Turn back your health clock deliciously!

Probiotics—the “good” bacteria that line your gut—may just be the secret to staying young and healthy! New research reveals that getting a daily dose can:

1 Speed weight loss! In a recent British study, women in their 40s and 50s who took a Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplement every day for 12 weeks lost almost five pounds more than women who took a placebo. Explains microbiologist Kiran Krishnan, “probiotics decrease hunger- causing hormones and speed up metabolism.”

2 Protect your heart!

New Johns Hopkins University research links a probiotic-rich diet— such as lots of yogurt, kefir and unpasteurized cheese—to lower blood pressure! As American Heart Association pros explain, improving your gut bacteria reduces the risk of obesity and insulin resistance (a precursor to diabetes), which can dramatically lower your odds of heart problems.

3 Stave off sniffles! Scientists now know that a whopping 80% of your immune system operates out of your gut. That may be why a recent New Zealand study found that people who took a daily probiotic supplement had 40% fewer illnesses! ■ TIP: Choose an “enteric-coated” supplement, advises Krishnan, which won’t dissolve until it gets to your small intestine, where it can do you the most good.

4 Boost your mood!

Hormonal changes during menopause often trigger anxiety and mood swings. To the rescue: probiotic yogurt, such as Dannon Activia. UCLA scientists say that when middle-aged women ate it daily for four weeks, their anxiety decreased significantly. Probiotics may help your body make more of the calming “feel- good” neurotransmitter serotonin.