When we think of probiotics, most of us may think of Jamie Lee Curtis sitting on a couch talking about yogurt. If you aren’t sure what probiotics are, WebMD defines them as, “live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your health, especially your digestive system. We usually think of bacteria as something that causes diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called “good” or “helpful” bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.”
Has your doctor ever prescribed antibiotics then recommended you also ate yogurt while on them? This is due to the antibiotics fighting bacteria in your body, including the good bacteria in your gut. By eating yogurt, you are increasing your probiotics, and your body’s ability to fight inflammation and yeast. Even without antibiotics probiotics are commonly used to help boost the immune system, and support digestion. What you may not know is taking probiotics may help improve your skin health.
Because probiotics help decrease inflammation and promote our immune system, it goes
without saying that they are good for you. There are now studies showing that probiotics
may be helpful for a number of skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, wound healing, aging, eczema, and psoriasis. These conditions can be treated with probiotics, alongside traditional treatments as they will work better in conjunction with them. Some probiotics could even help if applied topically, although the typical way to get benefits of them is to ingest orally.
So how can we reap the benefits of probiotics?
– Yogurt, and/or kefir (a drink similar to yogurt), make sure you are checking the labels to make sure they include probiotics like lactobacillus or acidophilus in them.
– Fermented foods such as pickles, kimchi, tempeh, and sauerkraut are probiotic rich foods and an added bonus is that some of these foods are full of other benefits like vitamins A, B, C, & K, beta-carotene, and fiber.
– Kombucha, although this fermented tea can sometimes be an acquired taste, it is full of healthy probiotics.
– Supplements are an easy option as they are available at drugstores and supermarkets. Navigating these aisles can be a chore though. Here are some key tips to choose a good probiotic supplement.
In my opinion, I think everyone can benefit one way or another by taking probiotics. If you already do use them, I would love to hear more about how you take them, and what you use! If you are new to probiotics, I would love to hear how they work for you! Make sure to drop us a line in the comments to let us know!
Sources:
https://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/probiotic-foods/
http://www.worldhealth.net/news/probiotics-skin-health/
http://dermatologytimes.modernmedicine.com/dermatology-times/news/probiotics-healthy-skin?page=full
https://www.aad.org/media/news-releases/could-probiotics-be-the-next-big-thing-in-acne-and-rosacea-treatments
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/features/what-are-probiotics#1
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