Questions About Probiotics?
Questions About Probiotics?
Research has shown that probiotics are beneficial in maintaining intestinal health, boosting your immune system and even aid mental health.
This is what Dr. Michael Klaper has to say about probiotics: “Keeping the resident population of bacteria in the intestinal tract healthy is essential, especially after taking a course of antibiotics. A population of “friendly” bacteria is required not only for the health of the intestines, but also to inhibit overgrowth with yeast and “unfriendly,” pathogenic bacteria. Normal bacterial flora also help to prevent increased intestinal permeability (“leaky-gut syndrome”), which can lead to joint inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, ingesting a preparation containing health-enhancing bacteria is often a very good idea.”
The most health-promoting organisms in our intestines are the family of Lactobacillus bacteria, especially Lactobacillus acidophilus, along with its friendly cousins, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. bifidus, and others.
The beneficial organisms must be put into the gut in substantial numbers. A good probiotic product has between 3 and 15 BILLION organisms per dose. (This is often expressed as colony forming units or cfu’s.) For severe derangements of the intestinal flora, this dose may need to be doubled. This is why I think eating yogurt as a probiotic is pointless. Standard, commercial yogurt is pasteurized to kill bacteria before it is sold, so it is useless as a probiotic source. The “cultured” or “bacteria-fortified” yogurt products have a few million organisms, at best. Thus, you would need to consume dozens of tubs of yogurt to produce any beneficial effect. Why consume all the dairy protein and sugar inherent in these products when all you really want is the beneficial organisms you can purchase purely in a good probiotic product?
To choose the perfect Probiotic Supplement the following will help you choose wisely:
Key Features To Look For:
- 7 to 12 strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria. Diversity is Key!
- Should always include a Prebiotic such as Inulin
- Should contain at least 100mg or more per serving
- Should have at least an “Acid Protection System” built in
- Preferably not a synthetic enteric coating system laiden with pthallates
What is a Prebiotic?
It is food for the probiotics. These prebiotics actually help the probiotics grow and flourish. They are extremely important in supporting the survival of probiotics.
Prebiotics important properties include:
Healthy bacteria- building potential
They are actually fiber
They are indigestible by bad bacteria
They are food for the probiotics
Eat healthy and you will thrive. Remember quality nutrition is the competitive edge!
Research has shown that probiotics are beneficial in maintaining intestinal health, boosting your immune system and even aid mental health.
This is what Dr. Michael Klaper has to say about probiotics: “Keeping the resident population of bacteria in the intestinal tract healthy is essential, especially after taking a course of antibiotics. A population of “friendly” bacteria is required not only for the health of the intestines, but also to inhibit overgrowth with yeast and “unfriendly,” pathogenic bacteria. Normal bacterial flora also help to prevent increased intestinal permeability (“leaky-gut syndrome”), which can lead to joint inflammation and autoimmune diseases. Consequently, ingesting a preparation containing health-enhancing bacteria is often a very good idea.”
The most health-promoting organisms in our intestines are the family of Lactobacillus bacteria, especially Lactobacillus acidophilus, along with its friendly cousins, L. plantarum, L. salivarius, L. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. bifidus, and others.
The beneficial organisms must be put into the gut in substantial numbers. A good probiotic product has between 3 and 15 BILLION organisms per dose. (This is often expressed as colony forming units or cfu’s.) For severe derangements of the intestinal flora, this dose may need to be doubled. This is why I think eating yogurt as a probiotic is pointless. Standard, commercial yogurt is pasteurized to kill bacteria before it is sold, so it is useless as a probiotic source. The “cultured” or “bacteria-fortified” yogurt products have a few million organisms, at best. Thus, you would need to consume dozens of tubs of yogurt to produce any beneficial effect. Why consume all the dairy protein and sugar inherent in these products when all you really want is the beneficial organisms you can purchase purely in a good probiotic product?
To choose the perfect Probiotic Supplement the following will help you choose wisely:
Key Features To Look For:
- 7 to 12 strains of beneficial probiotic bacteria. Diversity is Key!
- Should always include a Prebiotic such as Inulin
- Should contain at least 100mg or more per serving
- Should have at least an “Acid Protection System” built in
- Preferably not a synthetic enteric coating system laiden with pthallates
What is a Prebiotic?
It is food for the probiotics. These prebiotics actually help the probiotics grow and flourish. They are extremely important in supporting the survival of probiotics.
Prebiotics important properties include:
Healthy bacteria- building potential
They are actually fiber
They are indigestible by bad bacteria
They are food for the probiotics
Eat healthy and you will thrive. Remember quality nutrition is the competitive edge!
