B. Breve is one of many powerful probiotics in the Bifidobacterium family of bacteria. As you may know by now, probiotics can help boost your health by balancing your healthy gut bacteria. Knowing which probiotics offer which benefits can help you get the right probiotics you need.

While all probiotics can aid the digestive system, not all of them are created equal. Each probiotic strain can benefit the body in a different way. Bifidobacterium Breve bacteria have numerous benefits which we’ll cover in this article.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms which you can consume. Our bodies need bacteria to thrive—in fact, studies suggest that microbial cells outnumber the number of human cells in the body. However, there are many ways that bacteria in our bodies become imbalanced—meaning we don’t have enough of the good and essential bacteria.

When the body doesn’t have a healthy balance of good bacteria, many health problems can arise. This is primarily for two reasons: 1) Good bacteria are essential for normal body functioning, which includes breaking down proteins, carbs, and other nutrients for proper digestion. 2) Good bacteria help inhibit the growth of bad bacteria which may otherwise cause inflammation, chronic diseases, and acute illnesses.

Everything from bad eating habits, to smoking, to taking certain types of medications can throw off your gut balance. There’s no shortage of good bacteria killers in the modern world. That’s why getting enough of healthy probiotics like Bifidobacterium Breve is vital for a healthy and happy body.

6 Bifidobacterium Breve Benefits

Immune Health

Like many probiotics, Bifidobacterium Breve helps support the immune system. B. Breve inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria including E. Coli. Since your immune system largely relies on the health of your gut, B. Breve’s ability to help restore a healthy gut microbe balance can be a huge boost for your immune system.

B. Breve may help school children the most, as it helps prevent the common cold and other airway infections. This is the perfect probiotic for preventing colds in the winter months.

Bowel Movements

It’s not fun to talk about, but irregular bowel movements can make life difficult. B. Breve is especially good at regulating bowel movements as well as reducing abdominal pain. It can help with both diarrhea and constipation—which sounds counterintuitive.

One study showed that B. Breve could increase the number of bowel movements in children with constipation. This is likely because of B. Breve’s role in breaking down food particles during digestion.

B. Breve also helps reduce the severity of diarrhea and dehydration according to one study on infants. Other lab studies also show that this probiotic can help reduce the frequency and duration of diarrhea.

Bifidobacterium Breve may also help with cases of traveler’s diarrhea as well as diarrhea related to antibiotic treatments.

Obesity

One of the most notable benefits of B. Breve is its ability to help fight obesity and regulate body weight. In a randomized controlled trial on adults struggling with obesity, this probiotic significantly lowered the participants’ fat mass by improving metabolic functioning.

Lab research on animals also shows positive results using B. Breve for diet-induced obesity. One lab study found that this probiotic helps reduce body weight gain as well as helping to improve cholesterol, insulin levels, and fasting glucose.

IBS

Taking B. Breve for 4-6 weeks has shown to reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome including bloating, difficult bowel movements, stomach pain, and gas. There may also be some secondary benefits for IBS. The B. Breve probiotic may help reduce anxiety and depression related to IBS. However, more research needs to be done to confirm these benefits.

Skin Health

If you want vibrant, healthy skin, B. Breve may be the right bacteria for the job. Studies show that this probiotic helps increase skin clearness and hydration in healthy women. Lab tests on mice also show that B Breve may improve skin elasticity, reduces skin dehydration, and reduces the damage caused by long-term UV irradiation.

Allergies

B. Breve triggers an anti-inflammatory responsive which benefit children with allergic reactions according to one study. In infants, this probiotic reduces the risk of allergic hypersensitivity to dairy as well as dermatitis.

Some research also suggests that using bifidobacteria probiotics in allergy season can reduce certain types of allergic reaction symptoms including a runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. An allergy to Japanese cedar pollen seems to be affected the most. However, more research is needed to verify these effects.

Negative Effects

In healthy children and adults, Bifidobacterium Breve appears to be safe in recommended doses. However, there can be a handful of side effects in people with a sensitivity to this probiotic. Side effects may include gas, bloating, diarrhea, and an upset stomach.

There are some instances in which you should avoid taking Bifidobacterium Breve probiotic supplements. If you have a weakened or compromised immune system, B. Breve may grow too much in the GI tract, leaving you prone to infection.

Pregnant women and nursing mothers should also avoid taking Bifidobacterium Breve probiotic supplements due to the lack of information on the possible effects. Since there are few studies, it’s best to stay on the safe side.

Infants with intestinal or stomach blockages should also not be given Bifidobacterium Breve probiotic supplements. There have been reports of this causing infection in some rare cases.

For most people, Bifidobacterium Breve probiotics should be safe for use. However, you should always consult your doctor before trying a new probiotic.

Bifidobacterium Breve Probiotics

Bifidobacterium Breve bacteria naturally grow in the intestines. However, some have more of this type of bacteria than others. For instance, C-sections can affect the gut microbe balance in infants and cause there to be much smaller amounts of B. Breve. Antibiotics can also kill off healthy bacteria and cause microbe imbalances.

Thankfully, there are ways to help boost the amount of B. Breve in your body. First of which is by eating a healthy diet with plenty of fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut. However, many adults have a difficult time getting enough of these probiotic-rich foods in their diet—especially those with a sensitivity to dairy.

Probiotic supplements can help bridge the gap and create a healthy gut microbe balance. Many probiotic supplements not only contain B. Breve, but they also contain other important health-boosting bacteria strains. Along with a healthy diet, probiotic supplements with Bifidobacterium Breve can give your body the health boost it needs.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.