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The Top 5 Lactobacillus Reuteri Benefits

By Christopher Walker

The Top 5 Lactobacillus Reuteri Benefits

Having enough good bacteria in your gut is crucial for proper digestive health. When you think of probiotics, yogurt is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Probiotics consist of healthy bacteria strains naturally found in the intestines and in some foods. Few of these strains and their benefits can compare to the benefits lactobacillus reuteri has to offer.

There are over 500 strains of probiotic bacteria, each with their own benefits for boosting intestinal function, the immune system and overall health.

Some strains are more beneficial than others. Lactobacillus reuteri is one of the more potent bacterias that you want in your diet or through supplementation.

Table Of Contents:

What Is Lactobacillus Reuteri?

Lacto-what? Its very name is a tongue twister.

Lactobacillus reuteri, or L. reuteri for short, is one of the more extensively studied probiotic strains with numerous health benefits. In layman’s terms, L. reuteri is a lactic acid bacteria strain that lives in the intestine, with smaller traces found in the stomach.

Reuteri itself is categorized into smaller sub-strains. The L. reuteri strain Primadophilus reuteri, for instance, supports healthy digestion and strong immune system.

How Do Probiotics Work?

Before we discuss the health wonders of L. reuteri, let’s take a look at probiotics in general.

According to studies, there are about 40 trillion bacteria in the human body. Some of the bacteria is good, while others give you the common cold, the flu and other illnesses. The body naturally maintains a balance of good and bad bacteria. However, factors like a poor diet and stress can increase this ratio.

Pro tip: Your gastrointestinal tract should have a balance of 85 percent probiotics and 15 percent “bad” bacteria. This effectively wards off constipation and bloating.

You can increase the amount of probiotics in your body via foods and supplements. Doing this rebalances the scale and improve digestion.

For a healthy body, researchers believe your gastrointestinal tract should have a ratio of 85 percent probiotics to 15 percent bad bacteria. Probiotics fight off constipation, bloating, reduce toxins and break down food into usable nutrients. Therefore, you should increase your probiotic intake.

woman cooking food with lactobacillus reuteri

What Are Some Lactobacillus Reuteri Benefits?

Probiotics in general are known for digestive health. But what are some specific lactobacillus reuteri benefits? Various independent studies suggest men and women can both benefit from this powerful probiotic.

1. L. Reuteri Improves Sex Drive

A 2014 study published in the PLoS One journal revealed a link between L. reuteri and testosterone. Lab mice that ingested L. reuteri-fortified water exhibited higher levels of serum testosterone levels, as well as an offset in gonadal aging.

More testosterone means a higher drive in the bedroom, along with improved body composition and motivation.

Furthermore, the probiotic is also known to increase the hormone oxytocin. This has been colloquially known as the “feel good” or “love hormone.” Oxytocin essentially intensifies orgasms. People who took oxytocin before intercourse reported greater pleasure in contentment after sex. (Especially men.) Did you ever think lactobacillus reuteri benefits could be so good?

2. L. Reuteri Stops Balding And Improves Hair Quality

While some people enjoy the bald look, most would prefer the choice to be bald rather than nature forcing their hair loss.

Luckily, L. reuteri is known to reduce hair thinning, stimulate follicle development and accelerate hair growth.

Something women specifically might find appealing is that L. reuteri increases hair acidity. (In other words, it decreases your hair’s pH.) This improves hair moisture retention and creates that silky hair look you often see in shampoo commercials.

cat eating yogurt with lactobacillus reuteri

3. L. Reuteri Promotes Thyroid Health

You may have heard stories of celebrity weight gain. Some of them attribute the extra pounds to a chemical imbalance in the thyroid. The thyroid gland is a large butterfly-shaped organ located in the base of your neck that regulates various bodily functions, including body weight and metabolism.

Researchers have studied thyroid dysfunction and found it was responsible for weight gain, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, high stress levels and poor sleep.

Because thyroid controls how your cells produce energy — which underlies all areas of your health — thyroid dysfunction results in your body going haywire. This includes brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, high stress levels and poor sleep.

A study in 2014 published in the Journal of Obesity & Weight Loss Therapy showed that mice given L. reuteri through their water exhibited healthier thyroid function. Consequently, the mice were also thinner compared to the control mice. In this sense, the strain may indirectly promote weight loss. This connects directly to the next benefit.

READ MORE: The Last Guide You'll Ever Need For Sleep (How To Get A Perfect Night Of Sleep)

4. L. Reuteri Makes You Fit Into Skinny Jeans

Supplementing with probiotics doesn’t mean you can get sloppy with your diet. However, when combined with exercise and diet, probiotics may help you trim down.

In lab studies, mice given probiotics exhibited less weight gain even when fed a Western diet. Researchers also observed lower fat levels in the liver. Too much fat in the liver causes scarring in the organ and increase risk of diabetes.

5. L. Reuteri Promotes A Cavity-Free Mouth

While it’s not a replacement for seeing a dentist, supplementing with L. reuteri helps combat cavities. There isn’t a whole lot of studies in this area, since most of probiotic research focuses on gut health. However, one study suggests some degree of correlation between oral health and certain probiotic strains.

Given all the other benefits of L. reuteri, it makes sense that you might notice improvements in oral health as well.

floracil50 probiotic supplement with lactobacillus reuteri

How to Get More Probiotics Into Your Body

While many foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha have naturally occurring probiotics in them, these foods don’t necessarily have the specific bacteria strains you really want.

L. reuteri is one of those strains. Not to mention, you might find these foods strange and uncommon, making them hard to include regularly. However, there are also probiotic supplements that contain L. reuteri, along with other highly beneficial bacteria.

READ MORE: How Long Does It Take for Probiotics to Work?

You must exercise some caution, though, when selecting probiotics. Purchasing the cheapest supplement at Walmart is not a wise choice. Those contain mostly dead bacteria strains or strains that will die before they reach your guts.

yogurt with lactobacillus reuteri

How To Choose A Probiotic Supplement

Use this quick guide when picking out a probiotic supplement:

  • Pick a product that specifically lists L. reuteri and other highly beneficial strains, like L. rhamnosus.
  • Opt for one with multiple strains rather than a product with extremely high concentrations of just a few strains. Many strains work synergistically rather than separately. Other notable strains to look for include Lactobacillus acidophilus, B. bifidum, and B. longum.
  • Examine how the probiotics are packaged. Various preparation methods ensure the strains stay healthy and alive while sitting for long periods in store shelves.
  • Finally, look at the expiration date. Even with the most advanced preservation methods, probiotics don’t live forever.

Remember this: Your body isn’t a single functioning unit. It’s comprised of smaller microorganisms numbering in the trillions.

Lactobacillus reuteri is just one of the hundreds of strains that work overtime, keeping you alive and healthy. Additionally, it is one of the strains included in Floracil50.

floracil50

Watch Christopher Walker’s Webinar on the Benefits of Probiotics