Probiotics And Weight Loss Or Live Bacteria Against Excess Weight

Many people consume high-calorie foods every day and stay lean. Others are constantly on diets, torturing their bodies with exercise, but despite all efforts, do not lose weight. And even if they manage to lose a few pounds of weight, they quickly regain it.

According to some, this phenomenon is due to heredity. You've probably heard the phrase "your gene is a gene." Yes, but the body's ability to preserve value is not so much a matter of genetics as it is of the state of the intestinal microflora - bacteria that live in symbiosis with humans and are actively involved in the digestive process.

Conditionally, they are divided into two types - useful and harmful. The former accelerate metabolism and help to lose weight , and the latter - conversely - contribute to weight gain.

The probiotics we are going to talk about belong to the useful group. They are "friendly" bacteria that are said to help fight unnecessary weight. Some studies confirm this view.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that are able to restore the intestinal bacterial imbalance, which in turn has a positive effect on metabolism and contributes to weight loss. In addition, they reduce intestinal permeability, thereby neutralizing the action of molecules that cause obesity.

These beneficial bacteria can also deal with other problems, such as diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, eczema, gastrointestinal disorders, due to prolonged use of antibiotics.

Scientific evidence for the effect of probiotics on weight

To date, not many studies have been conducted to assess the possibility of using probiotics for weight loss.

The results of one such study conducted by Japanese scientists were published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2010. For 12 weeks, 87 obese participants drank 200 milliliters of yogurt daily. In half of them, the drink was enriched with the probiotic strain Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055, and the other half was a control group. The study showed an overall weight loss: 8-9% loss of visceral fat (the most unhealthy fat that accumulates around the heart and other organs) and with 1-3% abdominal fat in people who have consumed a product with lactobacilli.

The Journal of Microbiology, published the same year, published the results of another study that led scientists to create a special strain of lactobacilli containing conjugated linoleic acid. It has previously been shown to reduce fat accumulation. According to the authors, special microorganisms are most effective in the fight against obesity.

In 2009, according to the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the use of probiotics for weight loss was possible in obese patients who had recently undergone gastric bypass. According to the results of the experiment, 44 people who received, in addition to the standard treatment, a lot of yogurt, after three months enjoyed greater weight loss compared to the control group.

However, it must be said that most of such studies are funded by manufacturers of probiotic supplements, so they cannot be defined as independent.

If you decide to use probiotics for weight loss, you can try the natural sources of such: yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, pickles, olives. You can take probiotic supplements if your diet is poor in fermented fruits and vegetables.

Possible side effects when taking probiotic foods

Compared to other supplements, probiotics seem the most harmless. However, some side effects may occur, such as bloating and gas. This also applies to the consumption of probiotic foods.