Support Your Life with Probiotics*

Bacteria gets a bad rap.

Usually, we think of bacteria as something to avoid. However, your body needs the good bacteria to help with overall health. And to make sure you have all the bacteria you need for smooth digestion and a thriving body, you need to embrace probiotics—whether it’s through delicious foods or a probiotic supplement.*

Let’s explore the importance of probiotics and demystify why a healthy body needs good bacteria.

Meet Your Belly’s Best Friend

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that naturally live in your body. After your liver, which weighs around four pounds, the average human has around three and a half pounds of probiotics living inside them. That’s more weight than your brain! A healthy person is home to about 100–300 trillion good bacteria, compared to only (only!!) 10 trillion cells.

Needless to say, probiotics play a large role in your health. Most of these organisms are found in your colon, but you’ll also find them in your mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, lungs, and in your stomach. They’re even under your armpits, between your toes, and in your urinary tract.

The world is filled with bacteria, including body-loving microbes that support good health. It’s important to maintain a proper balance of good bacteria because they play a central role in your microbiome. The human microbiome is a diverse community of organisms—bacteria, fungi, yeasts, viruses, and protozoa—work in conjunction to keep your body systems functioning as they should.

From the tips of your toes all the way to your head and throughout your body, your microbiome is the organizing force to help you process nutrients and support an already healthy immune system.*

For a bacterium in your microbiome to be considered a probiotic, there must be several characteristics. For starters, it has to be a living organism independent of the body. It also has to survive in your intestinal tract, provide a healthy benefit, and be safely consumed. A wealth of these helpful microbes keeps you feeling good. And a happy microbiome means a happy, healthy you.*

Putting the Pro in Probiotic

Probiotics are important to keeping your body balanced. They support the good bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, which in turn, helps support your ability to process food for energy. Probiotics help your body digest food, create vitamins, support the lining of your gut, and aid the absorption of medicine and supplements.*

Eating a fiber-rich diet (and avoiding sugary and processed foods) helps support this natural balance and promotes an environment where the microbiome—and you—can flourish. The best way to get the probiotics your body needs is through simply writing your grocery list and finding some tasty recipes.*

Gut-friendly foods are known for their rich flavors. Crisp, sour pickles or kimchi are an effortless way to spice up your meals while supplying the nutrients your microbiome needs. Starting your mornings with a cup of Greek yogurt with fresh berries is a delicious substitute to cereal or bacon and eggs. Plus, yogurt can contain high levels protein, calcium, and other vitamins to help strengthen your body. 

On your next trip to the store, look for foods like sauerkraut (fermented cabbage), tempeh, and cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda), and enjoy extra digestive benefits through drinks like traditional buttermilk, kombucha, and kefir.

But if you think sauerkraut is reserved for frankfurters, or you’re not the biggest fan of pickles, consider adding a probiotic supplement to your daily diet. But don’t trust your gut to just any supplement—get a probiotic that has guaranteed levels of beneficial strains to help support overall health.*

In addition to drinking plenty of water, getting exercise, and eating a healthy diet full of fiber and fermented treats, adding a probiotic supplement can help your body find balance. And with a happy microbiome and a smooth digestive function, you can live the life you love without a hitch.*

Ben Raskin is a writer and cross-country skier. Follow his adventures on Instagram @USANABen. 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.