Your Good Health

Probiotics and Your Immune System

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If you’ve taken probiotics, or know someone who has, you may have heard of the immune system benefits of these “beneficial flora” as well as the digestive benefits. Now, most of us do not associate the digestive system with immune health, but it turns out the two are definitely connected.

Do You Feel Exposed?
Maybe you’re like me and you’ve never thought too much about your intestinal lining. And why should you? It’s in there, it does its job, seems to be functioning fine.

But your intestinal lining is actually one of your body’s main “hot spots” of activity. Scientists think of the intestines as “external” organs because they, along with the rest of the gastrointestinal tract, are constantly exposed to the external world through what we ingest.

And because the intestines are exposed, they have built up one heck of a defense system.

The Miracle in Your Gut
The intestinal lining helps prevent absorption of the many potentially harmful organisms we are exposed to daily. It’s like Homeland Security – we’ll never know what the intestines prevent from getting into the body, and we probably don’t want to.

Your intestines are lined with a mucus barrier packed with immune cells and hundreds of types of friendly flora. Your trillions-strong friendly flora colony supports essential immune cells and, because organisms will always compete for space and resources, it also helps “crowd out” the less-desirables coming through.

Friendly Flora and Probiotics 
Okay, great. Your intestines are full of friendly flora that help keep you well. Or are they? It turns out friendly flora have some enemies of their own, namely a poor diet, stress, certain medications, and even the natural aging process.

This is where probiotics come in. Probiotics are beneficial flora that support the natural friendly flora in your intestines, helping to keep your balance strong. Probiotics, like your natural microflora, come in many strain types. Some types prefer the small intestine, and others the large intestine. And some probiotic types “stick around” longer than other types, making a multi-probiotic with multiple strains a good choice for supporting your friendly flora.