Choosing the Best Probiotics for Weight Loss

Cups of yogurt parfait surrounded by blue pills

Probiotics are live microorganisms consumed through fermented foods or supplements. They help balance bacteria in your digestive system which improves health and wellness. Probiotics also provide your body with the appropriate strains of bacteria. This creates a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut.

It’s important to remember that all probiotics are not created equal. Different strains of bacteria are recommended for different conditions. Because we focus on weight loss at MWL, we offer probiotic supplements to help both metabolism and fat absorption. 

Probiotics can improve your digestive health, mood, and ability to fight infections. Exploring their benefits will help you understand why it’s so important to add them to your diet.

The Link Between Obesity and Probiotics

The microflora, or intestinal bacteria, of patients with obesity has lower bacterial diversity than that of lean individuals. The suspected reason behind this may be a diet low in fiber but high in fat. This promotes certain bacteria at the expense of others. 

Obesity is also associated with a reduction in Bifidobacteria. This is a bacteria group that helps with fighting off harmful bacteria and digestion. Obesity is linked to a higher amount of Fermiticus and a lower amount of Bacteroides. These are the dominant bacterial phyla that make up the human gut. Weight loss is alternatively attributed to a lower Fermiticus, higher Bacteroides ratio. 

Probiotics can help with the production of short-chain fatty acids, which can ward off obesity. Beneficial intestinal bacteria like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria can also promote weight loss. These two strains synthesize bioactive isomers of conjugated linoleic acid. In other words, this process can decrease fat and improve immunity. These strains also have anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties. 

Here are some other probiotics shown to have anti-obesity effects:

  • Pediococcus pentosaceus LP28
  • Bacteroides uniformis CECT 7771
  • Akkermansia muciniphila
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae var boulardii
  • Enterobacter halii 
  • Akkermansia muciniphila

What Are the Health Benefits of Probiotics?

Probiotics are believed to destroy bile acids, which then decrease fat absorption. They may also alter the permeability of the intestinal wall. This prevents inflammatory mediators from entering the bloodstream.

A 2014 study found that women consuming Lactobacillus Rhamnosus probiotics for 24 weeks lost twice as much weight as those who did not. Another 12-week study showed that the consumption of fermented milk with the Lactobacillus gasseri probiotic led to a 4.6% loss of pinchable fat.

Improve Cardiovascular Health

Dairy products fermented with Lactic Acid Bacteria such as yogurt or sour cream can help reduce cholesterol levels. Cholesterol can further be removed with the help of Bifidobacterium spp bacteria. Probiotics can also help lower blood pressure. 

Helps with Depression and Anxiety

If you struggle with mental illness, you should be on a good probiotic. Probiotics have been shown to reduce signs of depression and anxiety. In fact, a study of patients with major depressive disorder showed that consuming multi-strain probiotics for 8 weeks had beneficial effects on their mental health. 

Promotes Digestive Health

Probiotics can improve resistance to bad bacteria. This is done through an antibody and systemic immune effect. Probiotics also appear to help with cases of lactose intolerance. They have the ability to detoxify carcinogenic metabolites, which may prevent colon cancer. Combining Bifidobacterium Infantis with Lactobacillus probiotics can help fight off irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

Immune Health and Allergy Resistance

Lactobacillus in dairy products may help improve immune health. This is achieved with probiotics L. acidophilus, L. Rhamnosum, and Lacatobacillus Helveticus. Probiotics can also prevent translocation into the bloodstream, which wards off allergic reactions. Lactis and L. rhamnosus GG also have the ability to decrease eczema severity. 

The Many Perks of Probiotics

Before today, you probably didn’t know just how beneficial probiotics can be-not just for weight loss but for your overall health. Still have questions about which ones are best for you? Feel free to ask us next time you visit. We have probiotics available for purchase at the front desk or you can order online here.

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