You've heard of the microbiome, the community of microorganisms that live inside and on your body. Microbes are so fundamental to life that they outnumber human cells by about 10 to 1!

Our microbiome is full of all kinds of bacteria, both good and bad.

When our microbiome is balanced, the good cells work hard to keep us vibrant and healthy.

However, when too many of the bad bacteria are hanging around, the good bacteria lose their support and can’t do their jobs properly.

The good news is that we can maintain the balance of the microbes in our microbiome by consuming probiotics.

 Probiotics work to replenish the beneficial bacteria in our body and provide important, supportive health benefits.

Here are the top 10 reasons why taking a daily probiotic supplement is one of the best things you can do to support your overall health and wellness.

1. Encouraged a balanced microbiome

From modern diets filled with sugar and additives to exposure to antibiotics in both medicine and food, your lifestyle can drastically affect your body’s delicate balance of bacteria.  

Even factors such as aging, stress, environmental toxins, and medications (such as antacids, birth control, and steroids) can have hazardous effects on your healthy microflora balance.

When the good bacteria is overwhelmed, your microbiome can quickly shift and create issues that are less than ideal.

Luckily, consuming probiotic supplements can replenish your body’s levels of healthy bacteria and encourage the maintenance of healthy conditions in your body.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Support immune function

Approximately 80% of your immune system is located in your gut!

Because so many of your immune cells live in your intestinal tract, a balanced and healthy immune response is largely dependent on beneficial bacteria existing within the gut.

A high-quality supplement (one with multiple strains of good bacteria) works to outnumber the bad guys and support the foundation of your health at its core.

3. Support nutrient absorption

No matter how healthy your diet is, your body cannot benefit from them if your gut environment isn’t brimming with healthy bacteria.

Enzymes and digestive bacteria help break down the food you eat into molecules.

These molecules make their way into your bloodstream to nourish your body.

Insufficient or unbalanced bacterial populations in the gut can agitate this process and can even lead to malabsorption of critical nutrients. 

A daily probiotic can help your body naturally absorb all the good from your food and supplements so that you’re getting the most out of your efforts to maintain your health.

4. Maintain your mood

Your “gut feeling” is more than just an intuition. Actually, our mental and emotional balance depend on a healthy gut environment.  

The good bacteria in your gut support the production of nervous system chemicals that regulate your moods.

Almost 95% of your body’s serotonin—also known as the happy chemical—is produced in your gut.

replenishing them often is one of the best things you can do to support healthy emotional function.

5. Support healthy weight management

According to research, having a healthy balance of microflora in your gut helps support your metabolism, and can even encourage healthy weight management! 

In one study, women who took probiotics over a six month period lost more weight, and were able to maintain and continue that loss, than those taking a placebo.

You may also experience changes in mood and hormone levels that lead to unhealthy cravings, resulting in unwanted weight gain.

6. Freshen breath

Our mouths are home to an incredible amount of bacteria.

Studies show that certain probiotics, like Streptococcus salivarius, can help support the oral microbiome by helping to suppress the growth of bad breath-causing microbes.

Mouthwash and mints only disguise bad breath. Probiotics can help with this issue by encouraging long-term equilibrium of oral bacteria.

7. Keep immune function in check

By supporting a balanced immune system, probiotics can help to support the health of your bones, joints, skin, and other areas of your body.

In a study published in Gut Microbes, researchers measured the participants’ levels of temporary inflammation.

They were given Bifidobacterium supplements for eight weeks.

By the end of the trial, levels significantly decreased in the probiotic group, indicating that these good bacteria can help to keep temporary inflammation in check.

8. Reduce fatigue

It turns out that a balanced gut can help rejuvenate you.

Have you ever felt tired even after getting enough rest?

That’s because fatigue--and the resulting irritability-- are often signs of poor digestion, which occurs from an unhealthy gut.

Recent research dug into the connection between probiotics and energy.

Scientists at National Taiwan Sport University administered Lactobacillus plantarum to mice for six weeks.

The results suggest that the mice showed increased grip strength, muscle weight, and endurance; and decreased fatigue.

Taking beneficial probiotics can help support your body’s ability to properly digest and process all the healthy nutrients you eat so you can maintain your healthy lifestyle.

9. Maintain your blood sugar already in a healthy range

Did you know that probiotics can help maintain blood sugar levels if already within a normal range?

Gut bacteria communicate with your cells to help send chemical messages throughout your body.

This communication process enables your body to support and maintain healthy glucose levels in a normal range.

Taking a daily probiotic ensures that the good bacteria are working on your behalf to support all of your body’s processes.

10. Improve the appearance of your skin

Your skin is your largest organ, and it protects your body from numerous external threats.

Skin is a very important reflection of your internal health.

Skin problems can result from nutritional and hormonal imbalances, as well as immune system disruptions, all issues that begin in the gut.

By taking a daily probiotic, it helps you to better absorb the nutrients from your foods and supporting immune system response, which results in a healthier-looking skin that glows.