The coronavirus pandemic might have spared some young adults, but it’s been absolutely brutal to the children and elderly of our society. The reason behind this is the weak immune system. Thymus is an organ in our body that is responsible for the maturation of T-lymphocytes (immune system cells). As we age, our thymus decreases in size leading to a weaker immune system.
The pandemic has taken a toll over the elderly of our society because they already suffer from a variety of medical conditions, depression, and loneliness. These medical conditions render them more prone to infections. But the good news is, that immunity can be improved. A well-balanced diet can be your secret treasure trove to lead a long and healthy life. Immunity improvisation through diet is indubitably practical because, it eliminates the need of antibiotics. One of the ways to lead a healthier life is to incorporate probiotics to your diet.
All of us usually associate bacteria with disease causing germs, but not all bacteria are bad cops. Some of them are good cops which live in your intestine, and help in the functioning of your body. Probiotics are a form of live bacteria and yeast which help improve your intestinal microbiome leading to a better gut health. They’re naturally present in food items such as curd, sour bread, cheese etc. But natural probiotics cannot be digested by many people, such as those of us who are suffering from lactose intolerance. That’s where the probiotic supplements come into play! Want to know how probiotics will help you fight this pandemic? Then read on.
Can Probiotics Help Improve Immunity?
There are certain essential micronutrients which help improve our immune system health. This is known as ‘micronutrient nutrition.’ Minerals such as magnesium, manganese, zinc, iron and vitamins such as A, D, E, C and K are indispensable for immune system functioning. Probiotics help increase the number of good microbes in your gut, which leaves less space for the bad bacteria to grow and cause harm. By consuming premium quality probiotics, you can create your own ‘microbe army’ to ward off infections. 70-80% of your immune cells reside in your gut. So if your gut ain’t healthy, ain’t your body gonna be healthy!
How to Choose the Perfect Probiotic?
To improve your immune system, it is important to pick the right kind of probiotics according to your age. Choosing the perfect probiotic can be a cumbersome task. Hence, we’ve got for the perfect selection for your age, and hopefully this will make your life a tad bit easier.
Infants:
When a baby is growing in a mother’s womb, and when it is born via a normal delivery, the baby is exposed to some probiotics which help it to stay healthy. Apart from this, infants get their daily dose of healthy bacteria and immunoglobulins via breast feeding. If a baby is not exposed to these early probiotics, then it may suffer from some infections later on. When choosing a supplement for your baby try to look for the ones which contains the bacteria B. infantis. This bacteria helps the baby’s gut to break down the breast milk and helps improve digestion. Thereby, improving immunity. This bacterial probiotic can also be consumed by pregnant women to boost their immune system too.
Children:
Children below 10 years of age are particularly susceptible to infections. Your children face countless germs when they go out to play with their friends. Mums all over the world are always looking for solutions to boost their child’s immunity. When buying probiotics for children, go for the ones which are 100% natural, and contain bacteria such as Lactobacillus rhamnosus and BC30. These bacteria insulate your child from diarrhea, acid reflux and constipation.
Adults:
Our immune system is the strongest when we turn into adults. But that doesn’t mean that we are immune to infections. Our lifestyle choices render us prone to a lot of infections and diseases. Apart from that, we constantly live under a lot of stress, be it work related or anything else. Hence, even as an adult it is important to take your daily dose of probiotics to keep infections at bay. When buying a one, do check if it contains the following bacterium:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus bulgaris
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Lactobacillus gasseri
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Enterococum faecius
- Bifidobacterium longus
- Sacchharomyces boulardii
Elderly:
As we age, our immune system weakens and we become more susceptible to infections and various other diseases. Probiotics help to increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut, and ultimately boost your immune system. At the age of 55-50 years, levels of good bacteria such as Bifidobacterium in your gut plummets by approximately 1000-folds. This leads to an imbalance in the numbers of good and bad bacteria, which ultimately causes many stomach and intestinal disorders. Therefore, older adults must opt for probiotics which contain high amounts of Bifidobacterium stains.
Supporting your body’s good intestinal bacteria, can help improve digestion, immunity and enhance overall quality of life. Research has amount that probiotics can be taken by individuals of all ages, and you must include them slowly in your diet. A healthier lifestyle is necessary now more than ever when the country is reeling with the coronavirus pandemic. So, let your gut be healthy and let the probiotics be your family’s superhero!
