Over the last several years, probiotics have become a buzzword in the health and wellness community. Health experts have been aware of the benefits of probiotics for years but only recently did the information make it to the mainstream public. If you don’t already know about probiotics, now is the time to embrace them – especially with the threat of COVID-19 lurking in everyday life. Discover how probiotics positively benefit your overall health and immune system while offering potential protection from viruses and more.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are microorganisms living in the gut. They make up the gut flora environment present in the stomach and intestines and act as a primary line of defense against disease and illness. These microorganisms are bacteria that naturally thrive in the body. The environment in the gut is a delicate balance of several microorganisms, and gut flora is called a microbiome. The microbiome is like an ecosystem, and each contributor is called a microbe. In this microbiome exists protozoa, fungi, viruses, yeast, and bacteria.
Many people have issues keeping healthy levels of microorganisms in place. In these instances, you can replenish your gut with probiotic foods and supplements. There are many options on the market today that help individuals control their gut health and prevent illness.

How Do Probiotics Work?
Probiotics enrich your gut flora and reinforce a healthy microbiome. When viruses and other harmful microorganisms enter the stomach, the good bacteria fight them off to help keep your immune system balanced. This mechanism also helps provide support against COVID-19. In fighting illness, these probiotics work to improve the mucus barrier in the gut and prevent bacteria from adhering to intestinal tissues.
These good pathogenic bacteria also work to prevent pneumonia, a primary cause of severe illness even and death. While probiotics aren’t a single solution preventative against catching COVID-19, they work to reduce the severity of the virus and boost your immune defenses to decrease the risk of infection. The two most common genera of probiotics are bifidobacteria and lactobacillus. Supplements provide these types and species, including lactic, breve, animalis, longum, acidophilus, and reuteri.
Taking Probiotics as a Tool for Fighting COVID-19
It’s necessary to take every measure to stay healthy and reduce the chances of acquiring and spreading diseases and viruses. One of the best strategies for accomplishing this is to supplement the body with essential nutrients and probiotics daily. If you’re not already taking a high-strain probiotic daily, now is the time to find a quality brand and make it part of your daily routine. When choosing your supplement.
Most top-quality brands include billions of probiotics in each dose. You may want to consider one with billions of CFUs (or live cultures) to get started. CFU stands for colony forming units and is the number of live bacteria (or microorganisms) in your probiotic formula. Usually, the strains greater variety of the better.
Supporting Respiratory Health
It is important to note that the respiratory and digestive tract share bacteria. Dysfunction in one may cause problems in the other. Evidence now shows that as probiotics work in the digestive tracts they are also able to regulate the immune response of the respiratory system.