These days, we need all the help we can get when it comes to easing the stress of everyday life. Some find that meditation helps to de-stress, while others may lean toward a hot shower or relaxing on the couch. Stress can also cause issues with your stomach and your intestinal tract. Luckily, new studies are showing that probiotics may help in the fight against stress’ effects on the digestive system. A study showed that in mice, probiotics could potentially counteract the negative effects of stress on the gut.
The effect of stress on the gut
Stress, be it mental or physical, can activate the brain’s stress response systems, which in turn affects the body. Stress has a significant impact on gastrointestinal function. Symptoms due to stress could include heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting or even lower abdominal pain. According to research in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity, stress can also alter the balance of bacteria that naturally live in the gut. This bacteria has an impact on immune function and may lead to changes in composition, diversity and number of gut microorganisms.
Results of the study
In this study, researchers from the University of Michigan found that stress wreaks havoc on the gut by inducing inflammation and reducing the number of inflammasomes, which are essentially guardians of the body and play a vital role in the body’s innate immune system.
Researchers discovered that giving the mice probiotics seemed to reverse the effects of stress on inflammasome.
Other effects of probiotics
Similar studies show that probiotics not only help the digestive system, but have an effect on bone density in mice as well. Inflammation in the gut can cause bone loss and probiotics may help to restore that balance in the digestive system.
Maintaining a proper balance of bacteria in the immune system may also affect your overall health. According to The Huffington Post, research shows that probiotics may help obese people who have received weight loss surgery to maintain weight loss. Similarly, post-partum women who were trying to lose abdominal fat found that the addition of lactobacillus and bifidobacterium capsules helped to reduce waist size.
How to get more probiotics
Help out your digestive track and help to get your stress levels on track with Naturade Probiotics 30 B CFU. Containing 30 billion colony forming units, also known as good bacteria, per capsule, your intestinal health and immune defenses may be naturally supported. Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus, both found in this supplement, may support natural immune strength and keep your body’s defenses on top of their game.
