Probiotics for Women: Amazing Benefits for Gals With a Healthy Gut

Who knew that people would be so interested in digestion these days? Over the years, there’s been a growing interest in the improvement of personal health, even in the area of digestion.

If you’re at all familiar with digestive health, then you’re definitely acquainted with probiotics.

What are Probiotics

Our bodies are as healthy as our gut. Did you know that the gastrointestinal tract is made up of over 400 species of bacterial strains? But do not worry; roughly 85% of the bacterial strains in our gut are actually beneficial to our health, while the remaining bacterial strains are more pathogenic.

Believe it or not, there are about 100 times more microbial genes in our bodies than genes in the entire human genome! That means that bacteria (good and bad) play a huge role in not just our health but the overall function of our bodies in general.

So what, then, are probiotics? Simply put, probiotics are the beneficial bacteria and yeasts in the body and are crucial to optimal health. Most of these good bacteria are especially found in the gut and play a huge role in digestion overall.

The important role of probiotics for a healthy gut really began to become more popularized in the mid-1990s, and it seems that more and more people are taking proactive steps towards increasing the health of their gut every year. Even many doctors recommend probiotics to their patients who experience digestive hiccups for relief and improvement.

You can find probiotics in all kinds of fermented foods, yogurts, kefir, kombucha, and even miso soup!

The Benefits of Probiotics

The benefits of probiotics are many. The list of benefits increases with each new year of revealing research and intriguing discoveries. Since there are so many varying types and strains of these beneficial bacteria, many of the benefits are yet to be realized with further study. In case you’re not very familiar with it, I’ll list some probiotic benefits below.

1.) Antibiotics Kill Good and Bad Bacteria – Recover with Probiotics

When the healthy balance of bacteria is brought to an imbalance with things like antibiotics, your immune system suffers greatly. Furthermore, studies show that the healthy diversity of gut flora rapidly decreases and cannot be recovered without intervention. That’s why, in our family, we limit the use of antibiotics unless we deem them absolutely necessary.

As a child, I can remember plenty of times the Dr. prescribed antibiotics when I really wouldn’t have needed them. Perhaps you have had a similar experience?

The way I like to think about probiotics and their relationship with antibiotics is this: Antibiotics kill good and bad bacteria while probiotics promote the growth of good bacteria while restraining the growth of harmful bacteria.

When you have weeds in your vegetable garden, using a flamethrower really isn’t the most effective way to rid yourself of them because all your veggies will get burnt up, too. What do you think will pop out of the ground first after that? The weeds or new veggies?

Not that I’m an experienced gardener, but I know a thing or two about gardening and can tell you that the weeds are the first things you’ll see emerge from the soil. Also, if any beneficial plants come up, the weeds will choke them out. This isn’t a perfect analogy, but this is similar to what happens when antibiotics are used.

Therefore, probiotics can be extremely useful for recovering from antibiotic use and creating a healthy balance of bacteria in the body once again in order to keep your body and immune system at peak performance.

2.) IBS – Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Research pertaining to the improvement of IBS symptoms with the use of probiotics is still in the early stages. Most of the studies that have been performed thus far were small in nature and lacking in quality. That being said, there also have been few quality studies that examine probiotics and their benefits for the relief of IBS symptoms.

In particular, one probiotic that has been studied to a greater degree, as far as helping with IBS, is Bifidobacterium infantis. This particular probiotic appears to be beneficial to IBS and has been shown to consistently improve symptoms like gas and bloating.

It’s recommended that anyone who takes a probiotic for the relief of IBS should speak with their healthcare provider first. Also, to get a better idea of whether or not probiotics are helping with your actual symptoms, it’s suggested that you log your progress and note any improvement or relief of your IBS symptoms. 

3.) Healthy Immune System

Again, probiotics promote the healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut.

• There is also now evidence of a relationship between immune health and beneficial bacteria specifically.
• Bacteria influence certain aspects of the immune system in the gut.

• For example, Good bacteria in the gut have been shown to influence the immune system in regard to its ability to correct imbalances and support overall immune function, as evidenced by recent research.

Additionally, good bacteria in the gut have been shown to influence the immune system in regards to its ability to correct T cell deficiencies by increasing the number of them. While it’s not exactly known why or how probiotics are linked to these benefits, studies do show some correlation, and the evidence points in the right direction.

4.) Allergies

Research is still in the beginning stages in the area of probiotic use and allergies. However, there is at least one high-quality study that shows a relationship between probiotic use among women during pregnancy and a 30 percent reduction in the instances of eczema among children.

In case you didn’t know, eczema is also an early sign of allergies.

5.) Obesity

Studies show that gut bacteria in obese people is different from the bacteria found in thin people. Due to this difference, scientists are exploring the possibility of whether taking probiotics may change the bacteria in the gut for the purpose of promoting weight loss.

Preliminary studies show that bacteria in the gut do impact weight loss. One study in the British Journal of Nutrition shows this link with women who took probiotics during a 12-week weight loss diet as having lost more weight overall than women who didn’t take probiotics. Strangely enough, these findings were not seen among men who took part in the study.

“The present study shows that the Lactobacillus rhamnosus CGMCC1.3724 formulation helps obese women to achieve sustainable weight loss.” – (Source)

In any case, much more study needs to be undertaken before any direct claims can be made. But again, the evidence is pointing in the right direction!

6.) “Down There” Health

Being healthy “down there” also relies on a healthy balance of the right bacteria. Healthy bacteria in the vagina can help prevent infections like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.

Some smaller studies also show that Lactobacillus acidophilus, specifically, helps support antibiotic treatment as well as prevent infection. In that particular study, the probiotic was taken as a suppository rather than internally by mouth. (Source)

As far as a link between probiotics that are taken orally and a lower incidence of infection in women, there’s an obvious need for further research in order to come to anything conclusive. However, there is at least some positive evidence regarding the L. acidophilus probiotic strain mentioned above.

How’s Your Gut?

So, ladies, how are you doing as it relates to the health of your gut? While it’s true the word “gut” doesn’t sound very pretty, don’t neglect that part of your body.

How do you think you’re doing as relates to those little guys in your intestine? Are you helping them keep their numbers so they can keep fighting for you and your health? As we discussed earlier, there are bad bacteria in your gut, too.

The evidence does suggest that we really should, at the very least, make an effort to keep things in a healthy balance. The best way to do that is to eat a healthy diet that’s high in fruits and vegetables. Probiotic supplements may help if you don’t think you’ll get enough healthy flora in your diet or if your diet is less than ideal.

In any case, here’s to a healthy gut.

Healthy Gut and Probiotics FAQs

What are the general benefits of probiotics for women?
Probiotics can support a healthy digestive system, boost immune function, and may even have a positive impact on skin health and mood.

Can probiotics help with common digestive problems?
Yes, they can help maintain a healthy gut, which might reduce discomfort from bloating, gas, and irregularity.

How might probiotics affect skin health?
By promoting a balanced gut microbiome, probiotics may help manage inflammation that contributes to certain skin conditions, leading to clearer, more radiant skin.

Could probiotics play a role in weight management?
Some research suggests probiotics might help balance the gut flora, which could potentially aid in maintaining a healthy weight, although results can vary.

What’s the best way to add probiotics to a woman’s diet?
Incorporating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and some cheeses into meals is an easy way to increase probiotic intake. Probiotic supplements are also an option, especially if looking for specific strains.