5 Probiotics

That Will Make Your Gut Happy in 2022

What top scientists are discovering about our gut and how it can dramatically affect the quality of our lives.

It seems like there are literally hundreds of different probiotic brands out there these days. How do you make sense of it all and actually find the one that will work best for you? A good place to start is our in-depth probiotic reviews. We’ve tested out hundreds of products and share our opinions on the ones we think are worth your time and money

Probiotics are living microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, that are valuable for our gut health. The gut is responsible for many aspects of our health and probiotics can keep it healthy by preventing the growth of harmful organisms, reinforcing the gut barrier, and restoring bacteria after disturbances from illness or medications like antibiotics.

According to research, our gut is responsible for most of the occasional gas, bloating, and constipation. In fact, scientists, researchers and physicians are discovering that the gut is responsible for many aspects of our health and ultimately, the quality of our lives.

Researchers have proved that there is a lot of interaction between the body’s immune system and bacteria in the gut, consequently probitiocs can make your immune system stronger.

70% of the immune system is located in the gut, where diverse bacteria is best. The gut also plays a role in our digestion, lungs, heart,and even the brain. And when bad bacteria start outnumbering the good, it can negatively impact one or more of these vital systems.

We can find them in dairy products like yogurt and aged cheeses. They are also in fermented vegetables, like kimchi and sauerkraut, and pickled vegetables. While you can consume probiotics from foods, a supplement may provide your gut the extra boost it needs. A high quality probiotic supplement can restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut, re-establishing the correct balance of our gut flora.

Just like other popular supplements, the vast selection of probiotic products can make it hard to choose a high quality supplement. To reap the benefits, you need to choose the right one to address your particular issue or concern. For that reason we did the research for you, including what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for an effective probiotic.

We also list the 5 best probiotic supplements on the market today.

6 WAYS PROBIOTICS CAN GIVE YOU A HAPPY TUMMY

4 THINGS ALL EFFECTIVE PROBIOTICS MUST HAVE

There are many factors to consider when choosing a probiotic including the storage temperature, number of colony forming units, or CFUs, and types of bacterial strains included in the supplement.

CFU Count
Probiotics are measured in colony-forming units (CFUs). These units represent the number of viable bacteria per dose.Since our microbiome is composed of about 100 trillion good and bad bacteria, a high number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) will have greater impact on the growth of beneficial bacteria within our gut.23 It’s essential to choose a probiotic which specifies CFU versus “active cultures” or “live cultures.” Look for a formula with a minimum of 40 billion CFU.

Choose a probiotic brand that has a higher number of probiotics, ideally at least 50 billion per serving.

Prebiotics
The latest research shows that fiber-based prebiotics (such as NutraFlora Fiber) feed the probiotics, helping them to populate and flourish in our gut. Choose probiotics supplements containing prebiotics to significantly increase the overall effectiveness of the probiotic.

Strain Diversity

Select a probiotic supplement that has 10 or more probiotic strains, such as Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus thermophilus strains.

Each category of probiotic seems to occupy an important niche in your gut ecology and multiple species of beneficial bacteria collectively provide the health benefits of probiotics.

One single probiotic species is unlikely to be the magic pill that solves all health problems. But multiple species taken together are able to outcompete against bad bacteria and keep your gut environment healthy.

There are hundreds of different probiotics strains, but many have never been proven effective. The best way to identify the potency of a particular strain is to look at the clinical studies backing it up. To find out if a particular strain has clinical backing, search the strain name on the internet. Look for strains proven effective by clinical studies.

Storage Recommendations
It takes specific expertise to form an effective probiotic formulation. More is not necessarily better. The exact combination of strain type, potency, quantity, and prebiotics determines the product’s quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.

Know What Strains You Need
Every year, researchers make new strides in understanding probiotics and how they affect our health. We now understand that there are hundreds of unique probiotic strains that all perform different functions in our bodies. Some strains enhance digestion to minimize uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation. While others can enhance our mood, increase energy or give us greater mental clarity.

Discuss any medical conditions with your doctor and dietitian prior to selecting your probiotic. Recent studies suggest certain strains of bacteria can provide symptom relief for those with antibiotic-associated diarrhea, acute onset infectious diarrhea, IBS and IBD. For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has been suggested to reduce length of symptoms with acute infectious diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Additionally, for patients with IBS, a probiotic supplement with a combination of species including Bifidobacteria is recommended rather than a single species Lactobacillus probiotic.

Clinical studies have shown that specific probiotic strains can help with particular health concerns. While the human gut contains thousands of different bacterial strains, most probiotics only include a few generic Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium strains. Look for a probiotic that has at least 14 unique strains to support proper microbiome balance.

Here are some of the most effective strains available in a high-quality probiotic:

TOP PROBIOTIC STRAINS AND THEIR BENEFITS:

While the potency and variety of strains is crucial when looking for in a high-quality probiotic, it’s equally important to know what to avoid when looking for an effective probiotic.
The following 3 tips should help you sidestep those not worth your time:

PROBIOTICS: 3  THINGS TO AVOID

TOP 5 PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS OF 2022

CITATIONS