Good bacteria are essential for your health, yet many men don’t have enough good bacteria in their body. That’s why probiotic supplements are so important. Although you can get probiotics by consuming fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt, most men have a difficult time getting enough of these fermented foods in their regular diet.
Probiotics for men are probiotic supplements in the form of a capsule which you can take daily. The best probiotics for men include bacteria that specifically benefit men’s health. Let’s quickly break down the basics of how probiotics work.
How Probiotics Work
Why are probiotics good for men? Men’s probiotics contain certain beneficial types of living bacteria which are often ingested in the form of a capsule. These probiotics for men help with restoring the gut’s natural balance of bacteria—also known as gut flora.
But how does an imbalance of guts flora happen to begin with? Well, there are several ways gut bacteria can become imbalanced:
Antibiotics
Although antibiotics are often necessary for getting rid of harmful bacteria, they can also kill off good bacteria. In fact, the effects of antibiotics on your gut flora can weaken your immunity in the long run since your good gut bacteria are an essential part of the immune system. Unless you eat a diverse selection of fresh and fermented foods after antibiotic treatment, your gut bacteria will likely stay imbalanced. Probiotic supplements can help you rebalance your gut microbes.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs
When used often, these substances can damage your gut bacteria balance. While some fermented drinks—more specifically, red wines—in moderation may contribute to your gut bacteria balance, most alcoholic drinks can kill off good bacteria. Even with a healthy diet, too many of these types of substances can lead to an unhealthy balance of gut flora.
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep is vital for the growth of muscles, bones, and skin cells. However, it’s also necessary for the growth of good bacteria. With sleep deprivation often comes gut microbe imbalances. Moreover, late night eating can also be harmful to your gut bacteria balance. Since many men are working too much, and resting too little, it’s a good idea to use probiotics for men. Of course, if you want to keep your body healthy and your gut balanced, you will have to get more rest. Probiotics can only help restore current imbalances—they are not an alternative to sleep.
Not Eating the Right Foods
A diet lacking diversity is another common cause of gut bacteria imbalances. A wide range of whole foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are necessary for healthy gut bacteria. Unfortunately, most of the time men don’t get enough of these whole foods to create a healthy gut flora balance. Although probiotics can help restore the balance, you should still eat a healthy diet to ensure your body consistently has the gut flora it needs to stay healthy.
Not Getting Enough Exercise
Exercise is essential for the growth of healthy gut bacteria. Studies show that everything from gardening to swimming can promote healthy gut flora along with all of the many other health benefits. Since many people today work sedentary jobs, even a daily workout may not be enough to compensate for sitting still throughout most of the way. This is another way probiotics may help restore the gut’s balance of microbes.
Too Much Stress
Although the reason isn’t entirely clear, stress has been linked to poor gut microbe balances in many studies. Chronic stress often also leads to poor eating, smoking, drinking, not getting enough exercise, and getting sick—all of which can lead to gut imbalances and even more stress in a vicious cycle. Probiotics for men can help end the cycle and help promote a healthy, stress-free life.
Probiotics for Men Benefits
There are many probiotics benefits for men. Although the primary benefit is a balanced gut, there are many secondary benefits as well. Let’s take a look at some of the best probiotics for men benefits.
Supports Healthy Cholesterol Levels
Men—especially those over 40—often struggle to keep cholesterol levels under control. Studies show that certain types of gut bacteria help the body get rid of unhealthy cholesterol rather than absorb it. Lower cholesterol levels can help men prevent heart disease and other diseases related to high cholesterol.
May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk
Certain types of probiotics seem to have an anti-cancer effect—especially in the prostate. This may be due to the fact that a well-balanced gut helps keep inflammation under control. In turn, this reduced inflammation may help keep the prostate healthy. Probiotics also help protect the body from DNA damage due to oxidative stress as well as supporting immune function—both of which are essential for the prevention of cancer.
May Help with Diabetes
Studies suggest that probiotics can help with reducing inflammation, insulin resistance, and body weight. Each of these can help prevent and even cure diabetes. One recent study showed significant results when using probiotics on a group of people with insulin resistance due to an unhealthy diet.
Supports Healthy Immune System Function
Gut bacteria, as we mentioned before, are essential for healthy immune system functioning. As many men get older, their immune system becomes compromised. Probiotics may help support a healthy immune system by balancing the gut’s microbes.
Supports Weight Control
Probiotics for men may help with managing body weight by reducing weight gain and promoting weight loss. There are many reasons why probiotics can help with weight management. First, probiotics help regulate hormone imbalances which lead to weight gain. Second, probiotics help produce essential micronutrients which are necessary for weight loss. And third, probiotics help reduce the absorption of dietary fats which lead to putting on extra pounds.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, a balanced gut is essential for a healthy body, and probiotics for men can help restore that balance. If you’re not sure where to find the best probiotics for men, check out probiotics online. At MindZymes, we are dedicated to helping men become healthier and happier. Our probiotics for men may be the solution you’re looking for.
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.