Probiotics are the basis of all living things, no plant, no animal and no human can exist without them. When they becomes compromised then illness begins. So selecting the right probiotics is important.
All living things rely on Probiotics; they are live microorganisms, usually bacteria, that are believed to offer various health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.
These microorganisms are often referred to as “good” or “friendly” bacteria because they are thought to promote a balanced and healthy gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is the collection of microorganisms that reside in your digestive tract and play a crucial role in digestion, immune function, and overall health.
Here’s a breakdown of key aspects related to probiotics:
1. Types of Probiotics: Probiotics can belong to various species and strains of bacteria. Some common bacterial strains used as probiotics include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. Our probiotic is not just one or two strains like many other probiotics.
The following probiotic strains have been used in the fermentation process of Probiotic Foods, and are cultured from food—not dairy, fecal matter or laboratory bred: Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Delbrueckii, Lactobacillus Caseii, Lactobacillus Bulgaricus, Lactobacillus Caucasus, Lactobacillus Fermenti, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus Brevis, Lactobacillus Helveticus, Lactobacillus Leichmannii, Lactobacillus Lactis, Bifidabacterium Bifidum, Saccharomyces Boulardii, Saccharomyces Cerevisiae.
2. Health Benefits: Probiotics are associated with several potential health benefits. Some potential benefits include:
- Improved Digestion: Probiotics can aid in the digestion of certain foods and may help alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other digestive disorders.
- Enhanced Immune Function: A healthy gut microbiome is linked to a stronger immune system, as the gut plays a vital role in immune response.
- Management of Diarrhea: Certain probiotic strains can be effective in reducing the duration and severity of certain types of diarrhea, including antibiotic-associated diarrhea and infectious diarrhea.
- Relief from Certain Allergies: Some research suggests that probiotics might help manage certain allergic conditions by modulating the immune response.
- Mood & Mental Health: Emerging studies indicate a potential connection between the gut microbiome and mental health, suggesting that probiotics could have a role in managing conditions like anxiety and depression.
3. Prebiotics: Prebiotics are types of dietary fibers that serve as food for probiotics. They help the beneficial bacteria in the gut thrive and grow. Consuming a diet rich in prebiotic foods, such as garlic, onions, leeks, bananas, and whole grains, can complement the effects of probiotics.
4. Choosing Probiotics: When selecting a probiotic supplement, it’s important to consider many factors such as where the probiotic comes from is a bred from food (like ours) or is it bred in a lab? Check the ingredients – is it prebiotic & probiotic? Is the product shelf stable or does it need to be kept in the fridge? How many strains are there – the more the better…
In summary, probiotics are live microorganisms that are believed to offer various health benefits, especially for gut health and immune function.
The myths…
❌You can get enough good bacteria and probiotics from diet alone.
❌All probiotics are the same and not worth the money.
❌You only need probiotics when you have antibiotics.
❌Why take them when they just die in your gut.
❌I get my probiotics from yoghurtYep we have heard it all….Let’s unpack the great probiotic debate!Probiotics and their effectiveness depend on production methods and type of food or substance on which the bacteria are cultured—be it soil, food, dairy, laboratory produced. It’s a bit like conventional farming versus organic farming. What would you prefer to eat? (Hint … organic!)So ultimately the effectiveness of a probiotic comes down to if you are using the right probiotic! Then the beauty and power of probiotics can be truly recognised and allow you to flourish in its benefits.
LET’S BUST SOME MYTHS!
Probiotics don’t work unless you keep them in the fridge. Yes, we bet you have heard that one before! But the truth is if they come bound to their own food source! Left on the shelf out of direct sunlight, food based bacteria are still viable but dormant in their own food source and come alive when activated in the body. No refrigeration required! However if the probiotics are not bound to food, they will not be as stable and will require refrigeration.
Why take Probiotics when they don’t survive stomach acid? Beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus acidophilus literally means ‘acid-loving’. Food based bacteria are well-suited to surviving the acidic environment of the stomach. Fragile bacteria that are forced to multiply in a lab may not be as hardy. This just confirms again that not all probiotics work unless you are consuming the right one that can survive and thrive.
You can get enough good bacteria from eating yoghurt? Commercial yoghurts laden with sugar are not the best source of beneficial bacteria, especially if you are sensitive to cow milk protein or lactose intolerant. They contain fewer strains and it’s unclear what remains after pasturisation which kills both good and bad bacteria.
You only need probiotics if you have taken antibiotics. If you are on a course of antibiotics start taking Probiotic Foods on the same day, first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach to send a protective message to your gut bacteria. Antibiotics are on the top of the list for wiping out your beneficial bacteria, there are many other influences such as chemicals in food and water, GMO foods, EMFs and stress which kill off your good guys too, so they need to be replaced.
I only need Prebiotics – One of the more recent myths going around is that taking prebiotics is more important than probiotics. Both beneficial bacteria (probiotics) and the foods that feed them (prebiotics) are equally important for gut health and both are found in each blend of the Probiotic Foods range. |
|
| What you hear about probiotics and what you see on the supermarket shelves can be debatable. Labels, marketing and branding can all sway our perception and although the importance of gut health is becoming more and more recognised we need to understand what is actually beneficial for our gut health & what isn’t just going to dwindle the bank balance without any benefits.
A key point to determining a good probiotic from a bad one is the variety of bacteria. Bacterial variety is essential to a healthy gut. Because there are 1000 species of bacteria in the gut, a multistrain probiotic gives you the best chance to boost the variety and number of beneficial bacteria to help out number the bad guys. More is more when it comes to good bugs. Many on the market may only have 1-2 strains of beneficial bacteria so look for a probiotic that has at least 12+ strains.
Understanding the components that make probiotics WORK and what compromises this is an important element to understanding any product in the heavily saturated health market today. We can quickly become overwhelmed about which product is right for us so to make things easy we have a quick summary of points to look for when shopping for a probiotic that actually works:
✅ Food based bacteria
✅ Organic – with certification
✅ Contains Prebiotics + Probiotics
✅ Multiple strains of beneficial bacteria. We recommend 12+ strains.
Why we need good bacteria…
The loss of good bacteria is playing a leading role in so many people’s health around the world and yet science is now only beginning to recognise the importance of bacteria in our health.
Our good bacteria is compromised daily as we come into contact with toxins, chemicals, fluoride, pesticides and other environmental factors. With the thousands of bacteria we are host to you have to ask yourself, what real benefit are the supplements on the market with only 1 or 2 strains of good bacteria, when we actually need a variety to be of real benefit. We need to be in contact with a host of variety’s to make a real difference and the best way to do this is through organic or fermented foods. Look for products that contain a wide variety of bacteria and in particular where the bacteria have been used to break down organic whole foods that will act as a prebiotic. Products such as this gives us the released nutrients from the foods which in turn feed our cells as well as replenishing the good bacteria.
Check out our range of probiotic foods available–we use 12+strains of beneficial bacteria coupled with a range of specially selected organic whole foods to give you the ultimate variety of good bacteria and nutrition! All in one package!!
The more we understand about the value of our good bacteria the better we will understand how to improve our health. |
|
|
|
|
|
