Probiotics don’t quite have the reputation they deserve…yet. As of now, they’re probably something you see as optional–kind of like taking vitamins, exercising a little more, and cutting out red meat. But we should actually look at probiotics as mandatory. They aren’t just foreign substances we can add to our body if we want. Probiotics occur naturally in the body, but many of the foods we drink deplete our natural levels of them. You may wonder why people thousands of years ago didn’t have to take probiotics. Well, A) They didn’t have Whole Foods so, they couldn’t and B) They didn’t eat food that had been so highly processed that it disrupted the balance of their delicate digestive systems. More than ever, today we need to take probiotics. So if you want to know more about these little live bacteria nutritionists rave about, here are surprising facts about probiotics.
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They’re not where you expect
Most people associate probiotics with the stomach, but actually, the majority of them exist in the colon. They’re everywhere, though! Including the mouth, armpits, and even nasal cavity.
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They fight more than constipation
You likely know that probiotics can fight constipation, but they can also help defend against the common cold and the flu.
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In fact, they make up most of your immune system
Probiotics play a large role in the production of T-cells, which are very important to the immune system.
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They can fight herpes
Probiotics can even reduce one’s chances of contracting herpes. Studies have shown that the bacteria can
fight the pathogens that cause the sexually contracted disease.
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They’re anti-cancer
These little bacteria can boost the body’s production of anti-cancer chemicals. They’ve been proven to be especially effective in fighting bladder cancer.
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They outnumber our cells
The healthy individual has about 10 trillion cells in their body and one hundred to three hundred trillion probiotic bacteria. So, it’s safe to say these are important parts of our body.
Their special relationship with the appendix
This may surprise you, but your appendix might be of some use. While many believe we do not need our appendix, this organ can actually send out probiotics that fight pathogens.
They can prevent asthma
Some studies suggest that a lack of probiotics in babies increases their chances of
developing asthma later in life.
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They can fight depression and anxiety
Recent research suggests that taking probiotics regularly can help fight
certain mood disorders. People who struggled with such disorders reported fewer incidents of feeling sad or anxious after taking probiotics for several weeks.
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They’re good for your skin
Probiotics can help treat atopic dermatitis in children, as well as prevent eczema.
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Burn victims should take them
Probiotics can help speed up the healing of a burn, as well as reduce the chance of burn-related infections.
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They help you absorb…everything
Probiotics help you absorb iron, calcium, and phytonutrients better. They also boost protein assimilation and glucose metabolism.
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They can fight what antibiotics can’t
People who take antibiotics regularly can end up developing antibiotic resistant bacteria. Fortunately, what antibiotics cannot kill, probiotics can come in and swiftly eliminate.
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There are over 400 kinds
There are over 400 strains of probiotics. Some are here to stay, and some only pass through our bodies for a short time.
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Mothers give their newborn babies probiotics
When babies are born via vaginal birth, their mother passes onto them their first batch of probiotics. Babies born via cesarian birth rarely receive this benefit.
