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HealthWatch: Probiotics

Posted By Lineweaver Financial Group
July 16, 2020 Category: HealthWatch, Probiotics

Are you currently taking probiotics to improve your gut health? New research from the American Gastronenterological Association is showing that it might not be as helpful as we are led to believe.  Since researchers started to learn more about our gut bacteria, or microbiome, probiotics have become more popular.  Yogurt and dietary supplements contain certain bacteria and yeast, which are organisms found in probiotics. Depending on your location, you can find probiotics sold over the counter or by prescription.  Since probiotics are not considered drugs in the United States, they aren’t regulated in the same way as other pharmaceutical products. This can lead to an increase in misleading information and has acted as a barrier to scientific research when it comes to how helpful probiotics actually are.  For example, research has found there isn’t enough evidence that suggests the use of probiotics to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or IBS. The American Gastronenterological Association told some people to consider stopping probiotics because of the limited evidence we have that it’s helpful for those specific diseases.  It’s always important to consult your doctor when you decide to start taking a probiotic if you have a compromised immune system. When taking probiotics, the tiny microbes inside can actually lead to infection. When consulting with your doctor this question might not have simple answers, as th