Probiotics For Seniors

Your body contains lots of microorganisms naturally, including bacteria and yeasts. Most of the time, these are harmless and help maintain a healthy balance in your gut. When they get out of balance, which can happen for a lot of reasons, including taking antibiotics, your health can suffer. Taking probiotics puts the good bacteria and yeast back into your system to help restore a healthy environment in your gut.  

The exact microorganism balance your body needs differs from other people and varies with your age, health and many other factors. The best probiotics for seniors may have a different microorganism balance than formulas for children or young adults.  

Seniors have different nutritional and immune support needs than younger adults, and thus may benefit from a different blend of probiotics. One helpful gut bacteria, bifidobacteria, has been found to decline by up to 14% with age. One-a-day vegetable caplets are available with this specific bacillus included specifically for older adults who need it. Seniors who need more support can look for a multi-agent probiotic, many of which come with vitamin C and other nutrients for a well-rounded approach to digestive and immune health. 

Women's health needs are unique and can change over the course of their lifetimes, from the needs of teen girls to pregnant and nursing mothers to post-menopausal adults. Because of this variety of life stages, you may have to look around for the best probiotic for senior women. The best probiotics for adults typically include multiple good bacteria and come in a concentration high enough to survive passage through the stomach and into the intestines. If you're a senior woman with irritable bowel syndrome, for example, you might look for a high concentration of lactobacillus and the old standby, bifidobacteria. The best probiotics for IBS usually include these and are available as a daily-dose tablet or capsule.