Probiotic for adults - which one to choose?

Which probiotic for adults?

Probiotic for adults is a dietary supplement that is worth having in your handy first aid kit, especially when travelling. It is useful after diarrhoea and after antibiotic therapy. How do I choose a good probiotic? What should you pay attention to? Read our advice.

What is a probiotic?

Probiotic for adults is the name of a dietary supplement containing strains of live probiotic bacteria. Micro-organisms, beneficial to our health, have an important function in our digestive system. They populate the intestinal walls, forming the intestinal microflora there and take an active part in digestion and intestinal cleansing processes.

Beneficial intestinal bacteria have an impact not only on our digestive system, but also on the condition of other organs and internal systems, as well as on our well-being. A healthy gut means better overall health of the whole body, as well as greater resistance to pathogens.

Probiotic for adults - when should it be used?

A probiotic for adults is used when, for some reason, the number of beneficial bacteria in the gut has decreased. It is important to remember that the intestines are populated not only by beneficial bacteria, but by many different micro-organisms that do not necessarily have a positive effect on our health. 

It is important that there is a balance between them and even that the probiotic bacteria have a significant advantage. Then potentially pathogenic organisms are not dangerous to us, otherwise they may contribute to the development of disease states.

Probiotic bacteria can be decimated and weakened, for example after antibiotic therapy or after diarrhoea. A probiotic after diarrhoea and after an antibiotic will help to rebuild the gut flora and support the bacteria already there. There is no need to take it prophylactically - when we are healthy, a balanced diet will suffice - but after antibiotic treatment, a probiotic for adults will come to the aid of our gut.

How do I choose a good probiotic?

There are many different preparations available in pharmacies described as probiotic for adults. How do we choose the best probiotic, or at least the right one for us? A good probiotic should contain selected strains of probiotic bacteria. Let's pay attention to whether they include bacteria from the genus Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

It is also a good choice to reach for a synbiotic for adults, i.e. a preparation containing both probiotic bacteria and a nutrient for them, i.e. a prebiotic.

Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates that are not digested by enzymes and gastric juice in their entirety and serve as food and an energy source for the beneficial bacteria populating the gut. If we provide them with 'food' in a single capsule, they will grow better and undertake their work in the intestines more efficiently. Let's also try to introduce natural probiotic and prebiotic products into the diet whenever possible.

When is it worth using probiotics?

Probiotic bacteria form a protective barrier that prevents the development of pathogenic bacteria. It is a good idea to take probiotics during periods of lowered immunity, when our natural bacterial flora becomes sterile - in autumn and winter, after a chronic illness, after antibiotic treatment, after food poisoning and diarrhoea. Diarrhoea, occurring after antibiotic treatment, can result in serious problems. These can include water and electrolyte disturbances, as well as vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Importantly, probiotics should be taken during and after the antibiotic.

Stress and an unhealthy lifestyle also weaken our resistance to microbes. Probiotics reduce discomforts accompanying poor eating habits, such as flatulence. They eliminate accumulated gas in the intestines and relieve recurring abdominal pain.