There are many different ways to support your health. For instance, you may know about the importance of exercising, relieving stress, eating healthy, and going to your annual check-ups, but did you know that it’s also equally important to support your gut microbiome?
Made up of a complex community of microorganisms, your microbiome is a significant part of your well-being. This is where probiotics come in — friendly microorganisms that empower your microbiome. Read on to learn more about probiotics for women’s health and how you can use them to positively impact your lifestyle.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are living microorganisms, better known as “good bacteria,” that can help support gut health and the functioning of the digestive system when consumed. They also work by helping to balance the good and bad bacteria within your body and managing the overgrowth of bad bacteria.
These beneficial bacteria can be found in a variety of sources, including dietary supplements and certain foods. They contain a multitude of different bacterial strains, with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium being among the most common. These live microorganisms can come with numerous health benefits, from supporting the immune system to encouraging healthy digestion and gut health.
Probiotics and Women’s Health
When it comes to women's health, certain probiotic strains such as Bifidobacterium, lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus acidophilus can be particularly helpful.
More specifically, probiotics can help your body in two ways. First, they assist with supporting vaginal health by managing symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTIs). Strains of Lactobacillus maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the vagina, which in turn helps your immune system fight off vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
Additionally, it's important to understand the connection between the vaginal microbiome and the gut microbiome. A balanced gut microbiome can contribute to a healthier vaginal microbiome and vice versa, which is part of why probiotics are so important for vaginal health.
That said, it’s still important to work with a healthcare provider to get a broad picture of your overall health. Ask for their thoughts before starting new supplements or making significant lifestyle changes, as they’ll have a better idea of how these will affect your health.
What Are the Health Benefits of Probiotics?
Probiotics offer many health benefits, from supporting digestion to encouraging a balanced mood.
Digestive Health
Digestion and bloating woes? Probiotics can work diligently to help balance the diversity of gut bacteria, which, in turn, keeps your overall digestive system in check when it comes to gastrointestinal discomforts, constipation, and more.
Probiotics can also help with symptoms like indigestion and digestive upset, which can often be caused by certain medical conditions. By encouraging a well-functioning gut environment, probiotics can support nutrient absorption, which is important for overall health and wellness.
Immune System Support
The benefits of probiotics can also extend to your immune system. By ensuring a healthy balance of bacteria in the body and encouraging nutrient absorption, probiotics can help make sure your body has what it needs to successfully fight off harmful bacteria.
Plus, the benefits extend beyond just physical health. It also contributes to a sense of overall well-being, offering peace of mind knowing that your body's defenses are ready to go when cold season comes back around.
Skin Health
Probiotic bacteria are also incredibly important for skin health, with strains like those in our Clear Skin Probiotics® supplement leading the charge. By helping to ease irritation caused by acne† and balancing gut health, these specific probiotics may help encourage the appearance of healthier skin.
This works because your skin also has a microbiome. While the exact connections between the skin microbiome and the gut microbiome are still being studied, it’s clear that these two microbiomes influence each other.
When your gut health is out of balance, you may see more irritation, redness, dryness, and breakouts on your skin. On the other hand, a healthy gut can often contribute to healthy-looking skin!
Mental Health Support
Another little-known fact is that the gut and the brain are connected by what’s known as the gut-brain axis. This means that balancing your gut health with these helpful microbes can also support mental well-being.
And we’re not just talking about mental health or mood swings. While having a healthy gut can encourage a balanced mood, it can also help support other markers of cognitive health, such as focus and memory.
Cardiovascular
Some studies suggest that certain probiotics may also have heart health benefits. These can help support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are key for cardiovascular health. However, it's important to note that more research is needed in this area.
What To Look For in a Probiotic Supplement
Probiotics work by helping to balance the good and bad bacteria within our bodies. They're measured in colony-forming units (CFU), which indicate the number of viable bacteria present in a probiotic food or supplement. High CFU counts typically mean a product has a higher potency.
While you can get probiotics from fermented foods like kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut and kombucha, sometimes it’s hard to get everything you need from diet alone. In these cases, a supplement like our Gut Feelings Probiotics® supplement can help.*
When you’re picking a probiotic supplement, make sure you consider what kind of benefits you’re looking for. Certain strains of probiotics, such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus, are known to colonize in the vagina (which is why we’ve included them in our Good Girl Probiotics®), while strains like Lactobacillus casei are more prone to helping out in the gut. Make sure to do your research so you can know which strains you’re looking for.
It’s also important to note that high CFU counts don’t always mean a better supplement. There are other things to consider, such as how many different strains are in the supplement and what the CFU is for each individual strain.
Another thing to look out for is added ingredients. Many probiotic supplements offer additional vitamins, minerals, and herbs, which may have complementary effects in the body. Some probiotic supplements may also include prebiotics, which is a type of fiber that acts as food for these healthy bacteria.
Whenever you incorporate a new supplement into your routine, it’s important to work with a qualified healthcare provider. They can look at your current medications and health history to give you medical advice as to which is the best probiotic for you.
Wrap It Up
While you may have known about the benefits of probiotics for your gut, hopefully, you now have a clear picture of just how important these supplements are for overall women’s health. At Love Wellness, we understand this complex communication between systems, which is why we’ve developed our line of specially formulated probiotics.
By incorporating fermented foods and probiotic supplements into your daily routine, you can support not just your gut health, but your skin health, immune health, and mental health, as well. To learn more about all things gut health, check out our blog.
Sources:
Probiotics: What is it, Benefits, Side Effects, Food & Types | Cleveland Clinic
The role of probiotics in women with recurrent urinary tract infections | PMC
Probiotics in Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Review of Their Therapeutic Role | PCM