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What are probiotics: types and how long can you take

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

In our body there are bacteria that live with us without causing any type of problem, and even many times producing benefits such as, for example, eliminating other harmful bacteria. The amount of bacteria depends on the part of the body that we are talking about, since for example in the mouth and the intestine there are many more bacteria than in our skin. When for some reason these harmless microorganisms decrease in quantity, other problems can arise, such as the proliferation of other harmful bacteria that see an opportunity to grow causing infections or other diseases. When the bacterial flora of our intestines is altered, it can be restored with the help of supplements called probiotics, however, it is important to know how long you can take probiotics, so we invite you to read this FastlyHealarticle to find the answer to this question.

What are probiotics and what are they for?

Probiotics are foods that contain live microorganisms that are added because they are good for your health. They are live bacteria and yeasts that do not cause damage to health, on the contrary, they help maintain a healthy microbiota, which is a population of microorganisms that reside in our intestines and that play an important role in intestinal health.

The main function of probiotics is that they promote digestion , this is because they reinforce the balance of the microbiota in the gastrointestinal system, prevent the growth of bacteria harmful to the human body, improve intestinal mobility and properly absorb nutrients. They also help in the secretion of gastric juice, in the absorption of vitamin B12, iron, fatty acids and glucose and protect against infections because they strengthen the immune system.

What are the types of probiotics

Probiotics are simply bacteria or microorganisms that are present in nutritional supplements and that their consumption maintains an adequate gastrointestinal system. There are several types of probiotics for sale on the market, the most common being lactobacilluss and bifidobacteria , each with different benefits; for example, lactobacilluss helps with the digestion of dairy products, the treatment of diarrhea and prevents the growth of dangerous bacteria within our body. In the case of bifidobacteria, they are responsible for producing acids to balance the altered pH of the intestinal system and limit the existence of nitrate-producing bacteria, which are toxic to the intestines and can cause cancer.

We can also find probiotics in some foods such as yogurt (specify that it is present), fermented and non-fermented milk, some juices and soy-based juice. In the following article, we show what are probiotic foods and their health benefits .

How long can you take probiotics

The estimated time of the consumption of probiotics is related to the persistence of bacteria or microorganisms that are harmful to the intestinal flora, so the intake of this product does not have a specific or established time , but the time during which They should be consumed will depend on the relief or improvement that the patient who is taking it presents, which, in general, is usually for a time of one or two weeks.

If you have any gastric disturbances, the use of probiotic supplements will be excellent to calm the symptoms. Its use can be stopped or continued depending on how you feel, but consumption should not last for more than a month without the supervision of a professional. In addition to this, if the symptoms persist, it is recommended to attend a medical consultation to determine the cause and rule out another process, however, the ideal is to let the bacterial flora find a balance.

If you take probiotics for a long time, it will only increase the probability of being infected with a new bacterium, this is because these microorganisms generate toxins when they feed in the digestive tract, so the higher the consumption, the greater the release of toxins in the flora. intestinal. In addition to that increasing the consumption of probiotics with a developing ecosystem will only help that this system cannot regulate itself. It has also been observed that in children or adults they can produce gas or inflammation which can subside when the use of the probiotic is discontinued.

It is recommended to let the bacterial flora balance itself and that a professional is in charge of indicating the consumption of probiotics in a person, in case you are over 14 years old and want to consume probiotics, you should do it when you really suspect that there is an alteration intestinal, in addition to not prolonging its consumption for more than a month and not exceeding it more than four times a year, this warning is associated with enriched supplements.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to How long can you take probiotics , we recommend that you enter our Food category .

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