Author: Gauri Varma
Introduction
The term ‘live a balanced life’ is often used by wellness influencers, gym trainers and doctors. Although many people look up to such figures, what does it mean to live a balanced life? The Oxford dictionary defines balance as “a situation in which different things exist in equal, correct, or good amounts.” Students strive to achieve a balance between school and social life. Adults need to find the equilibrium point between working and maintaining their health. How can we achieve balance in our lives?
It turns out that the balance that we need starts with the balance of good and bad bacteria in the body. Probiotics, which are supplements intended to maintain the good bacteria in the body, is an excellent way to start.
Background
The term probiotics is plastered on the top of yogurt containers or milk bottles, but most of us are left wondering, what are probiotics? Our microbiome consists of a myriad bacteria that contribute to overall gut health. The building block of some foods, such as kimchi or sourdough bread, contains these bacteria. Probiotics live throughout our digestive tract and consist of a combination of the microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. When eaten, these tiny living things keep our body balanced and healthy (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).
Unlike the germs in our sneezes and coughs, probiotics can be safely consumed and have a proven benefit to the body. Although there is still research being done about the specific benefits that come from probiotics, evidence shows that the increased consumption of probiotics can help combat diarrhea, stomach issues, lactose intolerance, and eczema. Along with achieving a healthy balance within the body, probiotics assist the body in digesting food, boost immunity, and improve mental health, but how do these tiny creations hit that perfect balance?
The Uses of Probiotics in the Body
Probiotics first enhance the growth of pathogens that enable the wall of the intestinal barrier to produce more mucin (Cornick, Tawiah, & Chadee, 2015). The mucin in the gut helps keep the harmful microorganisms from reaching the epithelium, a tissue that lines the digestive system’s organs. If these toxic substances reach the epithelium, it may lead to a multitude of problems such as cell damage and DAMP (Hansson, 2012). Overall, this is the first way probiotics create a healthy balance in the body.
Probiotics also boost the immunity of the body. This is achieved by aiding the epithelium and controlling the functions of dendritic cells (cells that help fight invasive pathogens), which helps regulate host innate and adaptive immune responses (Wang & Zhang, 2021). This process is a significant way in which probiotics keep the body in check.
In addition to helping the body combat viruses, probiotics make digestion faster and easier. The body has a variety of microorganisms, some of which are harmful. Fortunately, taking probiotics helps our body achieve balance by neutralizing the harmful microbes in our body and regenerating microflora throughout our digestive tract. It is recommended to have probiotics when taking antibiotics as this medication can kill off the useful parts of our body’s microflora (Holding, 2021).
Caption: Probiotics have many positive mechanisms that help the immune system https://science4youth.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/da86b-prebiotic-probiotic-together.png
Microorganisms also help the body ferment and break down harder to digest substances such as lactose. Studies have shown that extra propionate (short fatty acid chains), a byproduct when probiotics digest fibers increase digestion time for high calorie food, can help a person feel satiated for a longer time and can help balance the eating habits of the body (Peera & Versalovic, 2012).
Conclusion
Probiotics, the superheroes of the digestive system, are truly the body balancers we need in our lives. Through this balance probiotics not only play a vital role in physical health, but can also benefit our mental wellbeing. They work tirelessly to restore harmony and equilibrium in our gut, keeping our digestion in check and ensuring that all systems are balanced. With their ability to regulate the microbiome, probiotics create the perfect environment for good bacteria to thrive and keep our digestive system healthy. Just as they bring balance to our bodies, they also remind us of the importance of balance in life. After all, with probiotics, balance is not just a goal – it is a way of life.
References
balance_1 noun – Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes | Oxford Advanced American Dictionary at OxfordLearnersDictionaries.com. (2023). Oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/balance_1#:~:text=%2F%CB%88b%C3%A6l%C9%99ns%2F,of%20nature%20on%20the%20island.
Clinic, C. (2020). Probiotics: What is it, Benefits, Side Effects, Food & Types – Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14598-probiotics
Cornick, S., Tawiah, A., & Chadee, K. (2015). Roles and regulation of the mucus barrier in the gut. 3(1-2), e982426–e982426. https://doi.org/10.4161/21688370.2014.982426
Hansson, G. C. (2012). Role of mucus layers in gut infection and inflammation. 15(1), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mib.2011.11.002
Holding, A. (2021, August 4). Do Probiotics Help With Digestion? Floradapt – Kaneka Americas Holding; Floradapt – Kaneka Americas Holding. https://www.floradapt.com/probiotics/probiotics-and-digestion/#:~:text=Probiotics%20help%20your%20digestive%20system,metabolise%20(e.g.%2C%20lactose).
Peera Hemarajata, & Versalovic, J. (2012). Effects of probiotics on gut microbiota: mechanisms of intestinal immunomodulation and neuromodulation. 6(1), 39–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/1756283×12459294
Wang, X., Zhang, P., & Zhang, X. (2021). Probiotics Regulate Gut Microbiota: An Effective Method to Improve Immunity. 26(19), 6076–6076. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26196076
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