Probiotics help to lose weight and even control anxiety, you know? – GOOD SHAPE

Live and fighting bacteria (they resist the digestion process and reach the intestine intact), which are only good for our health. So are probiotics, which, you know, help fight enemy microorganisms, those related to excessive gas production, constipation and poor absorption of nutrients. The allied army does even more: “Associated with a healthy diet, rich in fiber and adequate in water, it helps in the production of protective cells and, with that, strengthens our defenses”, says nutrologist Ana Luiza Vilela, from São Paulo . This troop, present mainly in yogurt, fermented milk and some cheeses, also reduces the risk of obesity and, according to current scientific studies, accelerates skin healing, in addition to preventing emotional illnesses, such as anxiety. Find out here how it comes into play to deliver these and other benefits.

relax baby

Anxious? Cash in on probiotics! Regular consumption of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus bacteria, the most common species in fermented foods, was associated with a reduction in episodes of negative emotions. In one of the most current studies on the subject, published in the American scientific journal Psychiatry Research, participants with unstable personalities were less tense after following a diet rich in these microorganisms. This reveals that the microbiota (current name for the intestinal flora) participates in the communication between the intestine and the central nervous system. When there is some kind of problem in this dialogue, the information transmitted to the brain by serotonin (95% of this well-being neurotransmitter is produced in the intestine, remember?) arrives in a distorted way. The symptoms are impatience and restlessness.

Free mouth

You can retire the peppermint candy! Probiotics reduce bad breath, in addition to reducing the incidence of caries and gingivitis, according to a study by the International University of Catalonia, Spain, published in the English journal Archives of Oral Biology. The bacteria also scare away the fungus Candida albicans, which causes oral candidiasis – the famous thrush.

bye-bye chubby girls

Is your concern about the scale? Good pets reduce inflammatory processes in fat cells, which favors weight loss. The gasseri type (lacbobacillus isolated from breast milk) has shown promise especially in reducing visceral fat. “More studies are still needed with this probiotic. However, it is known that it improves the intestinal environment and reduces the fat between the organs”, explains gastroenterologist Thiago Szelgo, from São Paulo.

protected beauty

You can feel the positive effects of good microorganisms on your skin. They create a barrier against inflammatory agents that favor the appearance of acne and rosacea (redness on the face, especially on the cheeks). “Probiotics are even capable of improving skin hydration and elasticity, according to a Japanese study from 2014. With this, these allied bacteria prevent wrinkles and sagging”, comments dermatologist Isabela Buanain, from São Paulo. At the last International Congress on Functional Nutrition, nutritionist Eliane Tagliari, from Curitiba, specialized in aesthetic nutrition, highlighted other beneficial actions on the skin revealed in recent scientific studies: UV, probiotics are essential for good skin healing”. This is a great tip for anyone who is scheduled for surgery.

Dribbling on allergies

The probiotic L. casei (found in some fermented milks) has been linked to delaying allergic symptoms such as sinusitis. But any species, when in good numbers, defends the organism from different types of infection, in addition to keeping the cold at bay. That’s because they dispute the territory with allergenic agents and almost always win the battle. “The good bacteria also expel toxins and increase the absorption of vitamins and minerals”, says nutrologist Ana Luiza.

pee without pain
Away from Candida albicans, you get rid of another nuisance, vaginal candidiasis. “The microorganisms that cause urinary infections and vaginosis (which occurs when there is an imbalance in the vaginal flora) also lose space. This is thanks to the immunity promoted by probiotics”, says gynecologist Heloisa Brudniewski, from São Paulo.

GO A CAPSULE?

Stress, excess sugar, fats and medications weaken the army of good bacteria in the gut. Therefore, depending on your diet and lifestyle, probiotics in the form of supplements (available in capsules and powder) are very welcome. But avoid buying this type of product without guidance from a doctor or nutritionist. “In addition to the fact that there are many species capable of protecting the intestine, the appropriate concentration is specific for each patient”, advises nutritionist Fernanda Shumaker, from São Paulo. Detail: as probiotic bacteria do not survive for a long time in our body, they must be consumed frequently – either in the form of a supplement or food.