Myths You Should Stop Believing About Probiotics
We've all heard about the benefits of probiotics. They're said to improve our gut health, help us lose weight, and even give us more energy. While probiotics offer many real benefits, they can also be given too much credit for the miracles they're supposedly able to perform. According to Well + Good, there are several myths about probiotics you should stop believing.
The first is that it is easy to meet your probiotic needs through food alone. While it's great to get your nutrients from food, you would need to eat probiotic-rich foods every day in order to get enough probiotics to meet your body's needs. There are only so many foods that contain probiotics, like kimchi and yogurt, and it can be difficult for some people to eat these things every day. Taking a probiotic supplement, however, can help you get enough probiotics if you can't get them through food alone.
Other myths about probiotics
Another myth about probiotics is that they are all created equally (via Live Science). This is not the case. Different probiotic supplements contain different strains of bacteria, and each strain can provide different health benefits. Additionally, the number of colony forming units (CFUs) in a probiotic supplement can also vary. A higher CFU count does not necessarily mean that a probiotic is more effective, however. Some research suggests that lower doses of probiotics may be more effective than higher doses.
Some people also believe that probiotics are a cure-all for any and all digestive problems. While they can help with some digestive issues, like diarrhea, they will not help with all digestive problems. Probiotics are also not a replacement for other treatments, like medication or surgery. If you have a serious digestive problem, you should talk to your doctor about the best treatment options for you. Probiotics can be a great way to improve your gut health, but they are not a magic bullet. Be sure to talk to your doctor before you start taking probiotics, and be sure to choose a high-quality probiotic supplement that's right for you.