What are lactic ferments?

When we talk about lactic ferments , or probiotics , we are referring to harmless bacteria for our body which, for this very reason, are also called good bacteria.

Many of us are aware of the fact that the stomach barrier is rather acidic, however lactic ferments are able to overcome it without being damaged, thus reaching our intestines and doing their job, which is to support the intestinal bacterial flora.

Sometimes it can happen that the bacterial flora of our intestine has suffered a decompensation and, usually, this bacterial balance can be altered by factors such as those mentioned below:

• The fact of taking some medicines in particular;
• The eating habits of the individual;
• The fact that you have faced particularly stressful situations;
• The presence of specific conditions, even of a pathological nature.

Intuitively, to enjoy good health and for our immune system to function at its best, the balance of intestinal bacterial flora must remain constant.

To fully understand the importance of maintaining this balance, just think of what happens when our body is attacked by a virus or other pathogens that cause uncomfortable consequences.

Therefore, lactic ferments, or probiotics, are used precisely to favor the maintenance of this balance and, consequently, to favor our general well-being.

What are lactic ferments used for and when are they taken?

Therefore, as we mentioned in the first paragraph, lactic ferments , or probiotics, have the purpose of favoring the correct balance between the good bacteria found in the intestine and, if this balance is missing, they also allow us to restore it.

These essential substances for our health can be taken in different ways, first of all it certainly concerns our diet as we can find probiotics in different foods.

However, excellent supplements based on lactic ferments have been formulated , excellent for reintegrating them into the body, especially in certain circumstances, such as the ones we show you in the list below:

• They are often recommended to prevent the onset of urinary tract infections, such as candida or cystitis;
• They are useful if we are affected by certain pathologies, such as Chron’s disease;
• They have proven effective in solving very specific intestinal problems, such as constipation or diarrhea which are often the result of a wrong diet or a particularly stressful lifestyle;
• In the presence of irritable bowel syndrome.

However, even in the absence of these conditions, lactic ferments are useful for our body as, as we have said, they promote the general state of health, especially as regards our immune system.

But what exactly are the lactic ferments that are good for our body? This is exactly what we are going to deal with in the next paragraph, to then go on to deal with the central topic of our article, i.e. whether a pregnant woman can take them or not.

What are the most used lactic ferments?

Often the doctor may deem it necessary to advise us to take multipurpose supplements based on lactic ferments , i.e. products that do not contain just one type of probiotic, but contain several.

In fact, it is important to know which are the lactic ferments that we can take through food supplements, and not only, especially as regards their function.

Among the main lactic ferments that our body needs we certainly remember the following:

• Lactobacillus a cidophilus , is widely used to control cholesterol levels and helps our body to assimilate the nutrients it generally takes with food, among these substances we remember above all those of group B. This good bacterium is also able to contrast some urinary tract infections, such as candida, but also vaginitis and some types of dermatitis;
• Lactobacillus casei has found wide use to restore the situation in the case of gastrointestinal disorders, especially the most common ones such as meteorism or diarrhea, even if these are the consequence of taking some medicines, especially antibiotics;
• Bifidobacterium bifidum , like the first probiotic we have mentioned, is perfect for helping the body assimilate some nutrients, including group B vitamins, but also calcium, an essential mineral for our bones, teeth and for so much more;
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus has proven to be particularly useful for the treatment of disorders affecting our skin, such as dermatitis, but also in the case of urinary tract infections, such as candida or cystitis. For this reason it is a real natural antibiotic;
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus directly favors the production of lactic acid inside the intestine, thus counteracting the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria that could be found inside. This probiotic is indicated for those suffering from problems such as atopic dermatitis or enterocolitis.

As you can see, each type of lactic ferment has its own specific function which improves our state of health, especially as regards our intestinal functions and our immune system.

So let’s go and see how these substances work in the case of a pregnant woman and , above all, whether future mothers can take them or not.

Can lactic ferments be taken during pregnancy or not?

We all know that pregnancy is an important period for a woman, accompanied by many worries, often and willingly even useless, but the precaution, in these cases, is never too much as not only the health of the pregnant woman is at stake, but also that of the baby she carries in her womb.

The physique of a pregnant woman is constantly changing, consequently her needs also change, especially as regards nutrition, her appetite which can disappear or increase, depending on the specific case, and much more.

The intestinal system is no exception, it too undergoes changes and the intestine can have completely different rhythms than usual. In these cases, lactic ferments have proved to be one of the best remedies for re-establishing a normal situation.

So the answer to the question whether lactic ferments can be taken during pregnancy or not, is absolutely yes. In fact, there are many doctors and gynecologists who advise expectant mothers to take these products, so as to guarantee the following benefits:

• to prevent the onset of urinary tract infections, such as cystitis, or candida or vaginitis;
• to strengthen the immune system;
• to promote correct purification of the body, improving the absorption of nutrients;
• to maintain the correct balance of the intestinal microflora.

What exactly is the function of lactic ferments during pregnancy and how should they be taken?

The lactic ferments that can be taken during pregnancy are mostly the same as those we mentioned a few paragraphs above, however they perform slightly different functions, especially as regards the health of the fetus that the woman carries.

In the case of a pregnancy, in fact, the lactic ferments with their respective main functions are as follows:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus promotes natural digestion as it helps the body produce lactic acid and the enzyme lactase, in this way the probiotic helps the body to regularly assimilate all the nutrients it needs;
• Lactobacillus casei Shirota is essential to promote the correct functioning of the immune system in the intestine. In fact it helps in the case of problems such as diarrhea or constipation, it disinflames the colon and eliminates digestive catabolites. We also have Lactobacillus casei infantis, suitable for children, especially in the presence of constipation;
• Bifidobacterium bifidum is of fundamental importance for the health of the child but also for the expectant mother as it is a real support in the synthesis of group B vitamins and in the production of folic acid;
• Lactobacillus reuterii is perfect for resolving the situation in the case of bad viral dysentery, it has also proved useful for treating gaseous colic in the case of a newborn;
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG helps the body fight any infections that cause conditions such as atopic dermatitis or gastroenteritis, usually caused by Rotavirus.

As regards the choice of the product, the dosage and dosage , we advise you to contact your doctor or, even better, your gynecologist. In fact, only by knowing your situation, will he be able to recommend the product that is best for you.

On the market there is a varied range of products based on lactic ferments, specially made for pregnant women, among these we have yogurts with live lactic ferments or disposable vials for specific probiotics.

Read also:

• Best vaginal lactic ferments
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