Diarrhea is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements more than 3 times per day accompanied by a change in the consistency of the stool to become more liquid. Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial or viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract, food intolerance or allergies, food poisoning and others.
Probiotics are microorganisms that can provide a variety of health benefits, especially digestive health. Probiotics are usually mixed into fermented foods and drinks. Not only food and drink, probiotics are now available in supplement form. Diarrhea is a common health problem. Is yakult good for diarrhea?
One way to deal with diarrhea is to increase the consumption of fluids. Yakult drink can be consumed to help overcome the occurrence of diarrhea. So, is it safe to consume yakult when experiencing diarrhea? Here’s the explanation.
Read Also: Yakult Fat or Lose Weight?
What is Yakult?
Yakult is the main product produced by Yakult Honsha, a company founded in 1955 especially for the production of this product, but which later sold other types of fermented milk, such as light, for example. Yakult itself is nothing more than fermented milk with live bacteria.
These bacteria are called Lactobacillus paracasei, and they are probiotics, that is, they interact with the good bacteria in our gut, stimulate their development and thus provide better health for our intestinal flora. That’s why it’s so common to hear that Yakult is good for diarrhea, but is that true?
Is Yakult Good for Diarrhea?
Yakult is a drink that contains good bacteria. The good bacteria in yakult are expected to be able to fight and overcome bad bacteria in the digestive tract that cause diarrhea. The good bacteria contained in yakult can stimulate the growth of other good bacteria and prevent bad bacteria from sticking to the intestinal wall.
Types of Diarrhea that Respond to Probiotic Treatment
Diarrhea has several different causes, including bacterial or viral infections, certain medications and exposure to different microorganisms. Infectious diarrhea is diarrhea caused by an infectious agent, such as a bacteria or parasite. More than 20 different bacteria, viruses, and parasites are known to cause infectious diarrhea, including Rotavirus, E. coli, and Salmonella.
Probiotic drink content
The content of probiotic drinks are fungi or bacteria such as lactobacillus casei, lactobacillus rhamnosus gg, saccharomyces boulardii, and bifidobacterium lactis. Beverages that contain probiotics, namely yogurt, kombucha, fermented milk and wine.
Apart from consuming probiotic drinks to treat diarrhea , you are also advised to drink plenty of water, keep the food and cutlery used clean, get enough rest and sleep, wash your hands frequently, and consume nutritious foods. If complaints of diarrhea do not decrease accompanied by fever and weakness, then you should do a direct examination with a doctor to get the right treatment.
Infectious diarrhea is more common in developing countries and can cause death if left untreated. Treatment includes preventing dehydration and shortening the duration of diarrhea. Consumption of probiotics can reduce the duration of diarrhea and the frequency of stools in adults and children. There are hundreds of types of probiotics, launching from Healthline, the following types are the most effective types of probiotics for treating diarrhea:
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG). This probiotic is one of the strains most often added to food and drinks. Research shows that LGG is one of the most effective probiotics for treating diarrhea in both adults and children.
- Saccharomyces boulardii. S. boulardii is a yeast strain commonly used in probiotic supplements. This strain has been shown to treat antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infections.
- Bifidobacterium lactis. This probiotic has immune-boosting and gut-protecting qualities and can significantly reduce the severity and frequency of diarrhea in children.
- Lactobacillus casei. L. casei is another probiotic strain that has been studied for its anti-diarrhoeal benefits. Several studies have shown that this strain treats antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infections in both children and adults.
Use
What are the benefits of Yakult?
Yakult is a food supplement in the form of a probiotic drink. Yakult contains the good bacteria Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain, which usually also lives naturally in the human intestine.
There are more than 6.5 billion Lactobacillus casei in every Yakult bottle. Thus, Yakult can help increase the number of good bacteria in the digestive tract thereby inhibiting the development of bad bacteria that cause infection.
Lactobacillus casei is used to help prevent and treat digestive disorders, such as:
- diarrhea
- constipation (constipation)
- irritable bowel syndrome ( IBS )
- Intestinal inflammation (IBD)
- Helicobacter pylori infection
Apart from digestive disorders, the content of Lactobacillus casei in this drink is also believed to be beneficial for other health problems, such as:
- allergies, eczema, or dermatitis
- fever, flu, or breathing problems
- pimple
- ear infection (otitis media)
- mouth problems, such as plaque, gum infection ( gingivitis ), or mouth sores
- urinary tract or vaginal infection
Read Also: Yakult Holds Or Loosens The Bowel?
Can children consume Yakult during diarrhea?
Yes, some studies carried out with Yakult have shown that the live bacteria present in Yakult, the lactobacilli, are also capable of alleviating diarrhea in children, it is worth remembering that for this Yakult must be consumed in moderation.
In addition to being extremely tasty, Yakult manages to benefit our health in a way that most people don’t even know about. It is not at all uncommon to see people with intestinal problems, especially due to the lifestyle we currently adopt and the consumption of foods that are far from being healthy.
Yakult helps maintain intestinal flora and improves our quality of life, surprisingly becoming an ally of our health. However, it is important to remember that Yakult is not a drug, and there are other ways to consume probiotics.
Yakult is high in sugar, which makes it contraindicated for those with diabetes or those who limit their caloric intake for weight loss purposes. Yakult only supports physiological functions and helps to prevent and combat some problems. It is also contraindicated for people with low immunity, individuals recovering from surgeries, people suffering from chronic diseases, and it is also contraindicated for carriers of autoimmune disease, as there may be an excessive stimulus of the immune system.
Side effects
What are the possible side effects of Yakult?
These drinks generally do not have harmful side effects. However, for those of you who try this drink for the first time, you may experience some mild side effects, such as:
1. Problems in the digestive system
Generally, Yakult will not cause any side effects. However, there may be some people who experience gas buildup and a feeling of bloating in the stomach after drinking it.
In addition, probiotic drinks may also be at risk of causing constipation and excessive thirst.
In some people who have lactose intolerance, the possibility of this drink can also trigger digestive disorders.
2. Risk of infection
Although classified as safe, this drink also has the potential to increase the risk of infection if consumed in excess.
Some people may experience bacterial or fungal infections from consuming too many probiotics, especially people who suffer from immune system problems.
However, cases of this occurrence are very rare. According to Healthline, it is estimated that only one in 1 million people who take the probiotic Lactobacillus and develop an infection.
3. Allergies
It is possible that the bacteria in probiotic drinks have the potential to increase histamine production in the body’s digestive system. Histamine is a molecule that is produced by the body’s immune system when there is a threat, such as bacteria or viruses.
When histamine levels rise, blood vessels will dilate and cause swelling in several parts of the body. This condition also often triggers allergy symptoms , such as itching, watery eyes, and breathing problems.
Read Also: 8 Potential Benefits Of Garlic That You Should Take Advantage Of
Not everyone experiences side effects when consuming this probiotic drink. There may also be some side effects that have not been mentioned above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Prevention & Warning
What should be known before consuming Yakult?
Yakult comes in very small portions, which is only 65-80 ml, and has been like this for over 70 years. It is intended that this drink can be consumed immediately in one drink, to avoid cross-contamination.
Opening and closing the bottle can cause the probiotic bacteria in it to die because they are infected by various other harmful bacteria from the surrounding environment. This can cause the quality and effectiveness of Yakult to decrease. Therefore, Yakult is best drunk immediately and consumed.
Conclusion: Is Yakult Good For Diarrhea?
If taken in moderate amounts, Yakult is good for diarrhea, yes. The lactobacilli present in the fermented drink, through their probiotic action, manage to improve the health of the intestinal flora and through the improvement in health, Yakult can serve to alleviate diarrhea.
However, I repeat, Yakult is good for diarrhea in moderate amounts. Drinking too much Yakult can over-stimulate your bowel movements and therefore increase diarrhea and ultimately make the problem worse.
The probiotics present in Yakult attack the bacteria that cause diarrhea and deprive them of their nutrients, effectively exterminating them and consequently improving the immune system, as well as intestinal health itself, which allows us to say that Yakult is good for diarrhea.
FAQs
Is this drink safe for pregnant and lactating women?
Drinking Yakult during pregnancy and breastfeeding is probably safe. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) usually doesn’t know the risk category for pregnancy from this probiotic drink.
However, the Lactobacillus casei Shirota strain has received a GRAS ( Generally Recognized As Safe ) certificate from the FDA. This certificate means the highest level of security for any product.
Yakult has been inaugurated with the FOSHU ( Food for Specified Health Us ) label from the Consumer Affair Agency , Government of Japan. This label is given only to products whose safety and health benefits have been scientifically proven.
There is no adequate information about the safety of consuming probiotic drinks for pregnant and lactating women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before consuming these beverages.
Is it safe to consume probiotic drinks when having diarrhea?
You need to know that there is a group of bacteria that live in the digestive tract. The amount of bacteria in the gut can be affected by a variety of factors, including diet, stress and use of medications. When the intestinal bacterial composition becomes unbalanced and the amount of probiotics is compromised, it can cause negative health effects, including diarrhea.
Consumption of probiotic foods and drinks can help prevent certain types of diarrhea and help treat diarrhea by adding back the good bacteria in the intestine, so that the numbers are balanced. Not only that, probiotics are also able to fight pathogenic bacteria, boost the immune system and change the intestinal environment so that it is less conducive to pathogenic activity. So, you can be sure that probiotic drinks are good for consumption when you have diarrhea.
What is the difference between prebiotics and probiotics?
There are still many people who think that prebiotics and probiotics are one and the same thing. However, these two things have different meanings even though they are equally good in our body’s metabolism.
Probiotics are good bacteria that are good for the human digestive tract while prebiotics are high-fiber foods that function as food intake for good bacteria in the human body.
What are the benefits of prebiotics and probiotics for the body?
- Can help overcome digestive tract disorders such as constipation and diarrhea
- Relieves symptoms of intestinal inflammation
- Can prevent diarrhea caused by the use of antibiotics
- Maintaining the health of the body’s digestive system
- Can help with eczema
- Maintain the health of intimate organs and urinary tract
- Can prevent allergies and upper respiratory tract infections
- Maintain oral health
- Can lower blood fat levels
- Stimulates digestive enzymes
- Inhibits the growth of cancer cells
- Increase endurance
Both of these are equally good, no one is superior to the other. Probiotics can be found in yogurt and kimchi, as well as supplements.
Meanwhile, prebiotics are found in wheat, nuts, vegetables and fruit, asparagus, onions (onions, garlic and leeks) and bananas.
We hope this article helped you learn Is yakult good for diarrhea. You may also want to learn Is Yakult Good For Constipation, or check out our Diet & Nutrition category.
If you liked this article, then please share on your social networks and stay tuned for upcoming articles. You can also find us on Telegram and Facebook.
