The Probiotic Bacteria Must Be Alive To Deliver Any Benefit
By definition, a probiotic is alive. If the bacteria isnât alive, it isnât a probiotic, plain and simple. If the good bacteria arenât alive when they reach your digestive system, they canât give you the benefits you the benefits that they promise.
Even though a probiotic supplement or food with live cultures may have live bacteria in them at some point, the handling and transporting of these products may kill some or even all of the good bacteria that were intended to reach your gut alive. Bacteria are sensitive to heat, and so if not made to survive at room temperature, a probiotic brand may require refrigeration.
The best way to guarantee the culture is alive in your probiotic is to take a dietary supplement with highly engineered packaging that eliminates the need for refrigeration. If you choose to take a probiotic supplement like Align, you can trust that from creation to packaging to you, youâre getting plenty of the good bugs into your gut microbiome.
Conditions Related To Allergy
Allergic Rhinitis
- A review of 23 studies in which probiotics were tested for treating allergic rhinitis found some evidence that they may be helpful for improving symptoms and quality of life. However, because the studies tested different probiotics and measured different effects, no recommendations about the use of probiotics could be made. Few side effects of probiotics were reported in these studies.
Asthma
- A review of 11 studies of probiotics for asthma in children had inconclusive results.
Atopic Dermatitis
- Atopic dermatitis is an itchy chronic skin disorder thatâs associated with allergies but not caused by them. Itâs most common in infants and may start as early as age 2 to 6 months. Many people outgrow it by early adulthood. Atopic dermatitis is one of several types of eczema.
- A 2017 review of 13 studies of probiotics for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in infants and children did not find consistent evidence of a beneficial effect. A review of 9 studies in adults provided preliminary evidence that some strains of probiotics might be beneficial for symptoms of atopic dermatitis.
Prevention of Allergies
Best Probiotic For: Gi Support Brain Function
Studies show some promising results with L. casei for digestive support and regulating diarrhea. One study on the effect of milk fermented by L. Casei strain DN-114 found that supplementation significantly reduced the incidence of diarrhea .
L. casei also made headlines when a study found it beneficial in relieving anxiety. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study found supplementation with 24 billion units of the L. casei strain Shirota led to a rise in probiotics lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, as well as a significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety and depression .
Now lets take a look at a separate class of probiotics, bifidobacterium.
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How Popular Are Probiotics
The 2012 National Health Interview Survey showed that about 4 million U.S. adults had used probiotics or prebiotics in the past 30 days. Among adults, probiotics or prebiotics were the third most commonly used dietary supplement other than vitamins and minerals. The use of probiotics by adults quadrupled between 2007 and 2012. The 2012 NHIS also showed that 300,000 children age 4 to 17 had used probiotics or prebiotics in the 30 days before the survey.
Choose Reliable Probiotic Brands
Some companies have been around for years, and you may know their names. Those that have made probiotics for a while may be more likely to have tested and studied them over and over. It’s smarter to choose a product from a reputable maker. Check a third-party certifier to see if they have tested the product and found that itâs safe and reliable. If you’re in doubt, ask your doctor.
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Ultimate Flora 50 Billion
- 50 billion live cultures per serving
- 12 diverse strains
- Vegan friendly, Soy Free and All Natural
- Essential Ingridients*95%95%
- Return Policy*92%92%
- Overall Score*95%95%
Ultimate Flora came in 3nd place in our survey. Its no wonder because Ultimate Flora is a great product with 50 Billions CFUs which is in the range of the recommended dosage. It also has 12 robust strains but lacks prebiotics and delivery system.
Another complain some customers had was that Renew Life Ultimate Flora only offers a 60 days return policy.
*Individual Results May Vary Ratings are based on eNutrition Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.
Best Powder: Culturelle Kids Daily Probiotic Packets
If youre familiar with adult probiotics, you likely know the brand Culturelle. The popular probiotic brand makes a fantastic probiotic powder for kids. For those children who dont like to chew gummies or tablets, powder is an easy way to add probiotics to their favorite cool beverage or food. In fact, Culturelle probiotic packets are tasteless, so your child shouldnt even notice them.
The convenient single-serve packets are free of gluten, dairy, peanuts, added colors, preservatives, yeast, and soy, so theyre ideal for kids with allergies or sensitivities. They’re best for toddlers and children over the age of 12 months.
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Best Probiotic For: Immunity Gi Support
Time, stress, diet, and antibiotics can all deplete the bodys supply of B. bifidum. Researchers found that these microbes help regulate the innate immune response, your bodys first line of defense against infection.
B. bifidum has also been shown to prevent intestinal pathogens or digestive disrupters from flourishing in the gut, essential in restoring the bacterial balance and optimizing digestion. Clinical research found it supports a significant reduction in IBS symptoms, an improvement in quality of life and even helps relieve occurrences of ulcerative colitis, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. .
Probiotics Can Help Enhance Your Gut
“Probiotics can help you lose weight by improving your gut health,” say registered dietitian nutritionists Lyssie Lakatos, RDN, CDN, CFT & Tammy Lakatos Shames, RDN, CDN, CFT, The Nutrition Twins, and co-founders of the 21-Day Body Reboot. “An unhealthy digestive system leads to an imbalance of gut microbes, and research has suggested that this imbalance could contribute to obesity.” Of course, before starting a new probiotics regime, always consult with your doctor or nutritionist.
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The Best Probiotic And Prebiotic Supplements For 2021 Are:
- Best overall Garden of Life raw microbiome ultimate care: £31.59, Gardenoflife.co.uk
- Best for women Wellgard Vitaflora 20 billion CFU probiotics for women: £14.99, Wellgard.co.uk
- Best for kids So Perf Kids Peruvian cacao and coconut bars: £26.20, Soperf.com
- Best for taking probiotics with other vitamins Indi body: £45, Indisupplements.com
- Best for when on a course of antibiotics Bio-Kult boosted: £24.98, Boots.com
- Best for combining prebiotics and probiotics The Nue Co prebiotic + probiotic: £45, Thenueco.com
- Best for people with digestive system problems Inessa advanced biotic complex: £38.99, Inessawellness.com
- Best for people with allergies Performance Lab prebiotic, one month supply: £34, Performancelab.com
- Best for supporting mental wellbeing Kalla for relief, 30-day supply: £99, Kalla.com
Does The Form Of Probiotic Matter
You may be thinking what does it matter how you take a probiotic? As long as you take it, right? The truth is, not all probiotics are the same. Often it isnt just about the type of probiotic and what is included in it, and more about how fast the bacteria can get to your gut in order to be beneficial to you.
Powders have been known to be the least beneficial because of what happens in the stomach. With every probiotic you take you run the risk of stomach acid killing the bacteria before it even makes it to your gut. The more protected your probiotic is, such as specific coasting or a delayed-release capsule, the more likely the bacteria will reach the gut in order to work.
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Look For Probiotics That Have A Variety Of Strains
Different strains have been found to work favourably for different health conditions. Probiotics that have been found to provide health benefits include various strains of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus and Saccharomyces. Many probiotic supplements contain a combination of different strains in the same supplement. A general recommendation is to choose probiotic products with at least 1 billion colony forming units and containing the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium or Saccharomyces boulardii, some of the most researched strains,” says Vinita Contractor, holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach. Look for a supplement that contains multiple strains, sometimes listed as a proprietary blend. Inferior brands might contain only one probiotic strain, she says. The sicker your gut is, the higher the probiotic dose. For a leaky gut or inflammatory bowel disease , one may need to take up to 200 to 400 billion CFUs daily, says Contractor.
Tip #3 Look For Probiotics In The Refrigerated Section
Probiotics by definition are living micro-organisms. Keeping probiotics in the fridge helps to preserve the lifespan of the bacteria. Thats why youll find New Roots Herbal probiotics in the refrigerated section at the natural products store. When you get home, remember to keep your probiotics in the fridge too!
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Product Life Of The Probiotic
You should always select a product that has a decent shelf life. If the product life is short, you will end up incurring losses, as it will mean that you have to toss out expired products. Knowing the life length of the product is also vital in planning for your orders.
It is not uncommon for people to order probiotics, only for them to arrive way past their expiration date. This can be quite a bother. Ensure that the shelf life is long in order to avert these kinds of losses.
A product with a long shelf life will save you money, as it will mean that you will not have to incur costs frequently replacing them. It also allows you to buy in bulk, which is cheaper.
Thinking About Buying A Probiotic Supplement
It could be very helpful! But make sure that you buy the right type of probiotic.
How do you make sure that youre buying a probiotic that works?
Make sure that the probiotic youre buying fulfills the requirements on this list, and youll be buying an effective product!
Exclusive Bonus! Download the FREE report 32 Top Ways To Boost Digestive Health by .
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What Should I Look For In A Probiotic
Try not to be swayed by packaging or commercials. Before you decide what is the best probiotic for you, we recommend considering three factors:
- Strain: The individual bacteria strain determines the health benefits you should expect from the probiotic.
- Proof: Any claims about health benefits should be backed up by scientific studies on that product and the probiotic strain in it.
- Transparency: The packaging should provide you with clear information about the number of live microorganisms in each serving, the strains or specific strain in the product, the suggested daily serving size, the expiration date, any storage instructions, and corporate contact information in case you have any issues or questions.If you donât see this information readily available, try to look for a product which does provide it.
Q Do Probiotics Aid The Immune System
Probiotics cannot overdose because these do not have adverse side effects if consumed in abundance. It is best to keep to the suggested dose to avoid any undesired side effects. Because most bacteria that impact resistance to infection are located in the gastrointestinal tract, a substantial digestive tract indicates a healthier immune system.
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Things To Consider When Buying Probiotics
How Many Different Types Of Strains Should Your Probiotics Contain
Probiotic supplements are made of different forms of bacteria different strains have different benefits for your body. Studies have shown that multi-strain probiotics are the most effective. Many probiotics will include around five to six different strains within them.
Some probiotics can include up to 15 strains to maintain gut balance they might even include bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium which are found naturally in the gut. One of the things to look out for when looking into what strains are included in your probiotic supplement is to see if they are clinically validated. This helps you get a general idea of where and how the probiotic was created and to give you buying confidence.
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The 5 Best Probiotic Supplements For Weight Loss
When it comes to buying a quality probiotic supplement, don’t skimp. Always look for those that conduct third-party testing and have trusted quality, efficacy, and purity. “Probiotics have to be alive for them to work, so inexpensive, low-quality supplements, especially when it comes to probiotics, are not worth taking,” says Foroutan.
Find The Appropriate Bacteria
Check for pills with very well-researched strains of probiotics if you wish to improve your general health. The most extensively researched bacteria are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii. If you are looking for probiotics to help with a particular health condition, look for one researched for that purpose specifically. You should also inquire with your doctors about strains that have been demonstrated to be beneficial.
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Q Are Probiotics And Prebiotics The Same Thing
No, probiotics and prebiotics are different things. However, in reality, these are opposite sides of the same coin. Probiotics are living bacteria that reside in the digestive system and aid in nutrition digestion. On the other hand, prebiotics are non-digestible fibers that can pass past the gut undamaged and wind up in tiny intestines, where they serve as food for probiotics.
Correct Packaging Is Crucial For Probiotics To Remain Alive
Itâs great that more people are talking about their gut health and searching for ways to improve their digestion, but itâs important to ensure the quality of the probiotic youâre taking.
Packaging of probiotics is important in ensuring that the culture remains alive until it reaches your gut. Because bacteria can die in heat, and have a predetermined shelf life, packaging plays an important role in the effectiveness of the supplement. Looking to trusted manufacturers can be a good option to help in your selection process.
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Natures Zest 100 Billion Cfu Bio Cultures
Natures Zest is produced right here in the UK which is something we always love to see, and were a fan of their 100 billion CFU probiotic. Its manufactured in a GMP Registered facility and all ingredients are tested to ensure quality.
This formula contains 12 strains of cultures, and includes Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii strains, as well as prebiotic fibres to aid digestion. Theyve been tested to be shelf stable meaning you can keep them in or out of the fridge, and the 180 capsule bottle should last you a couple of months at least.
Its also vegan and vegetarian friendly, non GMO and free from artificial colours. While the spectrum of flora this supplement offers isnt quite as broad, we think its great value for money and still a very high quality product. If you have healthy bowel movements and are generally healthy overall, this would be a great as a maintenance option rather than trying to fix any serious deficiencies.
Finding High Quality Probiotic Supplements
So, how can you identify the legitimate products through all the smoke? There are a few key factors to look for that can all but guarantee the product is genuine.
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May Improve Symptoms Of Certain Gastrointestinal Diseases
Some of the most well-studied uses of probiotic supplements relate to the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease .
One review of 11 studies found that 7 of them reported that probiotic supplementation significantly improved symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain in IBS patients, compared with a placebo, while the remaining 4 studies did not find significant improvements.
The review also found that multi-strain probiotics used for at least 8 weeks seemed to be most effective at improving IBS symptoms .
Notably, Lactobacillus acidophilus was present in all of the multi-strain supplement studies that reported significantly improved symptoms .
Multi-strain probiotics may improve some symptoms in those with IBD, though they appear to be less effective for people with Crohns disease.
Evidence is currently limited, and well-designed studies are needed (
34 ).
While some people, including those with IBS and certain types of IBD, may benefit from specific strains of probiotics, in general, most healthy people who follow a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle do not need to supplement with probiotics.
Plus, some researchers are concerned that the widespread use of probiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and warn that many studies investigating the safety and efficacy of probiotics are of poor quality .