The term “bacteria” might not make you think of a “content and healthy you” right away. When it comes to understanding how the body functions and remains healthy, these microscopic organisms are essential to a person’s survival. The fact is that there is an incredibly strong relationship between your general well-being and the healthy activity of the helpful bacteria and microbes in your intestinal system. The beneficial bacteria and yeasts inside your stomach (your “gut microbiota”) contribute to digestion, the production of vitamins, the removal of toxins, and other beneficial activities. Altogether, these innumerable microscopic inhabitants make up your microbiome.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria, often referred to as “beneficial bacteria”, which help maintain the body’s well-being.
A probiotic is something that promotes the development of microorganisms, particularly those with useful characteristics (including those found in the intestines).
In short, a probiotic is a living bacteria or yeast that can help to increase the variety, equilibrium, and activities of the microbes in the body.
The digestive tract contains an immense number of beneficial microbes which contribute to the body’s overall well-being. These microorganisms outnumber human cells ten to one. There are far more bacteria in your gastrointestinal system than there are stars in the sky!
We commonly associate the bacteria in our intestines with probiotic supplements and probiotic-rich foods. Many of us are attempting to find ways to better our digestive system health. Nonetheless, the human body has an oral microbiome, as well as a vaginal microbiome that is unique to female individuals.
An immense number of bacteria, fungi, parasites, mites, and viruses all inhabit these habitats, and when the correct assortment of these bacteria are in equilibrium, they aid in maintaining the body in ideal condition.
Research has shown that consuming probiotics has numerous benefits for your digestive system and overall health. The typical individual probably isn’t obtaining the recommended amount of nutrients from their food intake. Using organic probiotics is an intelligent decision.
Products containing probiotics can be purchased in the form of capsules, powdered versions, liquid, and found within fermented food items.
But not all probiotics are created equal.
It is unfortunate that there is a large number of subpar probiotic products being sold today. It is crucial to recognize the best probiotic supplement and/or probiotic foods for you.
How Do Probiotics Work?
It is imperative to comprehend two aspects of probiotics in order to understand how they operate.
The first is that some probiotics are transient. These organisms penetrate the body and traverse through the digestive system (GI) where they interact with the current microbes and also help in relieving symptoms. However, they do not actually colonize in the gut.
Other probiotics colonize the GI tract. By the time they reach the abdomen, they can help to diversify the range of bacteria in the microbiome.
The gut can be compared to a large checker’s game board.
If ever you’ve taken part in a game of checkers, then you know there are different colored pieces for the two players in the game, and there’s a limited number of spaces where you can put your checkers. That’s gut.
To explain it in a straightforward way, distinct colors stand for various types of bacteria. Examples of bacteria that are commonly seen are Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterococci, and Propionibacterium.
In an ideal healthy intestine, numerous types of bacteria exist in an appropriate amount to prevent the overgrowing of dysbiotic bacteria and yeasts, leading to dysbiosis.
The presence of beneficial bacteria serves as a defense against unwelcome and potentially damaging bacteria. One of the reasons we consume organic probiotics is for our diet. They assist us in determining the variety of species within our microbiome, as well as making sure that our stomach and intestines are in good condition and operating properly.
Altogether, probiotics are effective in maintaining an equilibrium of beneficial and detrimental microorganisms. There are a few reasons why we may not have a healthy balanced gut:
- Antibiotic use
- Food poisoning
- Medications
- Poor diet
- Stress
- Food additives, heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins
A C-section delivery deprives the baby of the natural bacteria found in the vaginal microbiome that would normally assist in the development of the infant’s gut microbiome. When a mother gives birth vaginally, these beneficial bacteria populate the baby’s gastrointestinal tract, helping to create and maintain a healthy microbiome.
This list contains the main elements that disturb beneficial bacteria, causing an increase in disease-causing bacteria and leading to problems with gut health and imbalance.
What Types of Probiotics Should I Look For?
You may feel inclined to hunt down a supplement containing as wide a variety of bacteria as you can find. Taking high amounts of several different bacteria strains will not guarantee the desired outcome. Rather than concentrating on various types of formulations, it would be more beneficial to concentrate on forms that supply the precise strain of bacteria in sufficient quantities for the desired effects.
Lactobacillus LP01
Lactobacillus plantarum is a bacteria that can be found in its natural state in the small intestine and can also be identified in certain prepared foods, like sauerkraut and yogurt, that have undergone the process of fermentation. The production of hydrogen peroxide can act as a deterrent to outside microorganisms. LP01 has been looked into to aid in digestion, primarily with maintaining consistent bowel movements.
Bifidobacterium BR03
Bifidobacterium breve can be located in the large intestine and aids in the digestion of carbohydrates derived from plant-based cuisine. The BR03 and LP01 strains can cooperate to bolster the body’s resistance to illness and foster healthy digestion.
Saccharomyces boulardii
This probiotic yeast has impressive benefits. It can establish itself in your intestines and aid in the growth of beneficial bacteria in your microbiome. It also helps reduce problematic yeast such as Candida.
Lactobacillus La-14
Research has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 in restoring the normal bacteria in the vaginal area. The vagina has its own collection of beneficial bacteria that aid in preserving its well-being. When the amount of Lactobacilli in the vagina is at an optimal level, the environment is naturally acidic and helps to protect against the growth of both yeast and harmful bacteria.
Lactobacillus HN001
The bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus, which is beneficial, also helps to keep the vagina in good condition. This strain and La-14 attach to cells in the fragile vaginal wall in order to actively battle foreign microorganisms.
Bifidobacterium B420
This particular type of bacteria, commonly referred to as Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. Lactis has been found to have a major impact on weight-related objectives in clinical research. When coupled with a nutritious diet, evidence suggests it can help reduce abdominal fat, lessen waist size, decrease weight, and decrease the amount of food one consumes.
Bacillus coagulans
This particular type of helpful bacteria has been investigated in clinical studies for its potential to bolster gastrointestinal well-being and elevate the quality of life when it comes to digestive health. It was observed that 2 billion Colony Forming Units of Bacillus coagulans was an efficient amount, not requiring massive numbers like megabillions.
The contents of this list demonstrate the significance of selecting the precise strain, as it is the one studied for the desired advantages. New Chapter® probiotics are created using different types of strains in accurately measured portions to guarantee you are obtaining the desired health and well-being positive aspects.
Our formulas are also rounded out with complementary herbs. This dietary supplement contains a mixture of natural Hibiscus and natural Green Coffee Bean extracts, which studies have associated with the ability to reduce fat. This probiotic supplement tailored for women includes an extract from the Chaste Tree berry that is meant to assist in keeping hormones in check and, moreover, promote benefits in terms of incontinence and bladder issues.*
Benefits of Taking Probiotics
As stated before, probiotics act much like the helpful germs already located inside the body. It is thought that eating these elements as part of your diet or as a supplement can help to bring equilibrium, strengthen, and renew your microbiome. These microorganisms dwell predominantly in the stomach, but they can also be identified in the oral cavity, birth canal, urinary system, pulmonary region, and the exterior of the body. It is possible for probiotics to have a wide-ranging effect than originally believed!
Digestive Support
Probiotics can help the beneficial bacteria in your gut carry out their duty, which is breaking down what you have eaten, including elaborate carbs and foods that are high in dietary fiber that can be difficult for your digestive system to process. Research indicates that certain varieties of probiotics can aid in facilitating the digestion of protein as well as other essential nutrients.
Immune Support
Studies have indicated that probiotics can produce substances that might interact with the immune system and can help keep contagious organisms at bay. The digestive tract houses the majority of the body’s immune system activity. Maintaining proper digestion can help strengthen the immune system.
Reduce Gastrointestinal Discomfort
Studies have indicated that probiotics can be beneficial in managing different types of diarrhea, including when it is caused by taking antibiotics. They also contribute to the maintenance of healthy intestinal function and relieve difficulty in having a bowel movement while also decreasing irregular symptoms of gas, swelling, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Having them with you could make for a great journey due to these positive aspects. If you are interested in knowing if probiotics can be beneficial to conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (for example, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s Disease), it is suggested that you talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
Vaginal & Urinary Tract Health
In the same way, a healthy intestinal tract is a balanced environment of microorganisms; the same principle applies to a healthy vagina. The balance of the ecosystem can be disrupted by the use of antibiotics, spermicides, or birth control pills. Probiotics are believed to be able to restore equilibrium and may prevent conditions like bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections, and urinary tract infections. Discuss with your medical provider what would be best for you.
Weight Management
Researchers have hypothesized that there may be a relationship between probiotics and weight loss due to the fact that the composition of the intestinal microflora appears to be associated with an individual’s body mass index. When scientists inserted intestinal bacteria from diverse people into lab mice with no gut bacteria, they noticed the mice that got gut bacteria from overweight individuals had an increase in weight. No change in weight was seen among those who were given bacteria from individuals of average weight. At present, it’s unclear to what extent probiotics and weight loss are linked; however, modifying what we eat may influence our microbiome. Thus it can’t do any harm to include a few probiotics along with evaluating our diet. Researchers have established connections between the arrangement of bacteria in the intestine and whether an individual is in a state of good physical health or not.
Is it Just as Good to Take Probiotic Supplements?
Many products claiming to be packed with probiotics are actually falsely labeled and do not provide much of the beneficial bacteria they are marketed as.
Yes, corporations will often include some probiotic cultures in their goods, though usually in limited amounts. This is more of a way to advertise the product as a beneficial choice for microbiome health. However, this isn’t always true.
The majority of probiotics sold commercially often incorporate artificially cultured and manufactured microbes. When a firm claims that a certain amount of organisms (CFU – Colony Forming Units) exist in their products, it indicates that the bacteria were manufactured in a lab.
The concept of ingesting large numbers of beneficial bacteria in the form of a tablet sounds promising, yet the truth is this type of advertising can be deceiving to purchasers. Here’s why:
It cannot be ascertained when buying a probiotic product if it contains the same quantity of beneficial bacteria indicated on the packaging.
Once probiotics are made in an experiment, they start to break down. This bacteria is extremely sensitive and volatile. These probiotic items must be stored in the refrigerator to keep the beneficial bacteria alive.
Good bacteria are only useful if it remains alive. Manufactured bacteria are not as powerful as probiotics that are made through natural fermentation.
Another issue is that most probiotics are not able to reach the intestine alive and accumulate there when they are eaten. This goes against the reason for taking a probiotic. If a probiotic must be kept cool, how can it withstand the hot and acidic environment of the stomach?
The goal of probiotics is to reach the gut safely and do the job they need to do in the intestines with no adverse effects.
I would be careful about eating and drinking items that have probiotics added to them. Be sure to check the components of a product to see if it meets your dietary requirements.
Consumption of store-bought probiotic products may not always be advantageous or required. I help my patients with their whole wellness plan, which may include ordering stool and microbiome tests if there is reason to believe that they have a low level of particular bacteria present. I would center around food items that are fermented in the wild or naturally fermented digestive well-being items like our Mushroom Probiotics formula.
Eat plant-based foods rich in prebiotics frequently to help the microorganisms in your gut develop and expand.
Types of Probiotic Supplements
When you drop by the shop offering natural health products next time, you are likely to discover a wide range of probiotic dietary supplements. Certain types of probiotics can be found in powdered form, which can be stirred or blended into smoothies or yogurt. In most cases, probiotics supplements come in two primary shapes: capsules and chewable gummies.
Capsules
Capsules of probiotics typically consist of two pieces that connect and retain the concoction within. Softgels are one of the most common pill formats that some probiotic supplements come in.
Gummies
Chewing gummy supplements can be a great way to maintain and promote a healthy lifestyle, rather than having to take traditional pills. Probiotic gummies produced by New Chapter contain dietary fiber † instead of an excessive amount of sugar, guaranteeing that each serving contains only beneficial ingredients.
Tips for Taking Probiotics
Talk to your doctor prior to including any type of dietary supplement (probiotic or other) in your normal regimen. They can suggest the finest types of beneficial bacteria for your issues.
