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Dr. Gloria Mendizabal-Piedra MD

(305) 823-2433

3986 W. 16 Avenue | Hialeah, FL 33012

Why You Need a Daily Probiotic

Why You Need a Daily Probiotic

You wake up, brew a pot of coffee, maybe eat a bowl of cereal or energy bar, and…take a probiotic?

Probably not, right? You’re not alone. A staggeringly small 1.6% of US adults and 0.5% of children take probiotics. That number should be much higher, but you may not know why. Not many people realize the benefits you get from taking probiotics daily.

As Hialeah family doctors, we want to change that. We want to educate both our community and the world at large to the numerous benefits of daily probiotic use. Read about the top three benefits below.

What are Probiotics?

The first thing we need is address is just what probiotics are. As you can guess from the low number of adults and children who take them, probiotics aren’t that well understood.

It’s estimated that there are around ten times more bacteria cells in our bodies than human cells. Most of these are good, healthy bacteria. Some, however aren’t that healthy. Probiotics, at their most basic, are supplements packed with healthy bacteria.

Taking daily doses of probiotics will set up your intestines for optimal health. This can result in all sorts of benefits including: improving nutrient absorption, maintaining your body weight, minimizing inflammation, keeping your blood sugar levels regulated, and more.

Not too shabby at all, right? Well, those benefits pale in comparison to the three below.

You’ll Strengthen Your Immune System

Did you know that around 80% of your immune system is in your intestines? Your gut is ground zero for probiotic help and taking them daily will help to strengthen your immune system.

Your gut is kept in balance by good bacteria. While a healthy diet rich in vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber can help to keep that good bacteria fighting, nothing is better than probiotics like Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus plantarum.

Taking these daily will help healthy bacteria flourish. They’ll also keep harmful bacteria to a minimum. Say hello to a stronger immune system.

You’ll Be Happier

Want to be happier? Then start paying attention to your “body’s second brain.”

This nickname for your gut is so much truer than most people realize. Your enteric nervous system (ENS) is in your gut and communicates via neurotransmitters to your central nervous system (CNS) all day long. In fact, your ENS actually produces around 80% of the serotonin in your body.

Taking probiotics like Lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus casei, and Bifidobacterium bifidum can help set your gut up for maximum serotonin production. This, in turn, will help improve your mood and make you happier.

You’ll Have More Energy

Fatigue is often a sign of poor digestion. Poor digestion often occurs because your intestines’ bacterial balance is out of whack. Taking daily probiotics helps to balance the bacteria in your gut. Are we starting to sound like a broken record? Good! That means you’re listening.

In this case, Lactobacillus plantarum has been shown to help decrease fatigue in clinical trials on mice. A couple added bonuses of our good friend L. plantarum? It can increase muscle mass and endurance, in addition to the immune boost mentioned above.

Contact us today if you need more info or would like to schedule an appointment!

November 1, 2017 1:44 pm
Categories: Diet