No one likes feeling bloated or crampy. It’s uncomfortable, can hurt your self esteem and motivation, and is generally a downer on daily life. And, everyone knows that when one thing becomes out of whack in the human body, another is sure to follow; think gas and the pains that often accompany it. Those “triple threat days” – days when bloating, cramps, and gas hit you all at once, are days when you most want to crawl back into bed and forget life outside of your comfortable space exists.
Those days do not have to happen, though. Managing your digestive system to the point where those problems are less severe or go away entirely is surprisingly easy, assuming there are no underlying medical conditions causing them. If your digestive system is simply irregular or you’d just like it to improve, there are many options available for regulating it again.
All About Bacteria
In particular, probiotics are universally seen as a safe, healthy, and efficient way to keep your digestion regular and functioning normally. Probiotics are microorganisms like living bacteria and yeasts that provide health benefits when digested. They are found naturally in all mammals, including humans.
The human body is made up of good and bad bacteria. Probiotics are the good kind. Different kinds of probiotics can do different things because they target different areas and functions of the body. In addition to digestion, there are probiotics that can help manage depression, improve brain function, mitigate heart problems, keep allergies at bay, lessen skin problems such as eczema and acne, boost immune health, and more.
But, how could a probiotic potentially affect all of these different systems and parts of the body? Well, scientists and doctors are doing more research about it all the time. However, the general consensus is that the human body, despite being made up of various systems, is more interconnected than we think. The phenomenon of the “gut-brain axis” says that the gut and brain are connected because they share a common nerve – the vagus nerve – and have a similar makeup. The brain and the gut both produce serotonin and dopamine, among other entities typically thought to be brain-only. Thus, it is thought that probiotics can help improve overall mood, reduce a cloudy or foggy thought pattern, increase cognitive function, and lower anxiety levels. That means that while probiotics are commonly used for gut health, there are strong, medically sourced arguments that say they can be used with great success in other parts of the body as well.
Probiotics for Immune Health
Probiotics for immune health are another hot topic for scientists and researchers alike. Because probiotics are considered “good” bacteria, when they engage with other bacteria in your body – like the “bad ones” – they can balance eachother out to build a healthy equilibrium. Too much bad bacteria can lead to infections and other health problems. When a probiotic is involved, immune health can be boosted and the chances for other issues arising can lessen.
With digestion, though, probiotics can assist with a wide variety of digestive specific issues. For those “triple threat” days, as mentioned above, probiotics may be particularly useful. Healthy bacteria can prevent the bad bacteria from wreaking havoc in your body and triggering the bloated, crampy, gassy feelings that can occur. Yet, not all probiotics are created equally.
One product in particular, Bowtrol for gut support, is an all natural, highly recommended probiotic that many have had success with. Each capsule is gluten free, lactose free, and vegetarian. Because it’s made from the same bacteria that are naturally found in your body, it is safe to use. Bowtrol contains several strands of bacteria that are “proven for effectiveness in over 90 percent of all clinical studies done with probiotics.” Similarly, Bowtrol contains “strain DDS-1, as well as Bifidobacterium, 2 recently-discovered super-strains that are up to ten times as powerful as many other probiotics combined.”
NutraPrice Pure Probiotic, another well received product, contains eight strains “for complete body wellness.” It is third party tested, meaning that you need not worry about ingesting something that hasn’t been thoroughly constructed and monitored under strict conditions. Like Bowtrol, NutraPrice contains several beneficial probiotic strains including DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium, among others. It is dairy free, gluten free, and vegetarian.
Both Bowtrol and NutraPrice Pure Probiotic come with a money back guarantee and boast many positive reviews from satisfied customers. These might be a great option for people who have not yet tried probiotics or who have tried a certain brand but would like to explore more options.
What Are Strains?
When researchers refer to “strains” or “strands” in relation to probiotics, they are referring to the idea that while probiotics might often be talked about as if they’re one in the same, they are actually quite different and can be separately identified based on the functions that each can conduct. Different strains do different things.
One strain in particular, strain DDS-1, is a highly resistant probiotic strain. It has been called the “super strain” because it can survive within the stomach acid, passing through it with ease. Because of this, strain DDS-1 has been known to effectively regulate many bodily problems, including digestive issues, skin problems, and immune function. It’s included in both Bowtrol and NutraPrice Pure to ensure a quick, powerful boost.
Another powerhouse strain included in Bowtrol and NutraPrice, Bifidobacterium is known to treat a wide variety of problems as well. Although it is not scientifically tested as extensively as DDS-1, Bifidobacterium is known to treat conditions like lung and intestinal infections, constipation, diarrhea, and more. In particular, Bifidobacterium has been known to subdue the effects of Irritable Bowel Syndrome and has even been linked to lowering the severity of the common cold and seasonal flu, yet there is not much research available for those two ailments specifically.
Maintaining a Healthy Life with Probiotics
Probiotics are clearly the bacterial jacks of all trades. While they can be found naturally in foods like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, and tempeh, probiotic intake is much easier to track when it is ingested in a capsule or pill because you don’t have to worry about measurements. Specifically designed probiotic products are often infused with other helpful things, too, like magnesium (for muscle and nerve function, blood pressure management, and making protein) or vitamins, creating a powerful health boost in a capsule.
Overall, probiotics serve as a fantastic option for people who would like to fix specific problems with their digestive or immune health AND people who would like to generally feel better, healthier, and more energized throughout their daily lives. Probiotics are widely available and come in different forms, so they are easily customizable to varied lifestyles, budgets, and other preferences. People all over the world use probiotics for such reasons and many credit them as their ticket to becoming a healthier and happier person.
If you recognized yourself or your symptoms anywhere in this article, chances are that probiotics like Bowtrol or NutraPrice Pure could help you, too. Be sure to check with your doctor before using either one, or any supplement that is not a part of your normal health routine. Order one (or both!) today and see how your life changes!