Defining Dead Probiotic Strains and Why they Could be Harmful
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for overall health when consumed in adequate amounts. These microorganisms help support healthy gut function, positively impact your immune system, and improve nutrient absorption. For years, scientists have offered a deeper understanding of the wide range of health benefits that probiotics provide, leading to an increased demand for probiotic products. With this rising demand, manufacturers have begun to offer a variety of probiotic supplements making them easily accessible to the general public. However, not all products are created equally, and distinguishing between the good and bad supplements can be challenging to navigate.
One crucial factor to consider when buying a probiotic supplement is its viability, or the ability of microorganisms to survive and thrive in your gut. Companies that manufacture probiotics make it a priority to guarantee the viability of their products. They ensure consumers receive the microbes that they expect, hence why probiotics come in capsules containing live bacteria.
However, not all bacteria in capsules are alive. Some companies may add dead microbial strains, and consumers might not know this when purchasing probiotics. The use of dead probiotic strains can lead to a host of counterproductive effects, such as a supposed worsening of gut health. The general belief is that only live bacteria can offer probiotic benefits, and there is little to no data to suggest that adding dead microbes would improve gut health.
Dead probiotic strains can pose a threat to individuals who have autoimmune diseases or a compromised immune system. For healthy individuals, dead probiotics may not have any major adverse health effects since they still contain bacterial components, called cell wall fragments. These fragments can stimulate an immune response and help your body recognize certain bacterial strains. However, for an immune-compromised person, the introduction of dead probiotics can lead to infections since the immune system is not robust enough to recognize dead strains.
Therefore, when purchasing probiotics, it is essential to read the labels and check if the product contains only live microbial strains. Live probiotics come with the assurance that the microbes are alive and are in adequate concentrations to impact the gut positively, leading to enhanced health.
In conclusion, probiotics are incredibly beneficial to overall health when consumed appropriately. The use of dead probiotic strains in supplements has little to no evidence of offering any benefit and can even pose a threat to certain individuals. Hence, it is crucial to do your due diligence when purchasing probiotic supplements and ensure that the product contains only live bacterial strains.
