According to WebMD, 40% of seniors have at least one digestive issue each year. They can make life a drag and cause use to lose the motivation to get out and enjoy life. However, the good news is that there are ways of managing digestive disorders and even resolving them in some cases.
A digestive probiotic can form part of the solution. These small pills or drinks are easy to take – but they could revolutionize your gut health. But what exactly is a probiotic, and why are they good for managing digestive health naturally?
Join us as we explore the answer together.
Probiotics Benefits for Digestion
First, let’s define probiotics.
Probiotics are live microorganisms, including bacteria and yeast, that are beneficial for our health. We need them to support the good bacteria that live in our gut. This “world” of bacteria is known as our gut microbiome.
Over recent years, our understanding of the importance of a healthy gut microbiome to our overall health has increased. We now know that a healthy gut can:
- Help us have a healthy immune system and fight diseases
- Digest foods properly, extracting needed vitamins and other nutrients from what we eat
- Reduce our risk of obesity and certain diseases
Digestive disorders and probiotics are closely linked. We can do many things to improve our gut microbiome and reduce the pain and discomfort of digestive issues. This includes:
- Eating a varied diet with a wide range of fruits and vegetables
- Enjoying fermented foods, like kombucha, yogurt, kefir, pickles, and kimchi
- Avoiding overuse of antibiotics
If those foods don’t appeal to you, don’t worry. You can also take a digestive probiotic supplement. These pills are designed to provide a wide range of probiotic bacteria and yeasts supporting good gut health.
Talk to your healthcare provider about whether a digestive probiotic supplement is right for you. If you get the go-ahead to take one, your health could benefit in several ways.
Common Digestive Challenges for Seniors
As we age, our digestive systems may not function quite as they used to. Changes in lifestyle and diet can also cause unwanted issues. The following conditions are common among seniors and can cause serious discomfort and embarrassment.
Constipation
We may associate constipation with being unable to pass stools naturally. However, infrequent bowel movements and stools that are difficult to pass could also be signs you are constipated. Everyone’s body is different, so there is no set ideal number of bowel movements each day or week.
However, if you feel bunged up, feel you haven’t emptied your bowels fully, or are opening your bowels less than three times a week, it’s good to look at some treatment options.
Seniors may be more prone to constipation due to medications, inactivity, and not eating enough fiber. Medical conditions, such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, and Parkinson’s disease, can also make it harder to maintain a regular bathroom routine.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)is an uncomfortable condition that causes abdominal pain and changes to your bowel habits. This could include constipation, diarrhea, or a combination of the two. Interestingly, it’s more common in younger adults than seniors.
However, this does not mean that seniors are immune to IBS. Changes to your diet and including a digestive probiotic could help reduce the symptoms.
Digestive Problems Due to Inactivity
There are many reasons why we slow down as we get older. Of course, our bodies may not cooperate like they did in the past. Painful joints can make it hard to get the motivation to get out and exercise.
Lack of activity can weaken our muscles and affect our digestion. It may become sluggish due to lack of stimulation and constipation is a big risk.
However, improving gut health with probiotics is possible. Healthline reported that probiotics may even relieve constipation in certain circumstances.
Another key to overcoming inactivity is where we live. When we’re surrounded by friends who encourage us to get moving, we’re more likely to enjoy being active. This is one of the key advantages of a senior living community.
How Probiotics Can Help Seniors
Older adults may gain a lot from supplementing with a digestive probiotic, or including fermented foods in their diet. Here are four key benefits you could enjoy.
1. Improve Constipation
A probiotic supplement could help you say goodbye to irregular bowel movements. Probiotics work by fermenting the indigestible fiber, or prebiotics, in your gut. This then improves intestinal motility – ie, it gets things moving!
Probiotics may also soften stools and make it easier to pass them. This could help to alleviate the painful symptoms many people experience due to recurring constipation.
2. Reduce IBS Symptoms
An imbalance in gut bacteria may trigger some people’s IBS. This can cause painful gas, stomach pain, and bloating, which makes life challenging. Taking a digestive probiotic supplement or eating foods rich in probiotics could begin to restore the right balance in the gut microbiome.
One study gave 150 IBS sufferers a digestive probiotic supplement for 60 days. The results? The participants reported improved stool consistency and better regularity of bowel movements.
IBS can have different triggers, and probiotics may not be the solution for everyone. But talk to your doctor about whether you should begin introducing more of them into your diet.
3. Manage Diarrhea
Diarrhea can have many causes, but it is less likely to happen if you have a well-balanced gut microbiome. One study highlighted the probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii as the most effective at reducing the duration and risk of diarrhea lasting more than two days.
Stay Happy and Healthy at SummerHouse Alexandria
Taking a digestive probiotic is a great way of managing digestive health naturally. But if you’re finding preparing your own meals every day increasingly difficult, SummerHouse Alexandria assisted living community is here to help.
We provide restaurant-style dining where you can enjoy freshly prepared, healthy meals each day. Resident accommodation is also equipped with kitchenettes, so you can prepare a home-cooked meal any time you like. Along with probiotic supplements for gut health, these nutritious eating options can keep your tummy happy.
Why not come and see what life at SummerHouse Alexandria is like? Schedule a free tour today!
