Probiotics are living bacteria and yeast microorganisms that offer incredible health benefits for people — especially regarding digestive and gut health. Bacteria naturally live in your intestines. They aid in digestion and produce vitamins, and the “good” bacteria in probiotics help keep bad bacteria at bay. Let’s look into bariatric probiotics, health, and wellbeing.
Benefits of probiotics
There is a lot of research out there right now about the many benefits of probiotics. They have been found to help prevent or treat many different medical conditions including:
- Eczema
- Tooth decay
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal infections
- Digestive disorders (e.g., Crohn’s disease, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome)
- Diarrhea and constipation
When it comes to weight loss surgery, learning how to balance your diet, in addition to the good and bad bacteria that are in your gut is important.
Sometimes, the balance between these bacteria can change after surgery, especially if you are on antibiotics after your procedure.
Antibiotics will eliminate the bad bacteria that cause infection, but unfortunately, it also wipes out the good bacteria, too.
Recently, a Stanford University School of Medicine study showed that patients who took a probiotic supplement after their surgery lost more weight than those that didn’t. Not to mention, the group that took probiotics had less bacterial overgrowth when compared to the other group and had higher levels of vitamin B12.
There are a variety of different probiotic options to choose from that are readily available over the counter. They come in pills, powders, liquid, and more. At WeightWise, we recommend not consuming gummies to ensure adequate absorption and avoid unnecessary sugar.
Probiotics are also found naturally in certain foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, and fermented foods like sauerkraut.
However, it is very important to talk to your dietitian about your diet plan, as well as your surgeon about any supplements you take — including probiotics — before you start them. Your medical team knows your medical history and will advise what is safe to take and what is not after bariatric surgery.
If you are considering weight loss surgery, contact our team at WeightWise today to learn if you’re a candidate! We’re standing by to help you start your weight loss journey and to answer any questions about bariatric probiotics.