Your intestines are like a garden.
Inside, various organisms live in harmony to create the perfect environment to nourish and protect you.
But like any garden, your intestines are also susceptible to attacks.
There are weeds, insects and harsh chemicals whose main purpose is to disrupt the natural balance, leading to infections and diseases.
Unfortunately, most people think that taking probiotics will help address their tummy problems.
We're sorry, but that's not true.
And if you're not careful about how you take them, probiotics can actually worsen the already fragile condition of your gut.
The arguments against probiotic supplements?
Probiotics, also known as “good bacteria,” come in many forms, including dietary supplements, drinks, shakes, and even skin creams.
An estimated 3.9 million Americans currently use such products.
But what is the reason behind the growing popularity of probiotic supplements?
The intestines contain millions of microbes that help digest food, process nutrients, and strengthen the immune system.
But stress, aging, medications and an unhealthy diet make the intestines conducive to certain bacteria and pathogens.
The overgrowth of disease-causing microbes leads to various health problems such as bloating, constipation, unexplained weight gain, abdominal pain, brain fog, and so on.
Unfortunately, most people think that probiotic supplements will somehow help the good bacteria outcompete the bad bacteria and address health problems.
But as you will discover later, this way of thinking will only do more harm than good to your health.
Here are the reasons why:
Reason 1: Not all healthy people need probiotic supplements - A team of Australian medical experts compiled 27 years of research on changes in the gut microbiota, immune system response, gastrointestinal discomfort, and women's reproductive health.
The results of their study suggest that taking probiotic supplements may only lead to an improvement in the gut microbiota in the short term.
Furthermore, the study failed to demonstrate that probiotics cause lasting changes in the gut microbiota or improve the lipid profile of healthy adults.
In other words, you should continue taking probiotic supplements.
Otherwise, your gut microbiota will likely return to its original pre-supplementation status within a few weeks.
Another study from the Weizmann Institute in Israel suggests that because each individual's gut is unique, consuming a standard probiotic bacteria strain may not be as effective as you might expect.
The study's lead author, Eran Elinav, reported: "Surprisingly, we saw that many healthy volunteers were resistant in that the probiotics couldn't colonize their gut. This suggests that probiotics shouldn't be given universally as a 'one-size-fits-all' supplement."
What both studies indicate is that taking probiotics as a supplement, if you are healthy to begin with, may simply be a waste of time and money.
Reason 2: Supplemental Probiotics Don't Last Long – Speaking of a waste of money, most probiotics sold on the market don't survive well in your digestive tract.
In fact, 96% of probiotics die instantly upon contact with stomach acid.
Even if you buy a brand that has a delayed release capsule, that's not enough to protect the probiotics from the onslaught of your digestive juices.
Reason 3: They can be risky - A study in 21 healthy volunteers found that taking probiotics after treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics may disrupt participants' progress in achieving a normal gut microbiome.
Why is this so?
Because some probiotic supplements contain bacteria that may be resistant to antibiotics.
This would mean that the antibiotic intended to treat the disease is ineffective and is even worsening the patient's condition.
Some experts also warn people who require long-term hospitalizations to use probiotics cautiously or avoid them altogether due to the increased risk of bacterial and fungal infections.
How do you turn your intestines into a healthy internal 'garden'?
Like any gardener, your priority is to make your garden more conducive to plant growth by detoxifying the soil, removing invasive plants, and adding more minerals.
Once the environment is conducive to plant growth, you can move on to growing seeds.
It's no different with your intestines.
As long as your gut is full of toxic, disease-causing bacteria, introducing more gut-friendly flora through probiotic supplements will only make matters worse.
What should you do then?
First, you need to detoxify your intestines by flushing out waste, toxins, and harmful bacteria.
Next, you need to increase your intake of nutrients and fiber that serve as food for good bacteria.
In other words, make your gut safe and livable enough for good bacteria to thrive and flourish.
Here are a few ways you can start right away to make your gut more attractive to good bacteria without relying on probiotic supplements:
- Vary your meals by eating low-sugar fruits, lean proteins, and leafy greens.
- Nourish your belly with fiber-rich foods, such as berries, beans, legumes, seeds, nuts, and whole grains.
- Get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and stay hydrated.
- Remove saturated fats and artificial sweeteners from your cupboards or refrigerator.
- Try fermented foods like kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut.
- Choose whole wheat bread, pasta and rice over white varieties for better digestion.
- Develop mindful eating habits like chewing slowly, sitting while eating, and not eating before bed.
- Practice breathing exercises or relaxation techniques to manage your stress levels.
- Have a broth-based meal occasionally to strengthen the intestinal mucosa, soothe the intestines and support liver and kidney functions.
- Give your gut a well-deserved rest with intermittent fasting.
As you can see, there are simpler, more affordable options to support your gut health without relying on probiotic supplements.
You can even start now and see great results right away while saving time and money.
Takeaway meals
Taking care of your gut is no different than taking care of your garden.
In both cases, the environment must be conducive enough for friendly organisms to thrive.
So instead of diving straight down the probiotic rabbit hole, you're better off eating nutritious, fiber-rich foods and practicing gut-friendly habits that medical experts have been recommending for years.
