Are probiotics worth the hype? We break down the benefits and limitations

“Probiotics are live microorganisms, the 'friendly' bacteria that reside in the gut and provide numerous benefits. These bacteria help us fight infections caused by 'unfriendly” ones'," said Dr Eileen Canday

Probiotic influence our body’s immune response, and help our body’s community of microorganisms return to a healthy condition after being disturbed. (Pic source: Pixabay)

Whenever talking about gut health, ‘probiotics’ are likely to crop up during the conversation. As such, it would not be wrong to say that it has become a buzzword when it comes to gut health. But are they as beneficial as they are claimed to be? Unpacking the hype around probiotics, Dr Tara Scott MD, wrote on Instagram, “In the last few years there has been a huge surge in probiotics. It seems as though everywhere you look there are probiotics: in teas, chocolates, gummies, cookies… it leaves you to wonder, are they actually that beneficial or have they now become a marketing tactic?”

She added that for the most part, probiotics have been marketed as this one and done, cure-all, fix for your entire health. “And while probiotics are beneficial, I did some research into what the actual data have to say about them”.

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Health benefits of probiotics

Dr Scott shared that probiotics protect the barrier of our gut, which happens to be a one-cell-thick internal lining that contains different types of epithelial cells. “They influence our body’s immune response, and help our body’s community of microorganisms return to a healthy condition after being disturbed”.

Data have shown that probiotics help with:

– Diarrhea associated with antibiotics
– Patients with ulcerative colitis
– IBS
– Serotonin production
– Digestion

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ALSO READ | Why you need probiotic and prebiotic foods in your diet (and things to keep in mind before consuming them)

But when is probiotic not helpful?

Despite its many health benefits, “the data shows it does not help those with Crohn’s disease, nor does it help those with pancreatitis,” shared Dr Scott. However, according to data, there is improvement in postoperative infection care. “If you are going to have a procedure, it might be a good idea to load up with probiotics”

Speaking with indianexpress.com, Dr Eileen Canday ,Head of Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre shared, “Probiotics are live microorganisms, the ‘friendly’ bacteria that reside in the gut and provide numerous benefits. These bacteria help us fight infections caused by ‘unfriendly” ones’.”

An estimated 100 trillion microorganisms representing more than 500 different species inhabit every normal, healthy bowel. The most common are bacteria that belong to groups called Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Other bacteria may also be used as probiotics, and so may yeasts such as Saccharomyces boulardii.

ALSO READ | This powerful age-old Indian probiotic will help improve your gut health

Dr Canday added, “While probiotic foods can be beneficial for digestive health, they should not be considered a cure-all for digestive issues. It is advisable to consult a healthcare provider and a qualified dietician before adding probiotic rich foods to the diet, especially in case of any underlying medical condition”.

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