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Probiotics and Belly Fat: What Science Reveals

Fruits and vegetables lay on the bag
Probiotics are live microorganisms or bacteria that occur naturally in the gut and have several health benefits. There are two ways to get more probitoics: either from supplements that you can buy over the counter or from, fermented foods like yogurt,kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, miso, tempeh, and kimchi. While it is proven that probiotics are important for our overall health, researchers are now trying to figure out whether our digestive health affects our weight too.

What science says about probiotics and weight loss

Many studies have found a connection between good gut bacteria and healthy weight, where usually obese patients tend to have more of the unhealthy gut bacteria, whereas thinner people have more of the good bacteria. However, it is still not certain if this bacteria occurs naturally in healthy people’s guts or if it is a result of their diet.

Other studies suggest that probiotics can reduce the number of calories that we absorb from food. They also affect hormones and proteins related to appetite and fat storage. Some strains of the Lactobacillus family have been shown to reduce weight and belly fat. However, it’s important to note that some probiotics can make you gain weight instead of losing it, based on other studies.

Focus on good nutrition

While nutritionists agree that taking probiotic supplements won’t hurt your weight loss process, it shouldn’t be the main area of focus because it is not a magic pill that makes you lose weight miraculously. 
  • Make sure you follow a proper diet plan based on real food to lose weight and improve the health of your gut. 
  • Eat at least one serving of oats a day as they are loaded with soluble fiber and help improve your bowel movement
  • Load up on fruits and vegetables, at least 5 servings per day. 
  • Make sure to eat one serving of yogurt daily to get a good dose of probiotics. 

In conclusion, although evidence is still needed to prove that probiotics have a direct effect on weight loss, there are many other benefits to taking probiotic supplements besides weight loss. They can improve digestive health and cardiovascular risk factors, reduce inflammation, and even help fight depression and anxiety.  Remember, there is no recommended daily intake of probiotics, this is why we recommend adding as many fermented foods as you can to your daily diet.

If you're looking for a personalized diet plan, I can help you add probiotics to your diet., I invite you to consult with me, I’m Christelle Bedrossian, your trusted dietician and nutrition consultant in Dubai

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