Probiotics and PCOS

What are probiotics and how can they help with your PCOS?

The Food and Agricultural Organization defines probiotics as “live micro organisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host.”  In simple terms, probiotics are good bacteria found in dairy products such as yogurt.  The use of this type of bacteria improves lactose digestion in people who lack it and can have positive effects on the immune system as well.

For example, yeast infections are a common problem for women with PCOS because they flourish in high sugar environments.  Research shows that consuming yogurt would alleviate the symptoms because of the probiotics contained in natural live yogurt.

Moreover, studies have shown that three or more servings of dairy products a day can lower levels of obesity.  So, dairy products combined with probiotic bacteria can improve overall health and aid digestion.

Other conditions in which probiotics play a major role are:  diarrhoea, chronic use of antibiotics, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), lactose intolerance, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, and certain allergies, many of which are associated with having PCOS.

What effect do probiotics have in common with all of these conditions?

While antibiotics are often the medical solution to kill bad bacteria, it is true that they can kill off good bacteria as well.  Probiotics will replace the good bacteria that have been lost.  With reference to irritable bowl syndrome, probiotics have been known to provide some symptom relief from diarrhoea and bloating. Inflammatory bowel disease treated with high levels of probiotics has been shown to increase the period in which a person is free from the problem.

For those who cannot tolerate lactose, studies have concluded that consuming yogurt and unfermented dairy products aid in its digestion.  Probiotics have also been shown to reduce the systolic blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension.

Cancer causing agents can reside in the gastrointestinal tract and the use of probiotics can decrease the user’s exposure to cancer risks.

Also, studies to determine the effects of probiotics in dairy foods have shown a reduction in cases of high cholesterol.  However, research is still ongoing.

Probiotics and their utilization can help to treat acute intestinal infections, aid digestion, improve health, and possibly reduce the risk of disease — all good news for PCOS sufferers.  Studies are ongoing to determine the full benefits of probiotics, however, so far, there seems to be positive results.

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