c. All of the above
Explanation:
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live in the intestine and improve the overall health of the body, bringing benefits such as facilitating digestion and absorption of nutrients, and strengthening the immune system.
When the intestinal flora is not in equilibrium, which usually occurs after the use of antibiotics or when you do not have a healthy and balanced diet, the intestine ends up being populated by bad bacteria, which do not help the immune system and leave the body susceptible to diseases.
The main benefits of probiotics are:
- Combat and prevent intestinal diseases such as colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease and intestinal inflammation;
- Fight diseases such as cancer, candidiasis, hemorrhoids and urinary tract infection.
- Improve digestion and fight acidity;
- Fight constipation and diarrhea, regulating intestinal transit;
- Increase the absorption of nutrients, such as vitamin B, calcium and iron;
- Strengthen the immune system, by increasing the production of defense cells called macrophages;
- Prevent the proliferation of bad bacteria in the intestine;
- Help digest lactose, especially in people with lactose intolerance;
- Prevent problems such as obesity, high cholesterol and hypertension;
- Prevent food allergies and intolerances.
A healthy intestinal flora rich in probiotics begins to form from birth, especially when the baby is born by normal delivery and when it is exclusively breastfed during the beginning of life.
There are two main ways of ingesting probiotics: the first is done by increasing the consumption of foods with natural probiotics, such as yogurt or kefir, for example, and the other is through the use of probiotic supplements.
