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How probiotics can protect you during flu season
Flu season is just around the corner and you know what that means, right? Do what you’ve got to do to avoid it!
Soon just about everyone around you is going to be coughing, sneezing and spreading those virulent germs.
Not at my house — if I can help it! We’ve already amped up immune-boosting efforts. In other words, it’s a full-on flu-prep at my house.
That means no matter how busy we are, everyone in my household makes time to take some essential immune-boosting supplements — including vitamins D and C, and krill oil — in addition to beefing-up our meals with food sources of these important flu-fighters, too.
And, we also take probiotics.
That’s because probiotics are flora that make up your gut microbiome. By now you may have heard about the large quantity of research over recent years that’s shown your gut is practically “central headquarters” for your immune system.
Basically, if your gut microbiome isn’t healthy, your immune system can’t do its job and keep you well. But not everyone thinks probiotics are that important. Does that sound like you?
Well, if you’ve ever wondered whether you were throwing your money away on probiotics or haven’t even bought into them yet, I have some research that just mind help you get on board
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Saves money and sick days, too
A brand-new study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology looked at that exact issue. The researchers estimated the effect of probiotic use when it comes to flu-like illnesses to see if they’re worth it or not.
“We wanted to assess how much the use of probiotics in the management of common acute RTIs (respiratory tract infections) could contribute to savings in healthcare costs in the U.S.,” said Daniel Tancredi, co-author on the study, an associate professor at the Department of Pediatrics and a researcher at the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research at UC Davis.
The RTIs they investigated ranged from mild colds to the more serious flu itself.
And, the systematic review found that probiotic use was associated with not only fewer flu-like illnesses, but also shorter duration of sickness, fewer meds (specifically antibiotic courses) and fewer days absent from work.
In fact, researchers deduced that general probiotic use in the U.S. could save insurance companies and the economy around $1.4 billion in medical bills and lost productivity every year.
“Although flu-like illnesses usually resolve on their own after one or two weeks, there is great benefit in reducing ILI incidence and duration,” said Irene Lenoir-Wijnkoop, first author of the study and senior scientist in public health nutrition at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. “Less sickness means reduced suffering and significant cost savings from health care expenses and sick absences.”
That’s great news for them, but I’m more excited about anything that can personally help me shorten the length of a nasty virus, get away with less medication and not use up all my sick leave and vacation time feeling miserable!
It’s easy to get on board the probiotic train. Just take a quality probiotic supplement, eat more fermented foods, like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, and tempeh. Make sure you get plenty of fiber in your diet too. Fiber supplies prebiotics that help keep you probiotic bacteria happy.
Follow this advice and you can worry a little less when that person in line next to you at the grocery store lets out a big sneeze. You’ll have probiotic protection!
Sources:
Probiotic use can lead to major economic and health savings related to flu-like illnesses — EurekAlert!
By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst
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