The cold season has just arrived and so have cold and flu. Before jumping to get the flu vaccine in order to keep flu away, you might want to try some natural and easy ways of bolstering your immune system. There are many ways to do that and one of them is to boost your immunity with good bacteria, otherwise known as probiotics. Stay tuned to find out more about the use of probiotics in order to beat flu this winter. 

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are, as the name suggests it, the good bacteria in your gut. When there is no balance between good and bad bacteria, health issues occur. That’s why keeping a balanced intestinal microflora is the first step to take in improving your health. One of the tools to help you with that is in the good bacteria.

Probiotics and health

The supplements and foods that contain good or “friendly” microrganisms are said to enhance digestion, reinforce your immune system, help in weight reduction, protect against periodontal disease, treat constipation and diarrhea, treat even skin issues, advance cerebrum clarity and support general wellbeing.

More and more specialists talk about the advantages of probiotics in keeping a flourishing internal biological system and building an energetic essentialness. That is the reason why incorporating probiotics in your eating routine is a savvy venture to take. Probiotics signifies “pro life” and  probiotics like lactobacillus, plantarum and bifidis enhance one’s immune system, treat loose bowels, improve absorption, protect the mucous covering of the digestive system, help assimilation and provide the necessary nutrients to build blood . They also make B vitamins and vitamin K down inside your digestive tract where they are instantly assimilated. They are the best way get vitamin B-12.

Flu, just like all the other health conditions, talks about a poor immune system. When this one is weak, it is easier for viruses to mess with your healthy. Since your body is not strong enough to fight against harmful microorganisms and viruses, you may encounter all sorts of health conditions among which cold and flu.

Probiotics are appreciated especially for keeping one’s immune system strong. If you build a strong bodyguard, there are little chances for you to get cold and flu. Since  80% of your immune system is situated in your digestive system , it’s no wonder probiotics could be effective in keeping viruses and cold away. Probiotics for flu are always a good solution to improve your condition.

Keep in mind, a powerful immune system is your number one barrier against disease, and in order to keep your immune system strong, you should have a solid balance of good and bad microorganisms in your gut (the ideal balance is around 85 percent of “good bacteria” and 15 percent of “bad bacteria”). 

Studies have shown the benefits of probiotics in keeping cold away or reducing it. Significant benefits were noticed among 3 to 5 year old children who were given either a single strain or a mix of probiotics twice per day for six months. Unlike the children who took placebo, the ones using probiotics noticed a higher fever reduction, significantly decreased coughing as well as reduced runny noses.

Why are probiotics so important

As we’ve said before, probiotics play a key role in boosting one’s immune system. If the immune system is strong, improvements will be noticed in many other areas. Probiotics are helpful with the following:

Probiotics sources

Probiotics sources include fermented foods and beverages like Kefir, yogurt, natto, lassi (an Indian yogurt milk), sauerkraut and raw vegetables. Including probiotics in your diet is just one step to take when talking about living a healthy life. Remember that this is just one step out of the many to take. In order to support and boost your health, you need to do more than simply include probiotics in your eating routine. Boosting health also means quitting bad habits like smoking, drinking, sleep skipping and other such harmful activities. 

Some more things to keep in mind

Remember that the lack of balance between good and bad bacteria is mainly caused by your eating habits. There are foods and habits that kill the good bacteria. Taking antibiotics, a stressful lifestyle, pollution as well as certain foods will upset this good and bad bacteria balance. Eating sugar and foods rich in sugar is equal to providing the perfect environment for bad bacteria and yeast to grow.

Since good microorganisms are largely and increasingly missing from many people’s eating habits, it is vital to include foods that contain live probiotics in your eating routine, or take a probiotic supplement – particularly since the flu season is practically around the corner.