If you havent noticed, were living in the heal your gut era.
And Ill admit it: They intrigue me.
So naturally, gut health and microbiome swiftly became buzzwords in wellness spaces on and offline.
CSA-Printstock/Getty Images/Amanda K Bailey
If you, like me, find yourself enchanted by the potential benefits of probiotic supplements, keep reading.
What even are probiotics?
Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that, simply put, are presumed to have some kind of health benefit.
But probiotic-rich foods and probiotic supplements arenotone and the same.
Ones more controlled, ones more natural, she says (more on why that matters below).
Probiotic supplements do showsomepromisebut researchers havent totally proven their worth yet.
We are in the golden age of probiotics research.
We know that probiotics are good.
We know that, Dr. Church says.
But this route is hotly debated, even among experts and accredited organizations.
difficileinfection, a harmful bacteria that can colonize the gut once the good guys are knocked out.
(Even in this situation, there are varying criteria for high-risk among doctors.)
Its not that probiotic supplements are total BSDr.
As for the average, generally healthy person who grabs a bottle of probiotics tablets at Whole Foods?
In fact, there are likely different kinds of bacterial communities that are good for human health.
You probably have a mix of bacteria thats different from the germs camping out in my intestines.
We dont even know if a probiotic you take is really ideal foryouversus somebody else, says Dr. Lee.
Again, dont get us wrongsome supportive evidence suggests they might ease certain symptoms.
As a result, what might work for one person might not work for another, says Dr. Church.
Supplements, shampoos, and serums that offer impressive results are everywhere right now.
The body of growing research, at large, is also all over the place.
Theres no standardization across the board.
For context, studies should include a lot of people (not just rats!)
Without these factors in place, the findings arent reliable, says Dr. Church.
The only consensus, it seems, is that the jury is still out.
Not to mention, the probiotics market is an unregulated free-for-all.
To make matters stickier, supplements arent regulated by the FDA.
The lack of federal regulation also means theres no telling whats actually in your probiotic pill.
Studies have found that the ingredients included in these capsules dont always match whats listed on their packaging.
(This is particularly concerning for people who are immunocompromised.
Before you add that miracle pill or powder to your cart, read this.
Even if you create and store them perfectly, the clock is working against you.
The number of live bacteria [in a supplement] decreases over time, says Dr. Church.
Yet the biggest dilemma, at least in Dr. Churchs eyes, is misinformation.
Probiotic supplements arenttoorisky, but theyre also not the cure-alls some people swear them to be.
Every time you swallow a snack or meal, it tinkers with your gut bacteria.
(Good bugs feed offprebiotics, or special plant fibers, to grow, thrive, and survive.)
If you want to try a probioticsupplement, clue in your doctor or a registered dietitian.
They can walk you through the possible risks and benefits based on your individual health.
This is not a shot at probiotics as a whole.
Even the scientists who question the whole gut health movement think probioticsand the promise they might holdare pretty wonderful.
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