“Probiotics” can be a phrase that we are likely to be familiar with. It’s a term that is frequently recommend to those seeking at improving their wellbeing, specifically with regards to their diet. While probiotics are widely known for their numerous benefits to our health, it’s essential to learn more about them, especially if we are looking to include them in our journey to healthier bodies.
How Are Probiotics?
Probiotics comprise “friendly” intestinal bacteria which are necessary for healthy and normal functioning. Studies have shown that they play an crucial roles for maintaining gut health, nervous system, the immune system and general health. [1]
The term “probiotics” originates from Latin”pro (for) as well as the Greek bios (life). The live microorganisms are bacterial or viral, as well as yeast and are usually able to be observed under microscopes.
How can Probiotics help?
Probiotics have been proven to provide an variety of advantages for our well-being.
1. PROBIOTICS HELP with DIGESTION
Probiotics utilize a specific method called fermentation that breaks down the food you consume. As food is passed into the small intestine, and to the colon, these probiotics act using digestive enzymes that break down food material and absorb its nutrients. Without this assistance digestion can become slow or damaged, causing food items to move through your body, but not the benefits you want.
2. PROBIOTICS HELP reduce GASTROINTESTINAL issues
Probiotics may help decrease the possibility of bloating, gas, and diarrhea, particularly when you travel or take antibiotics. Several studies suggest that probiotics are associated with a reduced risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. One study found that probiotics can reduce the frequency of diarrhea by up to 42 percent. [2] [33
Probiotics may also help aid in treating or preventing diarrhea that isn’t due to antibiotics. A comprehensive review of 35 studies shows that specific strains of probiotics can decrease the duration of diarrhea over the course of a single daily. [4] Probiotics are a great option for people who travel or working in places in which bacteria are prevalent like hospitals and schools.
3. PROBIOTICS CONTAIN VALUE NUTRIENTS
The large intestine’s fermentation creates valuable enzymes and nutrients your body requires for proper function. [5] These enzymes aid in breaking down fat and protein and the nutrients comprise Vitamin K, B vitamin and short-chain fats. These byproducts can aid in the production of energy in the body, the repair of tissues and maintaining cognitive functions and a myriad of other functions. Probiotics help in the fermentation process and aid in breaking down of nutrients as well as proper digestion.
4. Probiotics SUPPORT IMUNE FUNCTION
70% of your immune system’s function is located in your digestive system. The cells that line your gut interact with both your adaptive and innate immune systems. This means that your gut is the primary barrier between the body’s internal system and the external pathogens. The harmful microbes that get into your body through food, air, or from surfaces that you’re exposed to need to first pass through a variety of defense systems before entering your circulation of blood. [6]
The bacteria in your gut are always producing huge amounts of antibodies into your stomach. This helps your body fight any harmful bacteria that you may encounter throughout your day. Infections, diseases, or even autoimmune diseases are often caused by the bacteria in your gut being unable to function effectively.
5. Maintaining the integrity of your UT
Your gut’s lining is permeable by nature that permits nutrients to flow through the food you consume through your bloodstream. Additionally the bacteria that line the lining of your gut serve as a barrier to stop harmful substances like toxicants, antigens and other irritants from getting into the bloodstream. They also aid in the absorption of electrolytes, vitamins as well as water as well as other healthy substances from your digestive tract. This is crucial to ensure a healthy digestive system and regular functioning of the body. It also aids in preventing the creation of food allergies that can be caused by an increase in the permeability of your intestinal tract (aka the leaky gut).
When to Begin to Probiotics
Research has shown that probiotics are recommended to be consumed prior to or after a meal. This will allow them to continue throughout the digestive system. [7]
Survivability is largely based to the acidity in your stomach. Lower the pH level, higher acidity. A higher pH indicates higher the alkalinity. The pH of the stomach is extremely low, around 2-to-3. This is an extremely harsh environment for the majority of bacteria to thrive in. After a meal your pH stomach contents can temporarily increase to an alkaline value that is around 7. This lower acidity means that it is less likely that the probiotics getting destroyed.
Probiotics taken within 30 minutes after a meal or an eating session has been found to allow beneficial bacteria to survive at a higher rate than if taking them 30 minutes after eating.
Negative Side Effects of Probiotics
Since the majority the microflora in your body reside in your digestive tract, it is the region that is most susceptible to the negative effects that probiotics can cause. The most common symptoms could include gas and bloating, cramps or feeling of fullness. It is also possible to experience changes in your the frequency of your bowel movements. It could be because healthy bacteria are growing in the intestinal tract, colonizing the smaller colon and the intestine.
The extra gas could be triggered by bacteria, or changes in your gut’s motility and the time it takes to transit. These changes can lead to irregular intestinal spasms or block the stomach muscles from completely rid your stomach of any food that you’ve consumed.
The symptoms typically fade after a week, or so after being on the probiotic. If you’re not able to take it with the symptoms, reduce your daily dosage to a fraction of the amount recommended by the label. Then gradually increase the dose in the weeks following. This lets your gut adapt to the new infusion of bacteria gradually.
How to Select a Quality Probiotic
A great probiotic must have been designed in such a manner that the bacteria can endure the acidic and harsh stomach. That means the bacteria will have greater chance of getting in your intestines and ready to set up and perform their job.
You should look for the Probiotic product that makes use of some type of time-release technology, for example BIO-tract and delayed-release capsules. These safeguards probiotic bacteria, and keeps their breakdown within the stomach. [8]
CFU is the abbreviation for “colony-forming unit.” This refers to the amount of active and alive bacteria in each dose. There are many kinds of bacteria and each have distinct properties. Some of the most beneficial bacteria strains to seek out in a probiotic include L. Plantarum (for protecting the membrane around your digestive tract), L. paracasei (for its antibacterial properties which will ward off pathogens such as E. coli and Candida albicans) as well as L. acidophilus (to regulate the acidity of your gut and improve immunity).
The more the CFU count greater the effectiveness of the probiotic. But, this is contingent on how the probiotics are administered.
Many supplement companies use fillers and unneeded ingredients in order to prolong shelf life or make supplements easier to put into capsules. Make sure you examine the label for ingredients carefully because some of these “extras” could be detrimental to the health of your gut..
What is a great Probiotic?
Several factors go into making a good probiotic. Be wary of claims of CFU numbers of 50 billion, 100 billion, or and even 200 billion! A lot of supplements that boast high CFU counts typically only carry just a small amount of bacteria that pass through the stomach acid.
Tablets that release time using proprietary technologies such as BIO-tract are able to provide fifteen times the amount of bacteria into the intestine than a similar probiotic contained in a vegetable capsule. For instance, Balance ONE Probiotic contains 15 billion CFUs of bacteria. Its time-release system will deliver the same amount bacteria to your digestive tract as the probiotic with 225 billion CFU in a capsule of vegetable.
A great probiotic should include at least five strains, and, ideally, 10 strains. Each strain has various advantages and traits. Find a variety of bifidobacterium and lactobacillus strains. The more you drink the supplements, the better for you!
Here’s my selection of the top three probiotics.
1. BALANCE A PROBIOTIC
The probiotic supplement includes 12 probiotic strains that have fifteen billion CFUs per tablet. They include the most researched strains like Lactobacillus Plantarum Lactobacillus acidophilus Casei Bifidobacterium longum Bifidobacterium bofidum and many more.
The Balance One Probiotic is free of fillers that aren’t needed and allergens such as dairy, nuts, gluten and dairy. It’s vegan and non-GMO. It’s made of only strains already found in the human digestive tract without SBOs (SBOs) as well as active yeasts.
The most significant characteristic that is unique to Balance ONE Balance ONE probiotic is its unique delivery system that is called BIO-tract. This unique process that is patent-pending involves compressing probiotic bacteria into tablets. That means Balance ONE probiotics are able to withstand passing through the acidic conditions of the stomach and not be destroyed. Studies have proven that this delivery method can carry 15 times more bacteria over stomach acid when than regular vegetarian capsules. [9]
2. RENEW LIFE ULTIMATE FLORA EXTRA CARE PROBIOTIC
It is a great probiotic with a broad range of strains as well as the power of. It has a guarantee of 30 billion live probiotics and 12 strains of probiotics that make it a great all-rounder.
Renew Life Ultimate uses delayed-release vegetable capsules although not as efficient as the BIO-tract method, are still a viable way to transfer bacteria to the stomach. It contains multiple strains of bacteria for optimal support. It is also free of gluten, dairy as well as soy.
3. Vitamin BOUNTY PRO 25 PREBIOTIC AND PROBIOTIC
With 25 billion microorganisms per serving, Vitamin Bounty is a fantastic probiotic to maintain your health. It has 13 probiotic strains to aid in overall digestion health. It’s comprised of a delayed-release capsule that shields living bacteria against stomach acids. This assists in the transport of the bacteria into the intestines and enhances effectiveness. Fermented Greens Fermented Greens also provide prebiotic benefits.
Final Thoughts
Probiotics offer us a variety of health benefits and may also give us minor negative side negative effects. The second step to take is decide the kind of food or supplement we should be looking for. It is possible to start by looking at the suggested ones found in the article. Probiotics are extremely beneficial to our bodies. Selecting the best brand will further enhance the benefits we receive from them.
