Benefits of a Daily Probiotic

By Molly Knudsen, MS, RDN

Between trying to eat a balanced diet, getting enough exercise, and sleeping a sufficient amount, is remembering to take a probiotic every day really essential for your health?

Probiotic studies usually research the effects of taking probiotics daily, so occasional use isn’t likely to have the same positive health outcomes.

Over 100 publications demonstrate Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07 strains support a balance of intestinal microbiota.¹,² Intestinal microbiota refers to the live microorganisms, such as bacteria, that call the small and large intestine home. These microorganisms are a mix of beneficial, neutral, or potentially harmful organisms to our health.³ When living in harmony, the gut is in homeostasis. This balance of good and bad bacteria is ideal for health. If the amount of bad bacteria tips the scale away from homeostasis in the gut, that leads to dysbiosis. Dysbiosis occurs from the loss of beneficial bacteria, the overgrowth of harmful bacteria, or the loss of microbial diversity in the gut.⁴ These two particular strains, L. acidophilus NCFM and B. lactis Bi-07, act as general maintenance for gut health.¹,²

2. It may support healthy immune function

3. It may support weight management

Discussing a well-researched probiotic with your healthcare practitioner is a great start to achieving your health goals. But there are additional steps you can take toward keeping your gut healthy and happy as well.

References:

1. Ringel-Kulka T et al. J Clin Gastroenter. 2011;45:518–525.
2. Leyer GJ et al. Pediatrics. 2009;124(2):e172–179.
3. Zhang Y-J et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2015;16(4):7493–7519. doi:10.3390/ijms16047493
4. DeGruttola AK et al. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2016;22(5):1137–1150.
5. Vighi G et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2008;153(Suppl 1):3–6.
6. Kang E-J et al. Korean J Fam Med. 2013;34(1):2–10.
7. Putaala H et al. Res Microbiol. 2008;159(9–10):692–698.

Related posts:

The pandemic created a world we were unprepared to live in. Sudden out of nowhere changes, then more change, and just when you felt safe enough to leave your home, more change was forced upon…

The Silicon Valley Bank was a commercial bank that provided banking and financial services to high-tech companies in Silicon Valley. During the dot-com bubble, the bank experienced rapid growth and…

Ucapan Papa membuat Dew seketika mengurungkan niat untuk meminta mengabulkan keinginannya. Jika boleh jujur, sesungguhnya kini Dew merasa jika permintaan dirinya menjadi tak begitu penting. Belum…