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.
But Is It Worth It Long Term
I had it set in my head that GoodBelly was a luxury item. Although I hadnt done the math, I assumed it was far more expensive than taking pills. You get what you pay for, right? GoodBelly istastier and more fulfilling than taking pills, so it simply had to be a treat for the rich and famous.
But while at the store, Tony pointed out that GoodBelly was generally less expensive than equivalent probiotics! Are you telling me that a high-quality, dairy-free probiotic, which I actually remember to take because it tastes good, is the value option?! In stores and online we looked for dairy-free probiotics with equivalent levels of cultures, and indeed, GoodBelly cost less by anywhere from 25 cents to a dollar per day! Not to mention, it doubles as the creamy liquid in my smoothie, reducing my dairy-free milk beverage expense!
Probiotic Foods You Should Never Eat
If you haven’t already heard, probiotic foods have officially beaten out bone broth for food trend of the year. To refresh your memory, probiotics are “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host,” according to the World Health Organization. A few of those health benefits? Boosting your immune system, protecting your memory, and helping to regulate fat storage. Sounds like a wellness hole in one, if you ask us! There’s just one catch: we’re still not quite sure how they all work.
That ambiguity applies even more for food products that don’t naturally produce probiotics through fermentation they only have them because a company adds the bacteria after processing. But even if we’re not sure how effective these beneficial bacteria are at healing our bellies , we do know which dietary factors can lead to an unhealthy gut . One of the worst food foes? Sugar.
Multiple studies, such as research from Oregon State University, have found that high-sugar diets are consistently associated with a high ratio of bad bacteria to good bacteria, which can result in health issues from weight gain to premature mental decline. Experts believe the problem stems from sugar being the primary source of fuel for the pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and yeast that can conquer and kill your beneficial bacteria.
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Probiotics In Goodbelly Products
The manufacturers of the GoodBelly products state that they chose the probiotic strain Lp299v for their products due to the fact that this strain appears to be especially suited to survive the acidic environment of the stomach and thus make its way into the large intestine where it theoretically contributes to a healthy bacterial balance in the gut.
A number of live units of probiotic cultures per serving varies depending on the product offered. Most GoodBelly products contain 20 billion “colony forming units,” while GoodBelly SuperShot contains 50 billion units. The manufacturers recommend one serving per day, with the expectation that you will see results within 12 days.
What Are Goodbelly Probiotics
GoodBelly claims that their probiotic supplements will restore the balance of the friendly bacteria in your gut.
Trillions of these friendly bacteria, or probiotics, live in the digestive tract and form a network known as your gut microbiome.
Probiotics are different from the harmful bacteria that cause infections. Theyre necessary for many important functions like healthy digestion and immune function.
A poor balance between good and bad bacteria may be associated with digestive issues, as well as some chronic medical conditions.
GoodBelly claims that their probiotic supplements can help restore this balance. More specifically, they state that taking 1-2 capsules daily will:
- Support healthy digestion
- Improve the absorption of nutrients
- Promote regularity
With so many supplements on the market, is GoodBelly is the right one for your needs?
In this article, well help you answer this question by reviewing the available scientific support for their probiotic supplement.
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Probiotics Can Help Reduce Symptoms Of Certain Digestive Disorders
Over one million people in the US suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, including ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease .
Certain types of probiotics from the Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains have improved symptoms in people with mild ulcerative colitis .
Surprisingly, one study found that supplementing with the probiotic E. coli Nissle was just as effective as drugs in maintaining remission in people with ulcerative colitis (
31 ).
Nevertheless, probiotics may have benefits for other bowel disorders. Early research suggests they may help with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome .
They have also been shown to reduce the risk of severe necrotizing enterocolitis by 50%. This is a fatal bowel condition that occurs in premature infants .
Bottom Line:
Probiotics may help reduce the symptoms of bowel disorders like ulcerative colitis, IBS and necrotizing enterocolitis.
How Do Probiotics Work
The main job of probiotics, or good bacteria, is to maintain a healthy balance in your body. Think of it as keeping your body in neutral. When you are sick, bad bacteria enters your body and increases in number. This knocks your body out of balance. Good bacteria works to fight off the bad bacteria and restore the balance within your body, making you feel better.
Good bacteria keeps you healthy by supporting your immune function and controlling inflammation. Certain types of good bacteria can also:
- Help your body digest food.
- Keep bad bacteria from getting out of control and making you sick.
- Create vitamins.
- Help support the cells that line your gut to prevent bad bacteria that you may have consumed from entering your blood.
- Breakdown and absorb medications.
This balancing act is naturally happening in your body all of the time. You dont actually need to take probiotic supplements to make it happen. Good bacteria is just a natural part of your body. Eating a well-balanced diet rich in fiber every day helps to keep the number of good bacteria at proper levels.
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Tropicana Essentials Probiotics Strawberry Banana
Per 8 fl oz: 130 calories, 0 g fat, 10 mg sodium, 31 g carbs , < 1 g protein
No amount of immune-boosting probiotic strain addition can cover up the fact that a single serving of Tropicana’s new Strawberry Banana juice has a staggering 28 grams of sugar. Sure, those grams aren’t from any added sources, but fruit sugar acts the same way as cane sugar in your body. And without any digestion-slowing fiber, healthy fats, or protein to ease its release into your bloodstream, you’re looking to get some distracting hunger pangs soon after you guzzle down a glass.
Goodbellys 12 Day Belly Reboot
The people at GoodBelly are running an ongoing promotional event called the 12 Day Belly Reboot. If you sign up, you will receive coupons for GoodBelly products. They then offer a money-back guarantee: If you are not satisfied with the products or with your results, the company will refund the money you spent on the products.
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Safety And Side Effects
Like most probiotic supplements, GoodBelly is also likely safe as the probiotic strains it contains have been well studied. They were found to be safe, even at large doses.
Serious side effects in probiotic supplements are uncommon. On the other hand, some may experience mild side effects like abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea. These are typically relieved by lowering the dose or discontinuing use.
Despite a high likelihood of avoiding any dangerous side effects, you should always consult your doctor before using any dietary supplement.
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Probiotics Can Help Prevent And Treat Diarrhea
Probiotics are widely known for their ability to prevent diarrhea or reduce its severity.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of taking antibiotics. It occurs because antibiotics can negatively affect the balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut (
15 ).
A review of 15 human studies found supplementing with Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains for 12 months can improve anxiety, depression, autism, obsessive-compulsive disorder and memory .
One study followed 70 chemical workers for 6 weeks. Those who consumed 100 grams of probiotic yogurt per day or took a daily probiotic capsule experienced benefits for general health, depression, anxiety and stress .
Benefits were also seen in a study of 40 patients with depression.
Taking probiotic supplements for 8 weeks decreased depression levels and reduced levels of C-reactive protein and hormones such as insulin, compared to people who did not take a probiotic .
Bottom Line:
Research shows taking probiotics may help improve symptoms of mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress and memory, among others.
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Backgrounder Before The Goodbelly Reboot
Going strictly dairy-free resolved MANY of my digestive issue, particularly the severe ones. But the decades of dairy assault left behind some IBS-like symptoms of irregularity. Ive also had bacterial overgrowth found in my gut in the past. The doctors said it was likely from childhood antibiotics. Dairy caused many chronic infections for me when I was a kid , and consequently, I took more treatments than a little one should!
Tony has more general tummy troubles with irregular digestion, chronic bloating, and moderate diverticulosis. Hes been tested and does not have celiac disease or any other known conditions. They previously found bacterial overgrowth in his gut, presumably from the long-term antibiotics he had to take as an adult. And like me, he had an onslaught of childhood infections followed by short courses of antibiotics.
Both of us have taken different probiotics over the years, so I wasnt expecting anything notable from the GoodBelly Reboot. Fortunately, I was wrong!
Enjoy Life Brownie Mix
Per 3 tbsp mix : 130 calories, 2.5 g fat , 120 mg sodium, 25 g carbs , 6 g protein
These brownies certainly have a clean ingredient profilebut when it comes to improving gut health, a pattern of indulging in sugar-heavy desserts likely won’t help. If you need a better-for-you probiotic food that also doubles as dessert, go for low-sugar yogurt such as skyr and sweeten it with some cacao nibs and fresh berries.
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Can Probiotics Hurt Me
For most healthy people, probiotics dont cause any harm. They are generally considered safe and are often given a try to see if they could help with various medical conditions. Theres a lot of research around the topic of probiotics. Scientists are trying to determine when and how they should be used, as well as how effective they are. Talk to your healthcare provider before starting a probiotic supplement because there are some cases where you shouldnt be taking them. Its always best to have the conversation first before starting a new supplement.
Which Probiotic Is The Right One For You
They say, A rose is a rose is a rose, but when it comes to probiotics, not every bacterium is the same.
When evaluating which probiotic is right for you, its important to ask the following questions:
- What is the bacterial strain?
- How many bacteria per serving?
- Will the bacterial strain survive the passage through the gastrointestinal tract?
- Has the bacterial strain been proven to colonize the intestines?
- Does it have a beneficial effect?
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The Best Probiotics To Lose Belly Fat
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Evidence shows that these types of probiotic strain can potentially lose your belly fat.
These 2 blissful good bacteria are the trick to boosting your weight loss. Is it too good to be true? Ingesting lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, will make you sexy?
With those questions in mind, here are supporting studies on probiotics and belly fat.
The Relationship Between Gut Health And Obesity
We have already mentioned there is a relationship between gut health and obesity. As you may have now realized, when your good and bad bacteria in your digestive system becomes unbalanced, it has the potential to tip the scales in favor of obesity in several ways.
Firstly, it can cause you to overeat by initiating cravings for sugar and carbs. This unfortunate turn of events comes about when your gut bacteria become unstable and cause fluctuations in insulin and blood sugar.
When the disruption is severe enough to cause a blood sugar crash, your brain senses low blood sugar and initiates cravings for sugar and carbs.
Foods that are high in sugar and carbs can bring blood sugar levels back up again quickly. However, sugar and carb cravings are not like genuine hunger. They can put in an appearance when your stomach is full causing you to eat when there is no biological need to do so.
The second way poor gut health can cause weight gain is by slowing metabolism. In addition to making you more prone to store fat, a slow metabolism can make weight loss much harder.
Human metabolism is very complex. It incorporates all the biological and chemical processes your body uses to maintain life including extracting energy from food and using it to fuel biological activity.
During periods of intense activity, metabolism increases and the body uses more energy. During periods of non-activity, metabolism slows, and energy usage decreases.
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Comparing Florastor To Goodbelly Probiotics
Probiotics can go a long way when it comes to ensuring the health of your digestive system. Probiotics are the good live bacteria, yeasts and germs that your gut needs to keep functioning properly.
While probiotics can be naturally found in some foods like yogurt, you can also consume them in the form of supplements or drinks. And if youre looking for long-lasting gut relief, its best to try a daily supplement so youre digesting it on a regular basis. Taking one probiotic once wont do much good youll need to make probiotics a part of your routine.
Two popular and well-recommended brands are Florastor Probiotic and GoodBelly Probiotic. Both of these offer different but very strong benefits it can be hard to pick which one is best for your body and its needs.
Should I Give Probiotics To My Kids
Probiotics can be beneficial for both adults and kids. If your child has an illness that requires an antibiotic medication for treatment, taking a probiotic can help shorten symptoms. Probiotics can also be used to help relieve constipation, acid reflux, diarrhea, gas and eczema in children.
Introducing probiotics into your childs diet through food is typically a safe way to give them probiotics. Foods like yogurt and cottage cheese are often part of a balanced diet and can add in good bacteria without much risk.
There are commercially available probiotic supplements specifically designed for infants and children. However, it is important to talk to your childs pediatrician before giving them any probiotic supplement or changing the childs diet to include probiotic-rich foods.
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Certain Probiotic Strains Can Help Keep Your Heart Healthy
Probiotics may help keep your heart healthy by lowering LDL cholesterol and blood pressure.
Certain lactic acid-producing bacteria may reduce cholesterol by breaking down bile in the gut .
Bile, a naturally occurring fluid mostly made of cholesterol, helps digestion.
A review of 5 studies found that eating a probiotic yogurt for 28 weeks reduced total cholesterol by 4% and LDL cholesterol by 5% .
Another study conducted over 6 months found no changes in total or LDL cholesterol. However, the researchers did find a small increase in HDL cholesterol .
Consuming probiotics may also lower blood pressure. A review of 9 studies found that probiotic supplements reduce blood pressure, but only modestly .
In order to experience any benefits related to blood pressure, supplementation had to exceed 8 weeks and 10 million colony-forming units daily .
Bottom Line:
Probiotics may help protect the heart by reducing bad LDL cholesterol levels and modestly lowering blood pressure.
What Are The Most Common Types Of Probiotic Bacteria
Though there are many types of bacteria that can be considered probiotics, there are two specific types of bacteria that are common probiotics found in stores. These include:
- Bifidobacterium.
Probiotics are also made up of good yeast. The most common type of yeast found in probiotics is:
- Saccharomyces boulardii.
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Soluble And Insoluble Fibers
Medical scientists and nutritionists categorize dietary fiber into two classifications. Soluble fiber, as the name suggests, dissolves easily in water. Plants such as beans, greens, and other complex carbohydrates contain soluble fiber some foods, such as the potato, contain a mix of insoluble fiber and soluble fiber . The human body breaks down these complex carbs into a gelatinous, viscous byproduct that the large intestine turns into gasses and acids that encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria in the lower gut. These bacteria positively affect several essential bodily functions and overall health.
Insoluble fiber wont dissolve in water but is just as important to overall health and well-being as soluble fiber. We can further classify insoluble fiber into two types: fermentable and non-fermentable. Non-fermentable insoluble fiber is known primarily as a bulking agent, and consuming adequate insoluble fiber keeps people regular. Fermentable insoluble fiber such as resistant starch produces the same healthy gasses and acids in the large intestine that soluble fiber does. One important difference between the two types of fibers is that soluble fiber tends to slow digestion while insoluble fiber speeds it up.