In short: "Probiotics for diarrhea"

• For mild or moderate diarrhea, taking probiotics is helpful and can greatly shorten the course of the illness.

Diarrhea is a troublesome topic that people are reluctant to discuss publicly. Most people look for natural remedies to quickly get the problem under control. Some are certainly wondering whether probiotics might also help with diarrhea . We want to explore this question in our article.

Probiotics can be helpful in various ways for diarrhea:

• Probiotics can contribute to a healthy gut flora.
• Probiotics can suppress disease-causing germs.
• Probiotics can strengthen the immune system

Diarrhea can have various causes

• Gastrointestinal infection
• Rotavirus and norovirus
• Food intolerance
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Intestinal inflammation

If you are suffering from diarrhea, it is most likely due to a gastrointestinal infection caused by viruses or bacteria. Children and the elderly are frequently affected by rotavirus and norovirus, while salmonella and campylobacter are often responsible for bacterial infections. Various parasites or E. coli bacteria are also common culprits when traveling.

When traveling, it's often the unfamiliar food with exotic spices that causes diarrhea. Various food intolerances, such as lactose or gluten intolerance, can also contribute. Some people suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or an inflammatory bowel disease like ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease . Finally, diarrhea can also be a side effect of various medications.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are ingested orally. They are usually different strains of bacteria, but can also include fungi. Once in the gut, they can multiply and then have a positive effect on your health and well-being.

Good bacteria for diarrhea

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that are essential for a healthy gut flora . They suppress harmful bacteria and thus also have an effect on your immune system. Probiotics can be used preventively to improve the balance between viruses, fungi, and bacteria in the gut.

What are probiotics used for?

• Basically, the intestinal flora consists of about 85 percent beneficial bacteria, the remaining 15 percent are bad bacteria.

This balance should ideally be maintained, otherwise health problems may arise. Probiotics can help restore this balance, either through the consumption of probiotic foods or the intake of probiotic supplements.

Numerous studies have confirmed the effects of probiotics on the human organism.

Effectiveness of probiotics

• Strengthening the immune system
• Promoting digestion
• Help with food intolerances
• Lowering cholesterol levels
• Relief of symptoms in intestinal diseases
• Improvement of metabolic processes
• Weight loss is easier
• Prevention of osteoporosis, insulin resistance, periodontitis and caries
• Improvement of the skin's appearance (e.g., in cases of acne or psoriasis)

What is the gut flora?

The mucous membrane of the human large intestine is home to approximately 100 trillion microorganisms. The gut flora, also known as the gut biome or microbiome , consists of bacteria, fungi, and viruses.

Examples of beneficial gut bacteria include:

• Bacteroides
• Enterococci
• Clostridium perfringens
• Actinobacteria
• Enterobacteria

The composition of the intestinal flora varies from person to person.

The bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum are particularly important for health. They support the immune system, promote the absorption of vitamins and minerals, and help the body eliminate toxins.

Why is a healthy gut flora so important?

Many people are unaware that the gut plays a crucial role in the immune system. The gut flora promotes the release of certain messenger substances that eliminate harmful germs. It also inhibits or stimulates antibodies, which can be beneficial in cases of allergies. When the gut flora is healthy, harmful substances can no longer penetrate the body, or they are eliminated.

Preventing pathogens

When the intestinal wall is populated with beneficial bacteria, pathogens have little chance of colonizing it. A healthy gut flora can thus prevent the proliferation of harmful microorganisms, preventing conditions such as diarrhea. The body is supplied with essential nutrients because the microorganisms break down food. Furthermore, certain bacteria also influence bowel movements.

What are the effects of poor gut flora?

If there aren't enough good bacteria in the gut, the bad ones can multiply unchecked. Once they've gained the upper hand, health problems usually don't take long to appear.

A disturbed gut flora manifests itself in:

• Flatulence
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Vomit
• nausea
• Susceptibility to infection
• Headache
• Vitamin and mineral deficiency

Furthermore, it can lead to constipation, inflammation in the intestines, fungal infections, fatigue and reduced performance.

Possible causes of a disturbed gut flora

In most cases, an imbalance in the gut flora is due to prior antibiotic treatment. Antibiotics eliminate all types of bacteria; they do not distinguish between beneficial and harmful bacteria.

Overuse of laxatives can also destroy the gut flora in the long run, as beneficial bacteria are also eliminated. Another cause of an imbalance in the gut is various intestinal diseases, which are usually characterized by inflammation.

Can probiotics help with diarrhea?

Normally, diarrhea resulting from an intestinal infection is not a major problem and should subside within two to three days.

• Drinking plenty of fluids is usually sufficient to compensate for the fluid loss.

Only in the case of elderly people and small children does special treatment with medication make sense.

• Taking probiotics is helpful for mild or moderate diarrhea.

The microorganisms contained in probiotics colonize the intestines and eliminate the pathogens causing diarrhea. Studies have shown that probiotics can shorten the duration of diarrhea by one day.

Which probiotics are suitable for diarrhea?

Not all probiotics are equally effective against diarrhea; preparations containing lactobacilli or bifidobacteria are usually the most effective. Yeasts such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Saccharomyces boulardii are also used.

If the diarrhea is caused by taking antibiotics, or if you suffer from Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis , Escherichia coli bacteria may also be a possible cause. If the diarrhea is related to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Lactobacillus rhamnosus could also be considered.

Conclusion

Probiotics can be a miracle cure for diarrhea . They can especially shorten the duration of the illness. Taking probiotics is generally never harmful, as they help build a healthy gut flora.