Bio Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
Though Bio Schwartz includes a huge amount of bacteria the choices of which ones to include are a little odd.
The staple bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus is there, but the other three are less common and less well-researched bacteria. The supplement also includes fructooligosaccharides to support the growth of the bacteria, but it doesnt document how much it actually includes in the supplement.
What Are The Side Effects And Risks Of Probiotics
Supplements play an important role when the diet is not adequate to supply our needs. In the case of probiotics, one’s diet is the ideal source for probiotics. These are live bacteria and need to be carefully monitored, stored, and combined for the health benefits that one would be taking them for. At this time, probiotic supplements are not monitored in the U.S. the way that food or medication is. They fall under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 . This requires that the dietary supplement or dietary ingredient manufacturer be responsible for ensuring that a dietary supplement or ingredient is safe before it is marketed. The only time that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration may get involved is if action is needed to be taken against a manufacturer after the supplement is marketed and then found to be unsafe. This means that as much as we may know about probiotics, we can’t be certain of the safety or content of the supplements available to us.
How Safe Are Probiotics
Because microbes used as probiotics already exist naturally in your body, probiotic foods and supplements are generally considered safe. They may trigger allergic reactions, and may also cause mild stomach upset, diarrhea, or flatulence and bloating for the first few days after starting to take them.
There are certain people who need to use caution when using probiotic supplements. There is a risk of infection in some people. These people include those who have:
- A weakened immune system .
- A critical illness.
Caution should also be used when giving probiotics to very sick infants.
Always talk to your healthcare provider before starting a probiotic supplement.
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What Has Science Shown About The Effectiveness Of Probiotics For Health Conditions
A great deal of research has been done on probiotics, but much remains to be learned about whether theyâre helpful and safe for various health conditions.
Probiotics have shown promise for a variety of health purposes, including prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea , prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis and in premature infants, treatment of infant colic, treatment of periodontal disease, and induction or maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.
However, in most instances, we still donât know which probiotics are helpful and which are not. We also donât know how much of the probiotic people would have to take or who would be most likely to benefit. Even for the conditions that have been studied the most, researchers are still working toward finding the answers to these questions.
The following sections summarize the research on probiotics for some of the conditions for which theyâve been studied.
What Is Considered A Supplement
According to the National Institute of Health, dietary supplements include vitamins, minerals, herbals and botanicals, amino acids, enzymes, and many other products. Today, more supplements than ever before in history are available in health food stores, drug stores, pharmacies and online in a variety of forms, including tablets, capsules, tinctures, powders, gummies, drinks and more.
Some of the most widely consumed supplements include multivitamins vitamins D and E minerals like calcium and iron herbs, such as turmeric, echinacea and garlic glucosamine probiotics omega-3 fish oils and protein powders.
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So What Exactly Makes A Good Probiotic Supplement
Over the last few years, me and my team have personally tested out over 200 probiotic brands. And by tested, I mean we actually bought and took the probiotics! Most review sites out there dont ever actually buy and take what theyre reviewing.
Anyway, after trying that many brands, I think we have a pretty good sense of what makes a good product, and what doesnt.
You see, most of the really good probiotic supplements out there tend to have some things in common. Of course they have their differences too, but we started to see some commonality in the good products the more and more brands we tested.
Ill go into more detail in a minute about what you should look for, but before I do, theres one thing I want you to keep in mind.
Its something that a lot of consumers make a mistake about and end up very frustrated
Benefits Of Taking Probiotics
Not all probiotics are the same. Different strains of the bacteria have different effects. For example, one strain may fight against cavity-causing organisms in our mouths and don’t need to survive a trip through our guts.
Research has been promising for these friendly critters. Potential benefits of probiotics have been seen in the treatment or prevention of
- H. pylori
- vaginal infections
- infection of the digestive tract caused by Clostridium difficile
- pouchitis
- eczema in children.
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How Might Probiotics Work
Probiotics may have a variety of effects in the body, and different probiotics may act in different ways.
Probiotics might:
- Help your body maintain a healthy community of microorganisms or help your bodyâs community of microorganisms return to a healthy condition after being disturbed
- Produce substances that have desirable effects
- Influence your bodyâs immune response.
What Are Probiotics And How Do They Work
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when ingested in the right amounts, can provide a variety of health benefits. Theyre often referred to as good bacteria because of their involvement in promoting gut health.
Beneficial bacteria have been more well-known in recent years as a result of their increasing use in enhancing overall health.
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C How Long Does It Take For Probiotics To Work On Gut Bacteria
A probiotic supplement needs to accomplish the key tasks of eliminating bad bacteria, refilling good bacteria, and reinstating healthy gut flora.
Generally, these tasks need some time and you may have to wait for a while before you see any signs of improvement. But, the reason you are taking the probiotic supplement has a lot to do with how long it takes to work. Some factors like old age, pre-existing health conditions, poor diet, weak immune system, stomach acid, and poor quality of probiotics will increase the amount of time that probiotic supplements take to work.
Therefore, to answer the question, How long does it take to work?, probiotics may take a short amount of time, say a week for some people or up to a few months for others depending on the conditions listed above.
A What Are Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that are used to replenish gut flora when consumed in recommended amounts. Probiotic supplements are made with living microbes and are taken with the intent of improving gut health.
Contrary to popular belief, bacteria are not always harmful.
There are beneficial as well as harmful bacteria in your gut. At times of illness, unhealthy gut bacteria dominate over the healthy bacteria and disturb the gut bacteria composition. Bacteria influence the working of a probiotic and a lot of signs probiotics are working are therefore linked to the bacterial composition of the gut.
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Best Supplements Vs Worst Supplements
I recommend avoiding all synthetic supplements and seeking out the higher-quality, whole food-based supplements. Check the ingredient label and skip supplements that contain ingredients like artificial coloring, titanium dioxide, soy lecithin, BHT, maltodextrin, talc, hydrogenated oils, high doses of caffeine or aconite.
Precautions When Taking Supplements:
Some supplements contain active ingredients that can have strong and/or negative effects on the body. Supplements are most likely to cause side effects when when they are taken in high doses, in combinations or with prescribed medicines. Remember that supplements are not drugs, and they shouldnt be used to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent or cure diseases.
Some supplements can interact with prescription drugs in ways that might cause problems or make the drugs less effective. This means that you shouldnt take supplements in place of, or in combination with, prescribed medications without talking to your doctor first.
Be especially careful about taking new supplements if youre taking medications like blood thinners, antidepressants, birth control pills or chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer. Many supplements have not been well-tested for safety in pregnant women, nursing mothers or children, so if this applies to you be extra cautious.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Probiotics
Probiotics may seem new to the food and supplement industry, but they have been with us from our first breath. During a delivery through the birth canal, a newborn picks up the bacteria Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Escherichia coli from his/her mother. These good bacteria are not transmitted when a Cesarean section is performed and have been shown to be the reason why some infants born by C-section have allergies, less than optimal immune systems, and lower levels of gut microflora.
What exactly do probiotics do? They are believed to protect us in two ways. The first is the role that they play in our digestion. We know that our digestive tract needs a healthy balance between the good and bad gut bacteria, so what gets in the way of this? It looks like our lifestyle is both the problem and the solution. Poor food choices, emotional stress, lack of sleep, antibiotic overuse, other drugs, and environmental influences can all shift the balance in favor of the bad bacteria.
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Survivability: Does Your Supplement Survive Stomach Acid
Even ahead of the ingredients, this is probably the most important factor in whether or not a probiotic works.
Anytime you take a probiotic, it has to make a very difficult journey throughout your digestive tract o get o our intestines where they can do some good.
The biggest culprit in destroying probiotics is stomach acid.
And if your probiotics cant survive stomach acid, theyll be dead long before they can start improving your health.
Now, as for what technology companies use to increase the survivability, there are a few options out there.
Some use enteric coated pills, special capsules and even patented systems like Bio-tract .
All of these work in different ways and vary in effectiveness.
As mentioned above, one system, called Bio-tract is actually patented and has had some studies done on it.
It works by forming a protective barrier around the tablet as soon as it gets wet .
You can actually drop one of these special tablets into a glass of water and see the barrier start to form!
This technology isnt the only way to deliver probiotics successfully into the intestines, but its one of the best weve come across.
Cost And Where To Buy
Ollys Probiotic costs between $13-20 for a 30-day supply of probiotic gummy bears.
These gummies are available for purchase from the Olly website and several online retail stores.
- Olly Probiotics contain all-natural ingredients.
Cons
- Olly Probiotics only contain one probiotic, unlike other brands that contain a spectrum of microorganisms.
- There is no evidence that these gummies can aid in weight loss.
- There is limited research on the probiotic in the formula.
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May Help Prevent Travelers Diarrhea
Research suggests probioticsparticularly L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus GG and S. boulardiican help prevent travelers diarrhea, 80% of which is caused by bacteria in the food or water supplyBae J-M. Prophylactic efficacy of probiotics on travelers diarrhea: an adaptive meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Epidemiol Health. 2018 40:e2018043. . The key is to consume the probiotics before, during and for a few days after your trip, says Cresci.
Do Olly Probiotic Work
Users claim the probiotics help with digestion issues such as bloating, gas, and constipation, but is that true? We took a closer look at the ingredients found in these gummies to find out more information.
Lactic Acid
According to the School of Health Sciences Journal, lactic acid is a natural probiotic found in bacteria that can fight infections in the gut.
Fructooligosaccharide
This is the main ingredient found in the prebiotic blends in Olly Probiotics.
Fructooligosaccharides are sugar chains that feed the good bacteria in the stomach, according to DNA Research.
Inulin
Inulin is prebiotic that feeds the good bacteria and helps keep them healthy, per the Molecules Journal. More research published in Journal of Applied Microbiology found that inulin fructans are another form of long-chain sugar prebiotic that feeds good bacteria.
Chicory Root
According to the Microbiology Ecology, chicory root is a prebiotic added to probiotic supplements to improve and multiply the guts bacteria good guy bacteria. In essence, it acts as an enhancer.
Dandelion Root
Research published in the Journal of Nutrition notes that the dandelion root is a flowering plant rich in antioxidants and fights. Some studies suggest it eliminates the harmful bacteria in your gut so probiotics can do their job.
Chinese herb codonopsis
It also acts as a protector of the good bacteria and the probiotics, so they are not mistaken as foreign and killed by the immune system before they reach the gut.
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What Are Probiotics Good For & When Should You Take Them
The main job of probiotics is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. When youre sick, bad bacteria enters your body and knocks your health off-balance. Probiotics and other good bacteria work to fight off the bad bacteria and restore harmony within your body. Its not necessary to take probiotic supplements every day because your body naturally works to maintain balance. A diet rich in fiber is usually all thats required to maintain healthy levels of probiotic bacteria.
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Are Probiotic Supplements For Your Gut Really Good For You
Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with any advertisers on this site.
More research highlights the importance of having a robust gut microbiome the collection of good bacteria that live in our digestive systems.
Indeed, 14 percent of people 55 and older use them, according to a recent survey from the Council for Responsible Nutrition, an industry group. But in doing so, they may be getting ahead of the science.
Its been proposed but not proven that regular probiotic intake may help prevent this change , says Emeran A. Mayer, a professor of medicine and psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and author of The Mind-Gut Connection. Were just starting to scratch the surface of this area of research.
Heres what we know about the potential impact probiotics may have on our health.
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May Improve Ulcerative Colitis
In mild to moderate cases of ulcerative colitis, probiotics can be an effective tool in both inducing and maintaining remission, as well as preventing pouchitis, inflammation that often occurs in the lining of the pouch created during surgical treatment of ulcerative colitis, according to researchMüllner K, Miheller P, Herszényi L, Tulassay Z. Probiotics in the management of Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Curr Pharm Des. 2014 20:4556-60. .
Probiotics That Might Help You Lose Weight
There is growing evidence that the balance of bacteria in your gut can profoundly affect body weight .
Some studies suggest that taking probiotic supplements may be helpful for achieving weight loss and a healthier body composition.
Animal and human studies have found that certain bacterial strains may decrease the amount of fat and calories your gut absorbs, promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria and reduce weight and belly fat .
According to a 2014 analysis of several studies, probiotics that seem to be effective for fat loss include Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and the combination of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis .
In one study, obese men who took L. gasseri for 12 weeks experienced significant reductions in body weight and body fat, including up to an 8.5% decrease in belly fat. By contrast, the placebo group had very little change in body weight or body fat .
In another study, obese women who took L. rhamnosus for three weeks lost twice as much weight as those who received a placebo.
Whats more, they continued losing weight during the maintenance phase of the study, whereas the placebo group gained weight .
Taking probiotic supplements may also help limit weight gain during times of high calorie intake.
In a four-week study, lean young men ate 1,000 excess calories per day. Those who took the probiotic formulation VSL#3 gained less weight than the control group .
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Does Our Gut Bacteria Change Throughout The Day
Gut health is impacted by more than a probiotic of course, there is our diet and even the frequency of our meals to take into consideration. Studies have found that just as our bodyand often, eating cyclefollows a 24-hour circadian rhythm, our microbiome has a circadian rhythm of its own. This is good to take into consideration when choosing to time for taking your probiotic, especially if you participate in fasting or other eating patterns.
Research shows that gut bacteria follows the bodys circadian cycle and is also linked to overnight fast duration, confirms Gauthier. While the impacts of the daily gut bacteria migrations are still not fully understood by science, findings suggest that regular eating habits could lead to a more steady circadian equilibrium of the gut bacteria, and healthy gut flora has also been shown to be linked with better sleep quality.
When Should Someone Not Take Probiotics
Probiotics are some of the safest natural supplements available, and have very few contraindications. There are a few groups of people who it is recommend exercise a degree of caution when they are considering supplementation with live cultures, an example of which is people who are immunosuppressed , and people with dark blood in their stools. Under these circumstances, it would be wise to seek the advice of a GP before considering probiotic supplementation. In fact if ever in doubt, always speak to your doctor about any health supplements. For more information see our contraindications FAQ.
With regards to medications and natural remedies, there are no known contraindications. The only point to take in to account here is if a supplement has antibacterial or anti-fungal properties. If it does, like garlic for example, then it is recommended that you take the probiotic at least a couple of hours either side of the other supplement, so as not to damage the bacteria. But with regards to safety, probiotics can be taken alongside all natural remedies without any problem.
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