How to find the healthiest Probiotic!
Probiotics are live microorganisms that help improve or restore the proper mix of bacteria in our gut. The key word here is live- and in the case of probiotic supplements it refers to these bacteria surviving the the trip from the manufacturer to you and from your mouth to the colon. Probiotic supplements must be protected as they move through the harsh environments of the digestive system where corrosive acid and bile salts await. We need these healthy bacteria throughout our body for the rest of our bodily systems to function optimally.
Probiotics have been shown to provide benefits for:
synthesizing vitamins & minerals, improving their absorption, which enables the body to produce enzymes, hormones and other substances essential for proper growth and development.
gastrointestinal function - supporting digestive health, less bloating, cramping and easier to pass bowel movements
gut barrier integrity - protecting the gut from foreign substances
heart & cardiovascular health
immune function
dermatological health
As you might know from seeing the stocked shelves of Probiotic supplements in CVS, Whole Foods or on Amazon, the market is saturated with supplements that all have claims supporting their benefits. But did you know that supplements do not require testing or approval from the Food & Drug Administration? Since Probiotic supplements are unregulated, scientific studies to confirm their efficacy are not required and you can legally put a probiotic label on pretty much anything. This makes it even more confusing for consumers to know what they're truly getting.
Think of Probiotics like cars, there is the new expensive Ferrari and then there is the less expensive, pre-owned Buick with 100,000 miles already on it. There is a huge price and value difference in terms of the benefits you receive from what you pay for. Often supplements are filled with other things so that you are not getting the full benefit of what the bottle claims. There can also be toxic ingredients in supplements that can cause organ damage, cancer, cardiac arrest and various other concerns since there is not strict testing done before they enter the market. Many types of supplements can also interact negatively with prescription medicine and over-the-counter drugs. In an ideal world, the FDA would screen supplements and prevent harmful ingredients from entering the market and human bodies. In the meantime we as consumers need to do our research before ingesting something daily.
To determine if you should buy a particular probiotic, these are the questions you should ask:
1.) Which strains- not just species -are included in this probiotic?
2.) Are the strains in this probiotic included in clinically-verified dosages?
3.) Have these strains, in these amounts, been studied in human clinical trials to demonstrate a benefit to my body?
If the company making the probiotic can't provide scientifically validated answers to these 3 questions, consider that a red flag! Be sure to check back next week for which Probiotics I recommend and to get a discount on your first order!
