Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the person who ingests them. Among the many benefits of probiotics we find some related to menopause, so it is advisable to start taking probiotics even before noticing the first symptoms.
Probiotics are foods or supplements containing live microorganisms intended to maintain or enhance the “good” bacteria (normal microbiota) in the body. The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to the host”.
Probiotics can be part of the composition of different types of products, including foods (functional foods), medicines and dietary supplements. In food we can find them in yogurt, kefir or sauerkraut, fermented foods or probiotic drinks like Colondrink.
For a microorganism to be qualified as a probiotic, it must meet a series of requirements, including being correctly identified (at the level of genus, species and strain); lacking virulence factors and/or the capacity to produce undesirable metabolites for the host; having scientifically demonstrated, through clinical trials, beneficial effects on the host and safety; being in sufficient quantity to be able to exert the desired effect.
In practice, probiotics accredited as such come from ferments used in food fermentation and are mainly lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, since they do not include pathogenic strains within the species to which they belong. Streptococcus thermophilus, a microorganism with proven activity in improving lactose digestion in lactose intolerant individuals, is also classified as a probiotic.
Depending on the strain selected, probiotics can act on the host at different levels:
1. In the intestinal lumen by direct interaction with the intestinal microbiota, modulating its composition either by inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms or by helping the presence and diversity of bacteria considered beneficial.
They can also act directly on the metabolism by helping the absorption of certain nutrients, regulating the storage of energy, helping the synthesis of essential vitamins, etc.
2. In the intestinal mucosa and epithelium, improving the intestinal barrier function, i.e., helping to maintain the integrity of the intestinal epithelium against the action of external aggressions.
They also intervene in the metabolization of lactose (β-galactosidase activity), proteins and lipids, in the synthesis of amino acids and vitamins, in the fermentation of carbohydrates obtaining short chain fatty acids and increasing the absorption of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron.
The intestine is the organ with the most important immune function of the organism, where immune responses against pathogenic microorganisms are controlled: viruses, bacteria, parasites. Certain probiotics have the ability to alter this intestinal ecosystem, thus improving our immune system.
3. In other organs, such as the brain and the immune system. As we said, they stimulate the immune system and promote the production of immunoglobulins and lymphocytes.
What are probiotics useful for?
Regular use of probiotics can provide the following benefits to the body:
- Prevent and treat infectious diarrhea, especially rotavirus.
- Decrease lactose intolerance.
- Reduce the symptoms of intestinal inflammation related to certain diseases such as ulcerative colitis or pouchitis.
- Lower cholesterol levels, by decreasing the plasma concentration of LDL and total cholesterol.
- Strengthen the immune system and prevent some allergic processes, asthma, atopic dermatitis, etc., states characterized by a hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immunological mechanisms. It is also beneficial to make use of probiotics when we have flu, colds or infectious diseases such as cystitis or vaginitis, among others.
What are the benefits of probiotics in menopause?
Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life characterized by a series of changes caused by the decline in the levels of the two main female sex hormones: estrogen and progesterone. This decline mainly causes the end of menstrual cycles and fertility in women, but also discomfort such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, decreased libido, insomnia, irritability, etc.
Are probiotics safe?
Generally, probiotic foods and probiotic supplements are safe and tend to be well tolerated by most people who consume them, but, in people with a serious illness involving the immune system, a doctor should be consulted first.
In addition, you should always consult with a medical or gynecological professional who can tell you which probiotic is the most appropriate according to the symptoms you want to alleviate. There are oral and vaginal probiotics; taking one or the other depends on the disorders you present. In vaginal microbiota imbalances, it is true that there is a tendency to give vaginal probiotics, but oral probiotics can also have a beneficial effect.
To be most effective, it is best to start taking them around the age of 45, before the first symptoms and discomfort occur. There is no danger in taking probiotics, they can even be taken for years. Try our probiotics colon drink.
