Probiotics play an important role in the health of the body and mind.
Most people who are familiar with probiotics understand their role in maintaining and improving gut health, but there are wider benefits of taking a probiotic – and supporting the immune system is a notable advantage of choosing a high-quality daily probiotic.
The Immune System
The immune system is your body’s defence mechanism against harmful invaders – the microscopic germs, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins (which are chemicals generated by microbes) that can cause us to get sick. The immune system is comprised of organs, cells and proteins that protect and defend the body’s own cells.
The immune system keeps a record of every “foreign” microbe it has ever encountered, enabling it to recognise and quickly destroy these if they enter the body again. (This is the basis of how immunisation works).
The immune system is comprised of:
- White blood cells (B- and T-lymphocytes) – these launch the immune attack
- Antibodies – recognise and mark the microbes as being foreign to the body
- Proteins (complement system) – support the antibodies
- Lymphatic system – a complex of white blood cells, lymph nodes/glands, and lymph vessels. It plays an array of roles throughout the body, including managing fluid levels, reacting to bacteria, dealing with disease-causing cell products, dealing with cancer cells, and absorbing dietary fats.
- Spleen – filters blood, creates antibodies and lymphocytes, removes microbes, and destroys damaged or old red blood cells.
- Bone marrow – produces red and white blood cells and platelets (needed for clotting)
- Tonsils and adenoids – located n the nasal passages and throat
- Peyer’s patches – lymphoid tissue in the small intestine
- Thymus – gland in the chest that filters blood and produces T-lymphocytes
The body’s other immune defences include the skin, the lungs, the digestive tract, and responses like fever, which kills microbes and triggers repair processes.
An Overwhelmed Immune System…
If the immune system becomes overwhelmed, abnormalities may occur and these can result in allergies, sensitivities, immunodeficiencies, and autoimmune disorders. These include but are not limited to:
- Food, medication, and insect-sting allergies
- Hay fever
- Sinus issues
- Asthma
- Hives
- Dermatitis
- Eczema
- Life-threatening anaphylaxis
- Type 1 diabetes
- Autoimmune thyroid disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Systemic vasculitis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Inherited immunodeficiency disorders
Furthermore, the development of some conditions, including some cancers, is the result of the failure of the immune system to adequately recognise and effectively destroy abnormal cells at their earliest stage.
How Do Probiotics Help?
A strong, fully functional immune system is the basis of ongoing physical and psychological health throughout all stages of life. So too is having a healthy microbiome.
The majority of the immune system is located in the gut – as such, the gut is the first line of defence against harmful microbes, and the right probiotics can help by supporting and strengthening the gut wall’s immune cells.
Womens probiotic can help in an array of ways – assisting in digestion, easing colitis and diarrhoea, preventing periodontal disease, and supporting immune function by keeping the gut healthy and in balance.
More specifically, the use of the right probiotics can help maintain the health and optimal functioning of the Peyer’s patches, which are masses of lymphoid follicles located in the small intestine’s mucous membrane lining. Similar to the tissue of the tonsils and the appendix, they monitor and analyse the populations of intestinal bacteria and help prevent pathogenic bacteria growth in the intestines.
Choosing a Probiotic for Immunity
It’s important to select the right probiotic to meet your needs and deliver the greatest benefit for your health and well-being.
Which probiotics are best for the immune system? Scientific research has identified the benefits to the immune system of supplementing with probiotic strains including Lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus Paracasei.
Choose a product from a reputable, industry-renowned manufacturer and supplier and developed with the PRO guarantee, per the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP).
You need to be aware of whether the probiotic product you choose requires refrigeration or not, and ensure that the beneficial bacteria are protected, alive, and strong. Avoid products with added artificial flavours, preservatives, or colours.
For immune support, choose a probiotic specified for this purpose to ensure the best fit for beneficial bacteria and a strong, fully-functional immune system.