10 Must-Have Benefits of Probiotics for Men

Published November 16, 2021

It’s not a secret that men and women have different health needs. Aside from the difference in our anatomies, we also have different types of bodily functions. That’s why, even if probiotics are beneficial for both men and women, there are probiotics that will benefit men the most.

But before we dig deep on what are the best probiotics for men, let’s first understand how men can benefit from probiotics.

What are Probiotics?

In a nutshell, probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial for our bodies. Also known as the “good bacteria”, they help keep their harmful counterparts in check. They’re also essential in certain bodily functions like nutrient absorption and food digestion.

How do they do all these things?

Not a lot of people know this but our body is home to trillions of bacteria – both harmful and beneficial. This population of good and bad bacteria is what we collectively call our “microbiome”. Recent studies found out that healthy people tend to have a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in their microbiome. While an imbalance in the microbiome (dysbiosis) can cause various health issues.

There are a lot of things that can cause an imbalance in your microbiome. An antibiotic treatment, dietary change, or even stress and anxiety can mess up your body’s bacterial population. When this happens, the bad bacteria tend to proliferate and “take over” certain parts of your body. As you can imagine, this doesn’t have desirable consequences.

This is where probiotics come in. They help restore balance in your microbiome by increasing the number of good bacteria in your body. With more good bacteria to fight off the bad ones, the latter will have a lesser chance of proliferating and causing damage to your body.

Though these bacterial colonies are present in many parts of your body, most of them are found in your guts. This is why probiotics are often associated with gut health.

Aside from being naturally present in our bodies, we can also get probiotics from the foods we eat. But if you’re trying to address a specific health issue or want a faster effect, you can try taking probiotic supplements.

Health Benefits of Probiotics for Men

1. Treats and Prevents Diarrhea

Diarrhea is our body’s way of eliminating any harmful substances that may have entered our system. These toxic substances include harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi, pathogens, and more. When a foreign substance invades our bodies, our digestive system would naturally work to get rid of it immediately.

Certain probiotic strains can help in various gastrointestinal conditions by getting rid of the bad bacteria and viruses that managed to crawl into our digestive systems. Studies also show that probiotics can reduce diarrhea that is caused by antibiotics and certain medicines. Probiotics also can enhance the barriers in our guts thus decreasing the risk of diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and other digestive illnesses.

2. Relieves Digestive Disorder Symptoms

Since your gut bacteria play a vital role in digestive health, an imbalance in your gut microbiome can lead to various digestive disorders. That’s why probiotics are often recommended for people with constipation, bloating, or irregular bowel movements. It restores a healthy balance to your gut microbiome thus bringing back your normal digestive function.

3. Boosts Mental Health

It may come as a surprise, but our gut bacteria play a huge role in our mental health. Various studies have proven that there is a significant connection between our brain and our gut. The two constantly communicate with each other in what we call the gut-brain axis (GBA).

Many nutrients absorbed in the large intestine are essential in maintaining proper brain function. Thus, a healthy gut is essential in maintaining great mental health. Since probiotics aid in normal digestive function, they also help your gut absorb nutrients more efficiently. This, in turn, helps your brain function better leading to a better overall mood and reduced depression and anxiety.

4. Improves Metabolic Health

Multiple clinical studies reveal that there is a relationship between our gut microbiome and metabolic health. In general, a disruption in our body’s gut microbiome may affect our metabolism and even cause metabolic disorders like Type 2 Diabetes. But since probiotics empower your gut microbiome, it also helps boost your metabolism which is a key factor in better weight management.

5. Boost Immune System

Men who love the outdoors can certainly benefit from the immune-boosting properties of probiotics. Aside from inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria, probiotics can boost your immune system by helping your gut absorb more nutrients. The nutrients absorbed in the gut are then circulated in the cells throughout the body. This helps keep them healthy and improves your body’s immune response.

6. Helps with Peptic Ulcers

Helicobacter pylori or H.pylori is an infection that causes peptic ulcers. While this bacteria does not raise any concerns most of the time, some people are greatly affected. This type of bacteria may cause abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, bloating and gas, and unintentional weight loss. Previous and ongoing clinical studies on H.pylori, however, reveal that the bacterial infection is manageable through probiotics as it improves symptoms and increases eradication rates.

7. Raises Testosterone Levels

Testosterone is a hormone that contributes significantly to the overall health of men. As men age, their testosterone levels decrease, which can threaten their health and cause a series of negative impacts on the body. A decrease in testosterone levels usually means reduced libido, spermatogenesis, increased body fat, low energy levels, fatigue, low physical activity, and decreased muscle mass.

A study involving aging mice given Lactobacillus reuteri shows how their testicles grew significantly larger after consuming the probiotic. Results also showed that there was an increase in the mice’s testosterone levels and spermatogenesis compared to before. In another study, evidence shows that men undergoing probiotic therapy show increased testosterone levels. 

8. Reduces Risk of Diverticular Disease

Diverticular disease results from the formation of small bulges and sacs on the walls of our large intestines. Studies on the matter reveal that after twelve months of consuming different species of probiotic supplements, patients with symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease exhibited a decrease in the disease’s recurrence rate.

9. Increases Sperm Count

It has been theorized that infertility is due to the presence of bacteria in semen. Experts studied the good and bad sperm to reveal that Lactobacillus and Gardnerella were significantly higher on the good sperm. The low-quality semen, on the other hand, shows to have a high content of the bacteria Prevotella. This study goes to show that bacteria in semen have a direct relation to infertility. This also supports study findings that probiotic bacteria can increase fertility or sperm count in men. 

10. Promotes Heart Health

In western societies, many males are concerned with cardiovascular health or heart health. There are multiple reasons as to what causes our hearts to not function properly, such as smoking, drinking, and no proper exercise. Probiotics can help in keeping your heart healthy and functional. Research shows that regular intake of probiotics can maintain healthy blood pressure and keep good levels of cholesterol.