Gut health has become one of the most popular wellness buzzwords in recent years. And it’s not without reason. The relationship between our gut health and our overall health has been examined and verified numerous times. While there are many ways to boost your gut health, using probiotic pills is a tried and true strategy. Is this, however, to say that probiotic drinks aren’t a good way to obtain your probiotics? We enlisted the help of specialists to find out. probioticseverything.comprobiotic juice good belly
What exactly are probiotics and how do they work?
“Probiotics are friendly bacteria that can support both your digestive and immunological systems,” explains Amber Pankonin, MS, RD, registered dietitian and owner of Stirlist. probioticseverything.comprobiotic juice good belly
They promote “good” bacteria by combating “bad” bacteria in the stomach.
“[Probiotics] help fight off ‘bad’ and toxic bacteria that can lead to chronic disease and illnesses,” explains Sarah Schlichter, MPH, RDN, owner of Bucket List Tummy, a registered dietitian nutritionist. “There is evidence that they can aid with immunity, digestion, and GI illnesses, according to study. They may even lower the risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease.” probioticseverything.comprobiotic juice good belly
“Research suggests that probiotics may be beneficial in the treatment of diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and may even influence your weight and mood,” Pankonin adds.
Do probiotic drinks have any health benefits?
“Probiotic drinks can aid with digestive health and provide a convenient way to absorb probiotics,” Schlichter explains. Furthermore, unlike probiotic supplements, probiotic drinks frequently include additional nutrients such as protein, calcium, and vitamin D. “However, they can be more expensive than simply eating probiotic foods such as yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented soy products.” probioticseverything.comprobiotic juice good belly
“Live cultures can be found in probiotic drinks like kefir, yogurt smoothies, and kombucha, which may provide the same health advantages as a container of Greek yogurt or pill.” probioticseverything.comprobiotic juice good bellyprobiotic juice good belly
They aren’t controlled by the Food and Drug Administration either (FDA).
“One thing to keep in mind when it comes to probiotic drinks is that the FDA does not regulate or approve health claims for probiotics,” adds Schlichter.
When looking for a healthy/good probiotic drink, what should you look for?
Consider the dietary statistics, portion size, and bacteria strain indicated on the label when purchasing a probiotic drink. Dietitians favor products with a diverse range of strains and cultures. probioticseverything.comprobiotic juice good bellyprobiotic juice good belly