Probiotics have many proven benefits, but one that we don’t often hear about is how they can help you lose weight. If you’ve been trying to shed a few pounds, or are trying to power through a weight loss plateau, probiotics may be just what you need.
The Value of Probiotics
Probiotics can treat a wide variety of conditions, ranging from improving gut health to improving your skincare routine. Gut health is finally coming into the spotlight, as researchers have identified many significant connections it has to other areas of the body.
It’s shown that probiotics play a significant role in balancing the microbiota in your gut. Balancing your gut can help with anxiety, and can affect the balance of your hormones.
But what about weight loss? Can probiotics to balance our guts help with that?
Probiotics and Weight Loss
Probiotics are live bacteria that help maintain your gut’s microbiome. Each person’s microbiome is unlike any other’s. The make-up of your gut is as unique as your fingerprints. Studies show, however, that the difference in gut microbiota varies significantly in overweight individuals compared to those with a low percentage of body fat.
Introducing strain-specific probiotics, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, may be useful for regulating weight. The bacteria play specific roles in the body, such as regulating metabolism. If your gut microbiota is out of whack, you may experience problems losing weight. Increasing the amount of these good bacteria may help you get back on track.
If you’re not sure about the status of your gut health, take our quiz to find out if your microbiome may be unbalanced.
Another study of nearly 1,000 people showed that introducing probiotics to a weight loss plan was adequate. At the end of one trial, there was a notable difference between those who used the supplements versus the placebo group.
The Benefit of Precision Probiotics
As each person’s gut microbiome is unique, it makes sense that not all probiotics will have the same effect for every person. Your gut needs its plan. Men and women have different gut make-ups, as do those from different geographic regions, and those with food sensitivities.
Precision probiotics are customized probiotics, based on a medical analysis of your gut and its microbiota. If you are looking to lose or manage your weight, seeking a professional opinion may be the best way to go. You will receive probiotics created just for you, based on your gut’s needs.
These probiotics will be able to target the areas in your gut that need improvement, to best help you lose weight. Each strain of probiotic has many different species. It’s crucial to identify the ones you need specifically to see the best results.
Probiotics vs. Diet and Exercise
It’s important to note that probiotics alone will not help you lose weight. While they may aid in a more substantial weight loss plan, diet and exercise are paramount. Eliminating foods that harm your gut is a GR8 place to start so that its microbiome is as healthy as possible before introducing even more good bacteria.