There is zero chance that you have not heard of probiotics. People, with or without IBS, have been talking about it.
Yet, when you ask them what probiotics are and why IBS people need it, only few of them can give you an answer. (Even if they give you answers, it may not be easy to understand.)
So what are probiotics?
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are bacteria. And bacteria are just like people around you: There are good and bad guys. So, probiotics are good guys, good bacteria that work for your gut and your health. How do they achieve this task? They help to balance the ecosystem in your gut, and a balanced ecosystem in your guts means better digestion, which also means you will be much more energetic.
What happens if good guys are not there?
Some IBS people (including me) got IBS because the good bacteria in our guts become the minority. As a result, the bad guys, which are already in your guts, expand their territories, which is when we have to rush to the toilet.
Put simply, we have IBS because our guts are occupied by bad bacteria. One of the solutions to solve this problem is to ask for help, help from other good guys, probiotics.
However, there are tons of probiotics available when you walk into a health food store, so the big questions for you are: Which one is for IBS people?
Enter Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum)
What is Bifidobacterium longum? B. longum is a type of bacteria, good ones, that first colonise our bodies (gastrointestinal tracts and vaginas) at birth. They are gifts from mothers to babies during time of delivery.
However, there is a chance that some of you may not have it. If you are not born naturally, but by C-section, bifidobacteria may not be present in your body.
What is so good about Bifidobacterium longum?
According to Prof. Cryan and Dinan, two experts on microbiomes, Bifidobacterium longum is one of the best for IBS people because it:
- inhibits pathogens (microorganisms causing disease) in large intestines
- reduces inflammation
- prevents diarrhea
- reduces anxiety and depression
- improves lactose (sugar present in milk) tolerance
So, what are you waiting for if you have not tried it?
