How To Boost Your Immune System With Probiotics

If you ever wonder how to keep your immune system strong, the answer may surprise you.

Since about 75% of your immune system lies in your gastrointestinal tract, you’ll succumb to illness last, if you focus on your gut first!

I’ll cover exactly what this means and guide you on the single easiest and most effective way to nourish your immune system.

Beneficial bacteria that you can get from food or a supplement are known as probiotics. They mix right in with the naturally occurring bacteria that are already in your gut.

Even when you’re in tip top health, your body is home to a mix of good and bad bacteria. The goal is for good bacteria to outnumber the bad. When harmful bacteria dominate, one of the first things to suffer is your immune system.

Probiotics line your digestive tract and create a barrier against pathogens (harmful bacteria). By regularly consuming probiotics, you build up your army of friendly bacteria and have a better chance of fighting infection and inflammation that triggers disease.

Probiotics also keep your immune system strong by helping you absorb nutrients from your food. When your body gets the nutrition it needs, you’re less likely to get sick!

But wait, the benefits of probiotics go even deeper….

When your body is provided with a continuous flow of probiotics, your health can skyrocket. Probiotics encourage wellness and ward off impending infections and viruses by:

1. Stimulating natural antibodies (proteins that attack toxins that make you sick)
2. Enhancing the activity of natural killer cells (a kind of immune cell)
3. Boosting T lymphocytes (another important type of immune cell)

There’s no doubt that probiotics protect your health – and the scientific evidence is growing.

The main reason why elderly folks have a higher risk of illness is due to the natural decline of immune cells with age. One study concluded that after just three weeks of probiotics, natural killer cell activity increased in the elderly.

Children certainly benefit from probiotics too. Scientists studied the effect of probiotics on infants who had rotavirus, a contagious condition in which the stomach and intestines become really inflamed. 

Compared to the group of babies who did not take any probiotics, the probiotic group had reduced symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea and fever duration.

You can read the full study here.

The benefits of probiotics in children’s health were further examined in a 2014 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

It was observed that children (aged 3 to 5) who were given vitamin C along with the probiotic strains, lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, showed a 33 percent reduction in upper respiratory infections. This resulted in a 30% reduction in missed school days.

Wow, this is knowledge every parent should know!

Other trials involving both children and adults measured the intensity and duration of respiratory infections of those who supplemented probiotics compared to a placebo.

The conclusions were strikingly similar and consistent. The data showed that probiotic supplementation:

• Decreased the intensity and duration of respiratory infections by 30 percent.
• Resulted in less doctor visits
• Reduced the use of:

• OTC/RX medications
• Antibiotics
• Nasal spray
• Painkillers

Since probiotics have such a positive impact on gut health, they have the ability to influence other conditions, including:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Eczema
• Dental problems
• Mental health disorders (via the gut brain connection)
• Blood pressure/cholesterol imbalances (probiotics can reduce heart disease risk!)

I highly recommend that you regularly eat foods that naturally contain probiotics.

Probiotic rich foods typically contain a low variety of bacteria strains. This means that they are great at helping maintain an already healthy gut, but are really not enough to get the good bacteria dominating.

So, if you have poor gut health, or if your immune system needs a big boost, taking a probiotic supplement is your best bet.

To wrap up, here are the highlights on how probiotics support your health:

1. Overall reduced inflammation (and therefore disease)
2. Promote natural antibodies
3. Boost immune cells
4. Reduced viral symptoms
5. Improved skin, heart, dental and mental health.

Remember, probiotics are appropriate and beneficial for all ages!

Including a probiotic supplement in your daily routine is one of the easiest ways to help your body function properly. Of course, it’s not the only way – there are other nutrients and actions that will help you dodge the funk or get back on your feet quick. Check out my other immune boosting tips here.

Choosing a probiotic doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I’ve got you covered here in my video that tells you exactly what to look for on the label.

Now that you know the secret to a strong immune system, share this information so those around you stay healthy too!