When you hear the word bacteria, you probably don’t think of health benefits—but probiotics for women are gaining attention for good reason.
These beneficial bacteria help keep your gut and vaginal health in check while giving your immune system a boost.
Think of them as an extra layer of defense, and adding them to your daily routine is an easy way to keep your body balanced from the inside out.
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What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts – also known as microorganisms – often called “good” bacteria.
Yes, they are good bacteria that help us in managing our health if consumed.
When consumed regularly, probiotics are especially good for your digestive system and for keeping your gut healthy. The probiotics help send food through your gut when affecting nerves that control gut movement.
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The many types of bacteria are classified as probiotics, and they provide various benefits.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH) says they are present in fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut, and supplements you can get at your local drugstore.
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What Do Probiotics Do for Women?
Probiotics should become a regular part of your diet, especially if you’re a woman. An area that is specific to women, fertility, can benefit greatly from probiotics.
For women, having a good ratio of certain strains can improve the odds of conceiving. Of course, discuss with your OBGYN for suggestions on what probiotics are best.
Fertility is not the only area of focus for women that draws us to probiotics, but overall vaginal health is improved when probiotics are added to our routines.
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Best Probiotics for Vaginal Health
Another area that is specific to women is vaginal health and the treatment of vaginal infections. Probiotics can balance out the vaginal microbiome, which wards off bacterial vaginosis, urogenital infections, and vaginal yeast infections.
According to studies, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Lactobacillus fermentum are probiotics that can improve vaginal flora – the bacteria living inside the vagina – if taken daily.
Best Probiotics for Women’s pH Balance
When looking further at vaginal health, there are probiotics that help balance out the pH level of the vagina.
Our bodies are made to naturally maintain a balance of acidity and alkalinity, so pH balance is important for how our bodies function.
The probiotics help improve certain effects if our pH balance is off, such as reducing vaginal odor and itching as a result of restoring the vagina’s pH to its normal balance.
Again, strains of Lactobacillus are shown to improve your pH balance, as well as Bifidobacterium.
Best Probiotics for Women’s Weight Loss
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains are also good for reducing belly fat and weight loss.
Probiotics affect appetite and energy usage. In fighting obesity, studies show that probiotics may assist in the release of appetite-regulating hormones and increase levels of fat-regulating proteins.
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Best Probiotics for Women’s Overall Health
We’ve gone over the women-specific health areas and how important probiotics are in maintaining health in those areas, but they are beneficial for the overall health of everyone.
Some probiotics help with maintaining overall health, including the health of your organs, immune system, and skin.
Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast found in probiotics, for instance, helps fight digestion and diarrhea.
Lactobacillus, the most common probiotic, is known to help with digestion, including helping those who may have difficulty digesting lactose – the sugar in milk. It can also help with diarrhea.
Lactobacillus can be found in yogurt and other fermented foods, such as kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut.
Bifidobacterium, found in some dairy products, can ease various conditions, including symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Besides fermented foods, probiotic supplements are an option, but there are so many strains that offer various benefits.
If you are interested in the best probiotics for women, visit your doctor to get suggestions on the best strains to meet your needs.
