Probiotics: Natural bacteria for your gut health

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that can have a positive effect on your health if you consume them in sufficient quantities. In most cases, these are special strains of bacteria that occur naturally in your gut. They support digestion, strengthen your immune system and contribute to a healthy balance of intestinal flora.

Probiotics can be found in fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut or kimchi. Special dietary supplements also often contain highly concentrated doses of these beneficial bacteria.

Probiotic effect

When you consume probiotics, the microorganisms they contain settle in your gut. There they fulfil important tasks:

• They support digestion by helping to break down nutrients.
• They train your immune system and make it more resistant to pathogens.
• They produce short-chain fatty acids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect and nourish the intestinal mucosa.
• They inhibit the growth of "bad" bacteria and fungi that can trigger diseases.

In order for probiotics to have their positive effect, it is important that you consume them regularly. This is the only way they can permanently colonise your gut.

Probiotics for the gut

Probiotics are particularly valuable for the health of your gut. They support the natural balance of the intestinal flora, which consists of countless different types of bacteria. If this delicate balance is disturbed, for example due to stress, an unbalanced diet or medication, this can lead to digestive problems such as diarrhoea, flatulence or constipation. Your immune system, which is largely located in the gut, can also suffer. Probiotics can help to restore the balance and thus ensure healthy intestinal function. They bind harmful substances, produce anti-inflammatory substances and train the body's own immune defences. In this way, they support your organism holistically from the inside out.

When are probiotics useful?

In principle, everyone can benefit from probiotics to support the natural intestinal flora. They can be particularly useful in the following cases:

• After antibiotic treatment to rebuild the beneficial intestinal bacteria that have been destroyed in the process.
• For gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhoea, constipation or irritable bowel syndrome.
• For the prevention and treatment of fungal infections such as candida.
• For food intolerances and allergies.
• To strengthen the immune system, e.g. in times of stress or during the cold season.

It is best to speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you want to use probiotics in a targeted manner. They can recommend suitable products and dosages.

Probiotic after antibiotic

If you have had antibiotic treatment, a probiotic can be very useful. Antibiotics reliably combat disease-causing bacteria, but unfortunately also the beneficial intestinal bacteria. This can easily upset the delicate balance of the intestinal flora. This can result in diarrhoea, flatulence and an increased susceptibility to infections.

A probiotic can help to rebuild the intestinal bacteria destroyed by the antibiotic and thus regenerate the natural intestinal flora. It is advisable to start probiotic therapy while taking the antibiotic and continue for at least two weeks. Make sure to take the probiotic at the same time as the antibiotic, preferably two hours before or after. This will prevent the sensitive bacterial cultures from coming into direct contact with the medication. Also talk to your doctor about which probiotic is suitable for you and how long you should take it for.

Probiotic foods

Probiotics occur naturally in many fermented foods. These include:

• Natural yoghurt and kefir made from cow's milk, soya or coconut milk
• Sauerkraut and kimchi (fermented vegetables)
• Sour cucumbers (lactic acid fermented)
• Fermented soya products such as miso and tempeh
• cheeses fermented with probiotic cultures such as Cheddar, Gouda or Emmental

When buying these foods, make sure that they have not been heated or pasteurised. Heat treatment would destroy the sensitive bacterial cultures. The best option is fresh, natural products from the chiller cabinet.

Probiotics in Saturo Balanced Powder

Another practical and tasty way to integrate probiotics into your diet is Saturo Balanced Powder. This balanced food powder not only contains all the important nutrients, but is also enriched with the probiotic strain Bacillus coagulans. A portion of Saturo Balanced Powder not only provides you with essential vitamins and minerals, but also supports your intestinal health. The long shelf life of the powder is particularly practical - so you can easily take your probiotics on the go or when travelling. With Saturo Balanced Powder, it's easy to do the best for your health.