You probably wonder what all the hype is regarding Probiotic Supplements, but did you know that 70% of our body’s immune system lives in our digestive tract? Poor eating habits, high stress and chronic illness can cause our immune system to become irregular and even disrupt cellular processes. People who live with chronic illness, especially auto-immune disorders need to pay special attention to their digestive health.
Inside our entire digestive system, mostly our intestines and colon, there are 300 to 500 different kinds of bacteria that contain nearly 2 million genes. These bacteria live next to viruses and fungi, making up our gut microbiota. To maintain our health, 90% of the bacteria in our intestines should be good bacteria.
Our gut microbiota (aka flora or bacteria) extracts energy from food, they build the body’s immune system and they prevent infections and obesity. When there is imbalance in our gut flora it can lead to sickness, anxiety and weight gain. Probiotic Supplements are a good way to help bring balance our digestive system.
What are Probiotics?
Probiotics are good bacteria that live in your gut; they live there to make sure they keep the bad bacteria under control. When the ratio of good and bad bacteria in our gut is not good our bodies respond in many ways: inflammation, skin issues, sickness, gas, diarrhea and constipation.
Factors that affect the ratio of good and bad bacteria in your gut are diet, stress, illness and medications.
How to Build Up Good Bacteria in Our Gut
One good way to help our bodies get the good bacteria it needs is to eat fermented foods regularly. These foods include: yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, kombucha and kefir.
Our colon thrives on non-digestible fiber called prebiotics. Some probiotic supplements contain them, often referred to as inulin. Another way to get good prebiotics is to eat 2-4 servings a day of garlic, whole grains, artichokes, bananas or honey.
At Wellness Works NW we always recommend that you attempt to eat at least 38 grams of fiber every day from fruits, vegetables and legumes.
Another more potent way to keep your stomach and intestines happy is to take a good Probiotic Supplement. People who regularly take Probiotic Supplements have reported:
- Improved Digestive Function
- Weight Loss
- Lowered Cholesterol
- Normalized Blood Pressure
- Less Sick Days
What to Look For in Your Probiotic
When picking any supplement you want to read the label and make sure you are getting what your body needs. Here is a list of what to look for when choosing a probiotic supplement:
- Genus, species and strain
(for example Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC55730) - Pick a strain that has at least 7 strains and 5 billion Colony Forming Units (CFU)
- Storage information
- Pick a probiotic that says “Viable through the end of shelf life.”
Do not buy the ones that say “Viable at time of manufacture.” You want the probiotics to be alive when you swallow them. - Look for encapsulated pills or some other delayed-rupture technology.
This will make sure that the bacteria survive the trip to your stomach. - Certification by an independent third party like VSL#3.
The FDA does not regulate most probiotics.
Probiotics are beneficial for the wellness of everyone, but especially for people who are chronically ill, have immune and digestive problems or regular yeast infections. It is recommended that you choose a supplement with multiple strains of bacteria since our gut contains 30 to 40 kinds of strains.
Here is a list of strains you may want to make sure are in your probiotic if you plan to or are currently doing the following activities:
- Traveling abroad?
Start taking saccharomyces boulardii weeks before your trip. - Lactose intolerant?
Take lactobacillus bulgaricus, lactobacillus acidophilus and streptococcus thermophilus to help your gut digest and absorb lactose. - Have IBS or other gastrointestinal distress?
Look for bifidobacterium infants 35624, lactobacillus plantarum 299V and bifidobacterium bifidum MIMBb75 to help regulate bowel movements and relieve bloating and gas. - Taking antibiotics?
Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and/or Saccharomyces boulardii 6 hours after each dose of antibiotics. Increase your dose to 10 billion CFUs per day and keep up that regime for 1-2 weeks after you stop taking the meds. - Have eczema?
Taking lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and lactobacillus fermented VRI—003 PCC has been found to treat these rashes, especially in children. - Have a cold?
Taking bifidobacterium animals lactic Bi-07 and lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM has been found to shorten the severity and the duration of the common cold or flu. - Do you get regular vaginal infections?
Regularly taking lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and lactobacillus reuters RC-14 helps prevent and clear up this frustration. - Have bad breath, gingivitis or periodontal disease?
There are probiotic lozenges and mouthwashes that contain lactobacillus reuteri LR-1 or LR-2 and weissella cibaria that promote oral health and fresh breath.
Karen and I began regularly taking a probiotic called Hyperbiotics PRO-15 about three months ago. It has 5 billion CFG and 15 strains of probiotics that answer our personal needs. We are experiencing the joys of regularity and Karen has had a much easier time with her allergies this year while I have had an easier time digesting foods I normally can’t eat.
This probiotic supplement might work well for you, we would also like to suggest that you check with your doctor to make sure you have chosen the right probiotic for you
To summarize, it is important to support our digestive system so that we are healthy. We do this by drinking plenty of water, eating raw foods and fermented foods, choosing healthier options as often as possible and taking our vitamins and the proper Probiotic Supplement for your needs.
Resources and Start Learning More:
- Consumer’s Health Report: Top 5 Probiotics of 2017
- Daily Burn: How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You
- Healthline: How to Choose the Best Probiotic Supplement
- Healthline: Probiotics and Prebiotics: What’s the Difference
- New Frontiers: The Importance of Healthy Digestion
- WebMD: The Best Ways to Use Probiotics
- WebMD: What Your Gut Bacteria Say About You
- Women’s Health: The 9 Best Probiotics For Your Health
Related Articles:
- The Importance of Good Gut Health
- Love Your Guts
- Learning About Acid Blockers
- Knowing When to Detox or Not to Detox
- The Importance of Self-Care
I hope this article helps Fuel Your Wellness. Please leave your comments below.
Summer D Clemenson co-owns Clemenson Enterprises and Wellness Works NW with her wife, Karen G Clemenson. Their personal motto is Creativity, Honesty & Positivity are a must! This mantra helps them stay community and wellness minded in all they do. Summer also writes poetry and inspirational blogs @ ClemensonEnterprises.com. Her crochet art can be viewed and purchased @ KnottyWares.com & she loves special orders!
