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Are your probiotics working?

We’ve all heard by now that a healthy gut microbiome populated by numerous strains of positive flora (probiotics) is essential for good health.

Healthy, undamaged gut flora contributes to many aspects of your wellbeing. But, if you’ve been under the weather and encouraged to supplement with probiotics, how do you know you’re on the road to wellness?

Here are some signs that the probiotic you are taking is improving your health:

Better stress response – The absence of certain healthy gut flora can have a direct link to our ability to cope with anxiety. By repopulating your gut with probiotics you can help to reduce anxiety and keep stress at bay.

Weight Loss – Multiple studies have shown that people lacking certain gut flora are more prone to fat storage and increased hunger. Increasing probiotics can increase the release of satiety (appetite reducing) hormones as well as stimulate production of ANGPTL4 proteins which reduce fat storage.

Increased Energy – Healthy microbiota helps increase your production of B vitamins which are essential for energy production.

Improved Mood – Your gut produces many of the same neurotransmitters that the brain does. A damaged microbiome is under stress which puts you in a stressed state. If your gut is happier, you will be too.

Better Memory – Over time probiotics have been shown to significantly improve cognitive function which includes memory, attention, and psychomotor processing speed.

Improved Immunity – 70-80% of your immune cells are located in your gut. A healthy gut microbiome can mean getting sick less often and experiencing fewer symptoms or a shorter duration if you do get sick.

There are other benefits you will experience when you have healthy gut flora. The benefits of healthy probiotics are numerous.

Be patient, it could take 4-8 weeks of consistent supplementation with probiotics to reach optimal benefit. Also remember that your gut flora eats what you eat, so a healthy diet is essential for maintaining optimal gut health.

Speak to the Live Well team at Pharmasave Summerland for more info about probiotics and your health.

Dan Cassidy – Registered Nutritional Product Advisor