It’s no secret that probiotics are great for our gut, but did you know that the advantages of probiotics extend far beyond our digestive health?  

Probiotics offer an entire suite of health benefits, some more unusual than others, and you can read about them all right here. 

1. Reducing stress & anxiety

You may have heard about the connection between the brain and the gut already, but what many fail to realize is exactly how intimate this connection actually is. Scientific studies have proven that the microorganisms that live in our gut directly interact with our nervous system.  

With the support of probiotics, we can improve our gut microbiome, which ultimately impacts the chemicals our body produces as a natural stress response. A good microbiome has been proven to enhance the interaction between our brain and our gut, effectively minimizing the impacts of stress, depression and anxiety.

2. Preventing and combating disease

Did you know that approximately 70% of our body’s immune cells reside in our gut’s lymphatic tissue? This figure alone shows just how important it is to maintain great gut health, and one simple way to do this is by introducing probiotics into our diet. 

The various good bacteria that live in our gut work against pathogenic bacteria, effectively boosting our immune systems and ultimately preventing a catalogue of different diseases. 

3. Reducing acne and inflammation

All cases of acne are different, and the causes vary, which is why it’s sometimes difficult to pinpoint a solution. However, there is a distinct connection between the gut and the skin, and since the Western diet is dominated by processed foods and refined sugars, it’s hardly surprising that so many of us are experiencing problems with our skin. 
 
Processed foods and refined sugars have an inflammatory effect and this inflammation shows on our skin. If you suffer from acne and you’ve exhausted the drugstore shelves looking for a topical solution, it might be time to assess your gut health. Reconsider your diet, making a conscious effort to minimise your consumption of processed foods and sugar, and look to introduce probiotics.  

Unlike these inflammatory foods, probiotics have an anti-inflammatory effect, encouraging the skin to settle and therefore helping to target the root cause of the acne breakout.

4. Preventing and curing stomach bugs

Stomach bugs aren’t unusual, but they are extremely uncomfortable and at times, very debilitating. The likes of diarrhea, sickness, aches and pains are all common symptoms associated with gastroenteritis, and while medications are available to help soothe the symptoms of these complaints, if we really want to target the direct cause of the problem, we need to consider our gut health.  

Introducing probiotics into your diet effectively combats the bad bacteria in our gut, effectively restoring the level of gut bacteria in the gut that may have depleted as a result of your stomach bug.  

5. Improving our mood and how we feel

We often hear that those with a poor diet tend to suffer from more frequent mood swings, and it isn’t a myth. The gut and the brain are connected and if our gut is unhappy, then our mind will be unhappy, too. The neurons that sit in the lining of our gut produce a chemical called Serotonin, which influences how we feel; this is why it’s vital that we take great care of our gut health. 

6. Preventing and relieving nasal congestion

The human body is fascinating, and while each part of the body functions differently, everything is interlinked, including the respiratory tract and our gut. 

There are lots of different microorganisms found in the respiratory tract, and the consumption of probiotics has been proven to enhance how those microorganisms' function, ultimately preventing the development of URTI’s (upper respiratory tract infections.) 

7. Prevention and treatment of halitosis

Our mouths play home to a whole host of different bacteria and how our breath smells is often a reflection of what is going on inside our gut. 

Bad breath, or as it’s medically known ‘halitosis’ is a harmless but unpleasant condition that often indicates there is a problem elsewhere in the body. The good news is that probiotics have been proven to effectively treat the root cause of the issue. 

8. Enhanced sleep quality

There are lots of different reasons as to why a person may struggle to get to sleep or stay asleep, but probiotics can definitely help. Probiotics help regulate and produce hormones and neurotransmitters required for the body to go into ‘rest mode.’ The microbes in our gut also play a role in serotonin production, which helps to regulate our mood, as well as enhance our quality of sleep. 

9. Weight loss support 

If you’re trying to lose weight but you’re struggling to find something that works, then probiotics might just offer the ideal solution. 

There are various strains of probiotics available that have been proven not only to support weight loss, but prevent future weight gain, too. Probiotics play an essential role in maintaining optimum gut health, and as we enhance our gut health, the functionality of our gut also improves, ultimately supporting the weight loss journey. 

10. Production of vitamin B12 and other B vitamins

B vitamins play a vital role in helping our bodies break down the food we eat into usable energy.  

As an increasing number of people adopt vegetarian and vegan diets, Vitamin B12 deficiencies are becoming more common. This is because Vitamin B12 is found predominantly in animal products. The good news is that our bodies can actually produce B vitamins as a result of consuming probiotics. The likes of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are popular probiotics and when consumed, they help produce not only vitamin B12, but many other B vitamins, too.