The Benefits of Probiotics

Intestinal flora is good bacteria that lives in your gut and improves your overall health.  The supplement form is called probiotics, meaning "healthful to life."  This good flora helps maintain the intestinal tract helping to relieve the leaky gut response of large food particles passing through the mucosa and causing an allergic response.  It also prevents the overgrowth of harmful pathogens like Candida, parasites, E. coli, H. pylori, and salmonella.  It can also ease the symptoms of food poisoning by supporting the intestines.  This good bacteria also aids digestion of foods such as dairy.  They manufacture short-chained fatty acids that are essential to your health.  They help produce B-complex vitamins while improving nutrient absorption.  All of this promotes a healthy metabolism and boosts the immune system.

Shopping for a Probiotic

1.     Chose a probiotic with Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria bifidum.

2.     Look for probiotics at your local health food store or natural vitamin shop.

3.     Many probiotics are refrigerated to extend the life of the living bacteria.  Check the date to ensure maximum potency.

4.     Chose a probiotic with 8 billion to 50 billion organisms.  It is possible that you probiotic will not even have that many living organisms after transport to the store and purchase.   

5.     Freeze dried probiotics suspend the flora's feeding and growth, keeping them dormant until they enter your body.  These products are typically shelf stable and are good for traveling.

6.     The more strains of beneficial bacteria, the better.  Read the label and chose a product with a diverse amount of bacteria.

7.     Try a product with FOS, inulin, or other prebiotics.  This if food for the good bacteria and can help them multiple quicker.

8.     Take probiotics on an empty stomach, preferably before bedtime.