteristics are: solids are processed into various dosage forms after the inactivation of bacterial cells or dormant freeze-drying; liquids include fresh bacteria and Inactivated bacteria and fresh bacteria have high-quality assurance requirements and can act on the entire digestive tract starting from the oral cavity. Dormant live bacteria have an effect on the intestines when awakened.