b'Chapter ThreeProbiotics: Beyond Gut Benefits B ecause you are more bacteria than human, it should come as no surprise that probiotics benefit more than just digestive health. Studies show that these beneficial bacteria can also have head-to-toe effects. Heres just a sampling of what scientists know so far:ALLERGIES:Emerging evidence suggests that probiotics may help prevent and even treat seasonal allergies such as hay fever and environmental allergies to things like dust mites. Researchers believe that probiotics can help allergy sufferers by modulating the immune system and limiting the release of inflammatory chemicals involved in the allergic response. Most of the research on probiotics for allergies has been done on LactobacillusBifidobacteriumand, showing that these probiotics can help with the prevention and reduction of allergy symptoms.BRAIN HEALTH:Research shows that the gut and brain are connected via a partnership called the gut-brain axis. This suggests that the microbiota in the gut can impact what happens in the brain. Onefound that Alzheimers patients clinical trial published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neurosciencewho were given supplemental probiotics for 12 weeks scored better on tests measuring cognitive function and the ability to complete daily activities compared with those who took a placebo. Another study in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that people who took a daily dose of a multi-strain probiotic for six weeks experienced better mood and improved sleep.HEART HEALTH:According to the American Heart Association, probiotics may help maintain healthy blood pressure, especially in those already diagnosed with hypertension. Probiotics may also help keep cholesterol in check. Some studies show that one probiotic specificallyL. reuterican support a healthy balance between good and bad cholesterol by breaking up bile salts. But these benefits may , probiotics just be the tip of the iceberg. According to findings in the journal Heart Lung and Circulationreduce the inflammation and oxidative stress that contribute to cardiovascular disease. This may be why probiotics have also been shown to enhance endothelial function and help protect against blood clots. IMMUNITY:Behind digestion, immunity is the second most cited reason people take probiotics. This makes sense since about 70 percent of the bodys total number of immune cells reside in the gut. One analysis of 20 published trials concluded that Lactobacillus Bifidobacterium and probiotics can significantly cut the duration and severity of cold symptoms and lead to fewer missed work or school days. Another review of 27 clinical trials found that supplementing with probiotics helped protect against respiratory tract infections thanks to their antiviral and immune-modulating capabilities. THE G O OD GUT11'