We live with bacteria everyday and our body actually needs beneficial bacteria to help our immune systems function in it's highest capacity. Your tummy is one of the most complex eco systems to understand and study. Therefore reinforcing the numbers of the beneficial bacteria such as lactobacilli and bifidobacteria becomes an essential daily health objective. Yes you will find lactic acid bacteria in yogurt however, it is not the most effective source of probiotic bacteria because the yogurt makers do not guarantee the potency of beneficial bacteria and unless you are buying unsweetened your body will be fighting the damaging effects of sugar as well.
The idea of beneficial bacteria to preserve foods has been around for centuries. Even the ancient Sumerians painted about the use of fermented cheese in 2500 B.C. However, the idea of beneficial bacteria aiding us in life wasn't created until the early 1900s when Dr. Elie Metchnikoff traveled to Eastern Europe. He was surprised to find many people living to be 100 years of age or older and concluded that this was due to the large quantities of yogurt they consumed.
Probiotics literally mean "for life" and are coming to the forefront of medicine as beneficial bacteria supplements to help restore our vital microflora.
Before you pick your next probiotic, learn as much as you can about it, not all probiotics are created equal. Here is a list to use when selecting your probiotic.
- Look for the International Good Manufacturing Practice certification (cGMP), which will ensure that you are receiving the highest quality probiotic that meets unequaled standards. This also guarantees that the product has been tested for potency and safety in all stages from the culturing of the bacteria through the printed expiration date.
- You must also look for a potency guarantee for each strain listed on the bottle label through the printed expiration date. The listing must include the strain, not just the genus and species. Without the strain listed, you may be getting a worthless bacteria.
- Probiotics must be stored and shipped refrigerated for the bacteria to live. Several probiotic companies claim that they have shelf-stable products but these have never been proven effective.
- Purchase only a probiotic with its supernatant (culturing medium). This provides nourishment for the probiotic and has been found to increase the benefits of the probiotic by up to 50 percent.
- The packaging is an important way to keep the bacteria protected. Dark glass bottles and tin lids protect the probiotics from the damaging effects of light and moisture.
Personally, I have done my research and found that Natren "Healthy Trinity" has been the best to meet my needs, and in helping others through many health issues like IBS, diverticulitis, acid reflux, candida, chrones, and other intestinal disorders it has proven to help improve and ultimately change their lives for the better.
Optimal health starts from the inside and probiotics can help you achieve this.
Disclaimer: The entire contents of this website are based upon the opinions of I'm Holistic, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experiences of I'm Holistic. I'm Holistic encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.
