What You Can Do
Don’t start taking probiotics without talking to your doctor or pharmacist about whether probiotics might help you. People who have immune deficiency or are being treated for cancer should not use probiotics without a doctor’s okay.
The most common species of bacteria used in probiotics are species of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium. The bacteria are usually freeze-dried when you take the supplement, they warm up in your digestive system and become fully active. You can find probiotic supplements in most drugstores and supermarkets. They come as capsules or tablets to swallow and as loose powder to sprinkle on food. You’ll want a product that explicitly states a “sell-by” date. Dosages vary by product, so no general dosing recommendation can be made. However, common dosages for adults range from five billion to 10 billion colony-forming units per day. Take just one dose of probiotics per day.
Some people may experience loose stools in the first few days of taking probiotics, but this goes away. Taking probiotics at the end of a meal may help to reduce the symptoms.
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Which Probiotic Is Right For You
Its important to remember that a womans body and her unique microbiome is very different from that of a man, and understanding this difference is an essential part of choosing the right probiotic to help maintain a balanced gut and a healthy body. As women grow and our bodies change, our probiotic needs also tend to change.
Below are 6 powerful, once-daily probiotic supplements from Renew Life specially formulated to support a womans needs.*
DAILY SUPPORTULTIMATE FLORA WOMENS CARE PROBIOTIC
Taking a probiotic supplement as part of their daily routine can help women stay in balance so they feel their best.* Ultimate Flora Womens Care Probiotic is the #1 Womens Probiotic and contains 25 billion live cultures from 10 different probiotic strains. Designed to support good digestion and a healthy immune system, it also contains Lactobacilli to promote vaginal health.*
- Supports digestive and immune health*
- Supports healthy vaginal microflora*
Vaginal pH balance plays a key role in maintaining a healthy vagina and urinary tract, which in turn promotes overall wellness. Ultimate Flora Women’s Vaginal Probiotic is a potent formula made with 50 billion live cultures from 10 different probiotic strains, including plenty of Lactobacilli to support vaginal health for a woman’s unique needs.*
- Potent Lactobacillus formula for women*
- Supports vaginal health*
- Multiple probiotic strains reflect the natural diversity of your gut
Why Men Should Take A Probiotic Supplement
Health and wellness comes from the insidewhich is why taking care of your digestive health is one of the best ways to stay healthy and fit. And one of the best ways you can do that is by taking probiotic supplements. Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms that live and multiply in your gut , and help to support your physical and mental health.
It is important to remember that every persons gut microbiome hosts totally different bacteria, so your bodys reaction to probiotics may differ from that of someone else. Your unique gut flora can be influenced by everyday behaviors, tooe.g., variances in stress, diet, toxins, and even your sleep habits.
An important note: There are probiotic species and probiotic strains. The two most common species include Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus . Both can be found in supplements. Each species contains a number of strains.
Beyond Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces boulardii is another popular probiotic. However, this one isnt technically a probiotic! Its a yeast, but it nonetheless functions as a probiotic.
You can strengthen your microbiome supplement with a probiotic supplement that feeds your beneficial bacteria. You also feed them when you consume fermented foods such as kimchi, kefir, yogurt, sauerkraut, tempeh, and kombucha.
Here are all the reasons you should add these good bacteria to your system:
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Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic
The second top ranking best probiotics for women, as selected by our all women review team is Elm & Rye daily Probiotic.
Reasons for selecting the brand of probiotic are
- The probiotic Elm & Rye daily Probiotic is manufactured by Elm & Rye which is a reputed manufacturer of a number of dietary supplements which are very popular among the users. Their probiotic which is full of friendly microorganisms has been developed after years of dedicated research by a worlds top-class research team.
- The probiotic formula is simple and transparent. It contains only one bacterium called Lactobacillus Acidophilus. It is the most vital good bacteria in the gut and comes in the group of Lactobacillus genus. The bacteria converts the sugar of the food into lactic acid. Along with hydrogen peroxide the bacteria also produce substances which have properties of inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut.
- Our clinical testing with women participants who consumed the probiotics has confirmed that the probiotic improves the health of the intestine, regulates the gastrointestinal flow, improves general immunity, improves cardiovascular health and dermatological health.
Ingredients of the probiotic Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic
The probiotic Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic is soy free, gluten free, GMO free, dairy Free and preservative free.
Use Instruction
Take one capsule daily. If you are pregnant or have any medical conditions you should consult your doctor before starting the probiotic.
Amines In Probiotic Foods May Trigger Headaches
Some probiotic-rich foods, like yogurt, sauerkraut and kimchi, contain biogenic amines (11,
14 ).
Amines can excite the central nervous system, increase or decrease blood flow and may trigger headaches in people sensitive to the substance .
One study found that low-histamine diets reduced headaches in 75% of participants. However, a review of 10 controlled studies found no significant effect of dietary amines on headaches .
More research is needed to determine whether or not amines can be direct triggers of headaches or migraines in some people.
Keeping a food diary including any headache symptoms you might experience can help clarify whether fermented foods are problematic for you.
If probiotic-rich foods trigger your symptoms, a probiotic supplement may be a better choice.
Summary
Fermented foods rich in probiotics naturally contain amines. Some people may experience headaches after eating these foods, and should instead opt for probiotic supplements.
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Probiotics For Men: 14 Reasons Why Men Should Take A Probiotic Supplement
Lena Kleinfeld
Men can experience a number of benefits from regularly taking probiotic supplements. In addition to the general benefits that people experience regardless of sex, probiotics can help support mens prostate health, raise testosterone levels, and increase sperm counts.
Probiotics, which is the scientific word for the good bacteria living in our intestines, are critically important for the healthy function of our bodies. These tiny little beneficial bacteria assist the body with many functions spawning from digestion and bowel movements, to the immune system and cognitive function. In addition, more and more research shows that there is a connection between the make-up of the gut bacteria and certain chronic illnesses.
Probiotics are an extremely beneficial dietary supplement to support overall health and vitality. Men, women and kids can benefit from the powerful effects of a high-quality probiotic supplement. In this blog post, we will explore the ways that men specifically can benefit from probiotics.
How Many Probiotics Can You Take Per Day
As probiotics are exogenous gut bacteria, consuming large amount of them or consuming them every day for too long can cause problems.
So how many probiotics should you take each day?
Th strength of probiotic supplements is measured in CFUs, or colony-forming units. This refers to the number of different bacteria in the supplement capable of forming a colony in the gut.
As you can imagine, the average number of CFUs across different probiotics is both very variable and extremely high. Anywhere fro 1 billion CFUs per dose to 20 billion CFUs per dose is common.
As a general rule of thumb, it is safer to take a probiotic with a lower CFU count on a daily basis from a side effect point of view. The higher the CFUs, the more ptoentially upsetting the probiotic is to your gut if you take it on a daily basis, as your microbiome can become overwhelmed by the foreign bacteria species.
But realistically, the CFU count matters less than the sheer number of different bacteria species youre pouring into your gut on a daily basis.
We recommend using a single probiotic product at time. That means avoiding fermented foods and probiotic drinks if using a probiotic supplement, and vice versa. Try not to consume too many different probiotic foods each day if you are not using a probiotic supplement more is not better!
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Probiotics Can Help Stabilize Blood Sugar Levels And Ward Off Diabetes
Kumar M, Nagpal R, Kumar R, Hemalatha R, Verma V, Kumar A et al. Cholesterol-lowering probiotics as potential biotherapeutics for metabolic diseases. Exp Diabetes Res 2012 2012: 902917.
Muldoon MF, Manuck SB, Matthews KA. Lowering cholesterol concentrations and mortalitya quantitative review of primary prevention trials. BMJ 1990 301: 309314.
Ridker PM. Evaluating novel cardiovascular risk factors: can we better predict heart attacks? Ann Intern Med 1999 130: 933937.
Increased Risk Of Infection
review from 2017 suggest that children and adults with severe illnesses or compromised immune systems should avoid using probiotics. Some people with these conditions have experienced bacterial or fungal infections as a result of probiotic use.
If a person has a condition that affects their immune system, they should speak with their doctor before taking probiotics.
Also, anyone using antifungal medication should wait until the infection has cleared up before taking probiotics.
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How Can Probiotics Be Beneficial For Men And Women
Health products have become some of the most popular, and confusing, items available. With so much diverse information and opinions on the internet it can leave ones head spinning. Probiotics have risen to the top as a topic of interest.
Probiotics are essential to help create a healthy environment in the human body. However, not all probiotics are created equally. They also can be made from hundreds of different strains of beneficial bacteria that exist. We need all these different bacteria for so many functions in our bodies beyond the commonly known gut health.
Since we have literally billions of bacteria in our bodies, it is extremely beneficial to understand how probiotics work. Men and women generally benefit from the same strains, but there are certain issues with each sex that require specific strains.
Should You Use Probiotics For Your Vagina
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
You know probiotics can be good for your gut, but does your vagina need one too? You might think so, based on probiotic marketing these days. Probiotics are in everything from drinks to pills and powders, and in many cases, are being promoted as a means of improving your vaginal health.
Women seem to be listening, says Dr. Caroline Mitchell, assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School. Vaginal probiotic supplements are hugely popular. This includes both probiotic pills and suppository capsules that are inserted into the vagina using an applicator.
But evidence of effectiveness is scant. There is almost no evidence that these have benefit for vaginal health. The studies are mostly poorly done and dont adhere to rigorous reporting standards, even if they are randomized trials, says Dr. Mitchell. But that hasnt stopped companies from promoting products for that purpose.
However, while todays vaginal probiotic products should be viewed with a healthy dose of skepticism, that may change as scientific knowledge builds. Meanwhile, heres whats known and unknown about probiotics and your vaginal health.
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Sex Drive And Probiotics Can They Increase Your Libido
MenoLabs News | Fri, Nov 01, 2019
If you choose to watch Netflix over spending some naughty time with your partner, menopause might be the one to blame. Estrogen levels are lower, which leads to less blood flow to your vagina. As a result, arousal and stimulation are not so easy, and you may not enjoy sex as much as you did before. Menopause can affect your libido, but it seems that probiotics might be just the right thing to help you improve your sex drive.
Apart from this, your libido can suffer from mental health issues brought about by menopause, along with the stress of daily life, irritability, and mood swings. A study has found that women with the most severe symptoms of menopause have a lower sex drive than women with mild symptoms . As a result, your hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue are not the best for your libido.
When you feel that low sex drive affects your self-esteem and quality of life, it is time to look at this symptom seriously. Some women are afraid to speak about their problems with their partner or doctor. But there is nothing shameful about low sex drive because of menopause it is a normal stage of life. There are several tips you can follow to improve your sex drive with natural remedies and conventional treatments as well.
The Stress Gap Between Men And Women Is Real
Stress is a common factor that causes IBS and digestive discomfort, and for women, stress is no small thing. A survey by the American Psychological Association found that women are more likely than men to feel stressed out and experience physical and emotional symptoms related to stresseverything from getting a headache, feeling like they could cry, and having an upset stomach or indigestion.
Almost half of all women reported that their stress has risen in the last five years, compared to 39% of men. And the stress gap gets bigger when it comes to emotional labor, a term coined by sociologist Arlie Hochschild in the 1980s that refers to the work someone does that goes unnoticed, whether professionally, in relationships, or at home.
No matter who you are, stress management is a hugeif not essentialpart of wellness. It’s why we take self-care seriously . The good news? Both probiotics and prebiotic-rich foods have been shown to help reduce cortisol levels.
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Turn To Natural Remedies Like Probiotics
Some women are worried about the risks of HRT and estrogen therapies. If you are one of them, there are also natural remedies that can help improve your sex drive. Think foods with estrogen-like elements, such as soy, red clover, or black cohosh. Furthermore, probiotic studies have shown these good bacteria to be very helpful for improving sex drive and other symptoms of menopause.
Probiotics For Respiratory Health
Whether you believe in man flu, its true that many men suffer with respiratory conditions and need to support their immune function. Many factors can impact our immune system including smoking, poor diet, high activity levels and stress. Theres a growing body of research which indicates that probiotics can positively affect immune function and resistance to infection.
A Japanese trial showed that when smokers took Lactobacillus casei Shirota®, NK cell activity improved18,19. NK cells are white blood cells, important for fighting off viral infections, these cells are usually lower in smokers.
In another gold standard study, 465 healthy adults were given the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04® over a 5-month period. The probiotic reduced incidences of upper respiratory tract infections by 27%20. A further group of participants in this study were given a different probiotic containing L. acidophilus NCFM® & B. lactis Bi-07®. This group also saw a reduction in infection incidence rate.
In a large-scale study involving 1104 healthy participants, a milk preparation containing the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431® reduced the duration of flu-like symptoms by 3 days after taking the influenza vaccine21.
Health Professionals can view research using this strain on the Probiotics Database Lactobacillus paracasei CASEI 431®.
You can read more on the Probiotics for winter immunity.
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Do Probiotic Supplements Benefit Vaginal Health
Some scientists believe taking probiotics might help to restore a healthier balance of bacteria in the vagina. That works in theory and in some lab experiments.
But what works in the laboratory doesnât always work the same way in the human body. It may not be as simple as introducing healthy bacteria in the form of a pill or suppository.
So far, there’s little evidence to suggest that these supplements improve vaginal health. This may change as scientists learn more. But for now, antibiotic and antifungal medications are the only treatments known to be effective for vaginal bacterial and yeast infections.
What Medical Conditions May Be Contraindicated With Live Cultures
Live cultures and probiotics are never recommended for those with serious medical conditions such as those who are extremely immunosuppressed, have pancreatitis, are currently in the ICU, have malaena, have a central venous catheter, infants with short bowl syndrome, or patients who have open wounds following surgery.
On top of that, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should always consult a doctor before taking certain probiotics and live cultures.
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Probiotics For Digestive Health
Healthy gut bacteria feed on fiber and some other prebiotic foods, so experts recommend that people eat a diet rich in high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables.
To improve digestion, choose probiotics known to support gut health, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species. The L. rhamnosus GG strain, in particular, has many protective factors that may benefit gut health, for example, inhibiting the growth of some salmonella bacteria.
Taking a probiotic supplement will not always benefit a persons digestive health and should not replace a healthy lifestyle. People should ensure they are:
- eating a healthy diet
support vaginal and digestive health. This product contains 1 billion CFU of L.acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, and L. plantarum.
The company claims that Probiotic Pearls may protect against UTIs.
This probiotic contains softgel capsules. They are free from gluten and sugar, and do not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. However, this product is not suitable for vegetarians.
