5 min Read
Earlier, we discussed whether probiotics are good for stress or not. Today we want to advance our understanding of probiotics and find an answer to whether Are probiotics good for the immune system or not.
What are probiotics?
Inside the human body live beneficial bacteria that help digest food, produce vitamins, and destroy disease-causing cells. Those beneficial bacteria are called Probiotics and they have shown promise in strengthening Gut Immunity Against Illnesses, and helping ease diarrhea during periods. 1
How do probiotics affect the immune system?
The immune system is made up of various organs, cells, and proteins that work together. It is used by the body to prevent or limit infection. Without the immune system, the body would be unable to defend itself against bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other threats. 2
What causes a weak immune system?
The immune system can become weakened for a variety of reasons, including:
Unnatural environments and closed areas
Staying in unnatural environments and closed areas weakens your immune system. For instance, spending time in a forest boosts your immune system since you’re breathing in the phytoncides and other plant-produced substances. Also, sunshine may boost the special T-cells in your immune system that help in the battle against infection.3
Sleeping problems
As you sleep, the body releases certain cytokines, immune system-supporting proteins. Therefore, getting too little sleep may make you more susceptible to catching viruses or other infectious ailments. Additionally, it can need extra time for you to recuperate. This is because your body is unable to manufacture as many antibodies and cells that fight infections.3
Chronic anxiety
Your body has a harder time fighting off diseases like the flu, herpes, shingles, and others when you’re under a lot of stress all the time. Even merely thinking anxious thoughts might compromise your immune system in as little as 30 minutes. Therefore, if your anxiety won’t go away or is preventing you from leading a regular life, you should talk to your doctor.3
Diet and lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for maintaining your immune system. For instance: 3
- Eating foods like fresh vegetables, nuts, and seeds that promote the creation of white blood cells, which are vital for fighting infection.
- Steering clear of greasy and oily foods since they can prevent white blood cells from fighting illness. Additionally, a long-term high-fat diet can tip the gut flora balance that promotes immune function.
- Regular aerobic exercise appears to improve your body’s resistance to bacterial and viral illnesses. That’s partly because it improves blood circulation throughout your body.
- Refrain from consuming excessive amounts of alcohol because this might hinder your body’s ability to recover itself over time. Moreover, avoiding any kind of smoking.
How do probiotics help the immune system
More than half of the cells that create antibodies to fight sickness are found in the intestines and other gut-related organs. Therefore, if you have a healthy gut flora, which is the right mix of good bacteria and other creatures in your intestines, you may be less likely to become ill.4
Probiotics can assist in re-establishing the balance of the gut when it has fallen out of balance due to unhealthy numbers of some bacteria. It has been demonstrated that they release defense mechanisms, which could activate the immune system and stop bacteria from colonizing and causing serious illness.4
By ingesting a single probiotic, the frequency of coughing and fever can both be decreased, with the frequency reductions being 41% and 53%, respectively. Additionally, the occurrence rate drops after taking a variety of probiotics.5
Despite the preceding studies, probiotics have not yet been proven to be a reliable means of warding off diseases like the flu or the common cold. More research is needed to determine which specific bacteria may be beneficial, in what doses, and if they will work consistently for everyone. 4
How Long Does It Take for Probiotics to improve the immune system effectively
In general, people start feeling significant benefits after 2 to 3 weeks of starting to take probiotics. And that is because probiotics need time to accomplish their three key goals: increase your good bacteria count, decrease your bad bacteria count, and reduce inflammation.6
But an important point should be noted, which is that each disease requires a different time for treatment using probiotics. For example, you will need around two days to get rid of diarrhea using probiotics as a curative method. On the other hand, taking a high dose over twelve weeks can lower the incidence of respiratory infection, especially the upper one. While for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) four weeks may be needed. 6
Before taking probiotics, you must be quite certain about the disease being treated, the precise strain that matches that symptom, in addition to the necessary effective amount, and the product’s quality.6
How to boost my child’s immune system
You should be aware that not every illness can be prevented from affecting your child. However, you may use these suggestions to lessen your risk of getting ill. as follows: 7
- If you have a newborn, you should think about breastfeeding for at least six months since there may be numerous benefits.
- Teach your child to properly wash their hands after using the toilet, coughing, sneezing, or any other contaminated surfaces. By doing this, you may reduce the risk of illnesses by up to 45%.
- Take into account your pediatrician’s advice on the recommended timetable for kid vaccines. Vaccinations can prevent diseases including measles, mumps, chickenpox, rotavirus, and others.
- Make sure your child gets sufficient sleep.
- Consider increasing your baby’s consumption of probiotics, vitamin D, zinc, nuts and seeds, fruits, and veggies.9 Giving your child ENTEROGERMINA® as a probiotic will be quit easy as it does not have a bad taste or smell and available in bottles.8
Each pack of Enterogermina® contains 10 mini bottles.
Probiotics supplements
You may get probiotic supplements in liquid, powdered, pill, or tablet form. However, before beginning to use these supplements, especially if you have immune system issues, you should see your doctor. 11
Which probiotic is best for the immune system?
Common bacterial strains that are good for the immune system include the following: 12
- Acidophilus, which is found in yogurt, milk, miso, and tempeh.
- Bifidobacterium, which may be found in yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, miso, tempeh, pickles, kimchi, cured meats, sauerkraut, and sourdough bread.
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii, which is present in every yogurt that contains live and active probiotics.
- Bacillus Clausii, which is present in the supplement ENTEROGERMINA®, has a shown impact on gut homeostasis and, consequently, immunity. 8
Are Probiotic Supplements Effective?
It is important to note that probiotic supplements have a greater impact on the body than do naturally occurring bacteria species. However, the health advantages of probiotics have not been demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt. Despite the great number of minor research that have been conducted, probiotics and their effects have not been investigated uniformly, making it difficult to compare the results of diverse investigations.13
Conclusion
Probiotics are typically safe to use, however, research from 2017 indicates that those with serious illnesses or weakened immune systems—including children and adults—should avoid taking probiotics. Probiotic use has resulted in bacterial or fungal infections in some patients with these disorders.
Before taking probiotics, a person with an immune system-altering illness should consult their doctor. 14
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Enterogermina®’s range will scan the gut for intestinal flora imbalance and deliver billions of good bacteria to treat both the condition and associated symptoms. 15
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- https://www.healthline.com/health/probiotics-and-digestive-health/how-long-does-it-take-for-probiotics-to-work Last visited on 3rd Nov 2022
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- https://www.enterogermina.in/product, Last visited on 7th Nov 2022.
- https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-to-boost-your-kids-immunity/Last visited on 7th Nov 2022
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/11-super-healthy-probiotic-foods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_10 Last visited on 7th Nov 2022
- https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/ss/slideshow-probiotics , Last visited on 7th Nov 2022
- https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/do-probiotics-help-your-immune-system/ , Last visited on 7th Nov 2022
- https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/whats-the-deal-with-probiotics , Last visited on 7th Nov 2022.
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5730384/ Last visited on 10th Nov 2022.
- Enterogermina® 2 billion vials Patient Information Leaflet Last revised April 2022.
- Enterogermina® 6 billion sachets Patient Information Leaflet Last revised April 2022.
- Enterogermina® 2 billion capsules Patient Information Leaflet Last revised April 2022.