Do Probiotics Help You Lose Weight?

Do probiotics help you lose weight? Probiotics are good bacteria that your body needs to replenish the flora that lives in your digestive tract. These "good" bacteria also have some benefits in your body. They defend the GI tract from harmful pathogens and even help regulate metabolism. When they aren't active, however, the bad bacteria can overgrow and cause harm to the rest of your immune system. When this happens the result is a weakened immune system and the associated symptoms such as constipation, gas, bloating, diarrhea and excess fat deposits.

You can help your body fight off this overgrowth of bad bacteria by taking certain beneficial strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus. This bacterium is part of the Lactobacillus family and is naturally found in the GI tract. However, when it grows out of control it causes health issues including irritable bowels, IBS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Since most people have both the good bacteria and the bad in their GI tract, most cases of irritable bowel disease and IBS are associated with the bad bacteria. Therefore, doctors have been prescribing antibiotics for years to help combat these problems. However, there is now evidence that suggests that taking antibiotics may not be all that effective.

When we eat food, friendly bacteria in the GI tract attack and break down the food we eat. It is when this process is interrupted or "balanced" that we get sick or have illnesses. For this reason, many people believe that if you take probiotics, you will improve your immune system and have fewer illnesses. However, research suggests that there are other benefits to be had besides helping you eat healthy and avoid illness.

There are many strains and species of probiotics, and the one that is most often recommended for individuals seeking a weight loss supplement is Lactobacillus. This particular strain is thought to have some effect on appetite suppression, since it increases the number of calories a body expels through the digestive tract at meals. While it is not clear how much, Lactobacillus can make a difference in weight loss, it does seem to be one that is worth considering.

Another group of probiotics that may help you shed pounds is those that contain "good" bacteria. This type of bacteria helps keep the body's natural balance of bacteria. Some research suggests that there are benefits to taking antibiotic supplements that include robotics, since antibiotics tend to wipe out the "bad" bacteria. While some studies have suggested that taking antibiotics may have some side effects, especially for women, most research indicates that taking antibiotics in the right amounts can be beneficial. In fact, many people take antibiotics for conditions such as urinary tract infections and some forms of depression, so it makes sense that they would also benefit from probiotic supplementation.

The question "do probiotics help you lose weight?" is complicated by the fact that we don't know how the bacteria actually work or what factors make certain types of bacteria more active than others. Many of the studies that have been done looked only at the interaction of probiotics and a normal diet. There is no study showing whether or not taking them will help when you are trying to lose weight or not. Some researchers, however, suggest that there may be some benefit to taking them after you have finished a diet that is low in fat and has little or no carbohydrate intake. A study that was performed in Japan showed that the consumption of probiotics after consuming a high-fat diet led to a reduction in the production of glucose in the body, which could help in reducing weight.

However, even with the research in support of probiotics being helpful, there are still people who are skeptical. One of the most common arguments is that you can get all of the good bacteria from yogurt and other dairy products, so it doesn't make sense to take them when you are trying to lose weight. Another argument is that the bacteria from probiotics can escape into your system through your bloodstream and enter your blood stream where it would then cause an imbalance in your colon and lead to other health problems. There are also concerns about the long term effects of probiotics on your digestive system. While it can act as an aid to your digestion, there is concern that once you stop taking them, your body could have difficulty absorbing nutrients and other vitamins that it needs.

As with most things, there is more evidence indicating that yes, you can use probiotics to lose weight. They can also be helpful in other ways, including promoting a healthy intestinal environment, preventing and fighting inflammation, and helping to restore the natural balance of the bacteria in your gut. For many people, they just need to take them in the right amounts and in conjunction with a healthy diet. When used in combination with lifestyle changes, they can be very helpful.