Probiotics And Weight Loss
Probiotics can help support weight loss by preventing inflammation. Chronic inflammation can result from an unhealthy gut, specifically a gut that is out of balance and favors harmful strains.
Harmful bacteria that thrives on sugars and fat cause inflammation, which weakens and damages your intestinal walls. When this happens, tears in your gut lining develop, known as leaky gut syndrome. Toxins are then free to move about the body after leaking through, triggering further inflammation.
Inflammation and the storage of fat cells have a longstanding relationship and both contribute to the existence of the other. Inflammation interferes with your metabolism in a way that promotes fat storage while fat cells release inflammatory chemicals to further perpetuate inflammation in your body.
The only way to break the cycle is to prevent inflammation and work on reducing fat storage. Both can be achieved with a combination of exercise, probiotic support, and a balanced diet.
Probiotics have become popular in recent years as studies continue to uncover the many benefits they have for your health. While they primarily support gut health and digestion, the benefits of a healthy gut extend far beyond your digestive tract. With regular probiotic support, your gut will flourish and you will notice many other benefits to your overall health.
You will have more energy because healthy bacteria promote optimal nutrient absorption and more efficient metabolism.
Garden Of Life Raw Probiotics
Garden of life Raw Probiotics are relatively new to the probiotics game. But they are creating some fairly potent probiotics. They have also found a way to create blends that have more than 30 different probiotic strains, which is impressive.
How Long Should I Take Probiotics
Generally, there is no set amount of time you have to take probiotics. It depends on the desired benefit you are seeking. Most probiotics on the market today recommend dosing one or more times a day.We recommend people take them every day to ensure a continued presence in your digestive tract and maintain the health benefits they offer. If you take a break in your consumption of probiotics, you may notice that the health benefits taper off over the course of 1 â 4 weeks. This may be due to your bodyâs microbiome returning to its normal state after you stopped supplementing it with a probiotic.
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Lactobacillus Rhamnosus And Lactobacillus Reuteri
The lactobacillus probiotic is one of the more extensively studied strains and is found in most probiotic supplements. The bacteria reside in the intestines and break down milk sugar into lactic acid. Studies1 show the lactobacillus probiotic and specifically lactobacillus rhamnosus may offset the effects of Crohns disease.
So, what makes lactobacillus one of the best probiotics for women? In women, the strain resides largely in the urogenital tract, which consists of the urinary and vaginal tract. This area is especially prone to yeast and other pathogenic bacterial infection.
The probiotic may be helpful in treating bacterial vaginosis, thrush and cystitis. Clinical trials show both lactobacillus rhamnosus and reuteri are able to survive the journey through the gut and colonize the vagina.
Will Probiotics Help Against Covid
You may have seen claims that probiotics can help protect against COVID-19, though they generally stop short of directly stating the supplements will treat COVID-19.
One argument is based on tenuous links with research on probiotics and colds and flus, suggesting if they’re good for some respiratory infections, they may also be good for COVID-19. It’s also been suggested that they may be helpful for treating diarrhoea that some coronavirus patients get. Most commonly they’re recommended to support or boost immunity, so if COVID-19 comes along you can fight it more effectively.
It’s early days yet, with much still to be learnt about the virus and no good clinical evidence to support any of these claims.
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Choosing The Best Probiotic Supplement For You
In order to pick the best probiotic for yourself, you now know that you need to look for the strain of probiotic that your supplement contains.
But more often than not, youll simply see up to the species level on a probiotic label. So you might see Lactobacillusrhamnosus on the label instead of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG.
Now, I hope that these probiotic supplement companies are just ignorant instead of blatantly trying to dupe their customers.
But the truth is that you need the strain information in order to make a decision about the best probiotic for yourself. And if the probiotic company that youre trying to buy from doesnt list it and wont tell you, chances are that its a poorly-studied probiotic strain, or doesnt do what theyre advertising it does.
If youre looking at a probiotic supplement and the strain isnt listed, you can contact the company and ask what strain theyre using. But dont be surprised if they tell you that their probiotic mixture is proprietary .
If thats the case, I recommend steering clear. They either dont want you to know that theyre using a poorly-researched strain of probiotics or theyre simply ignorant to the fact that the strain of probiotic really matters and determines the benefit that youll receive as the consumer. I usually want to give these companies the benefit of the doubt, but honestly, if youre making a probiotic supplement you should know this stuff is important.
Lets go through an example.
The Nue Co Prebiotic + Probiotic
This supplement from The Nue Co. contains 15 billion spores per dose that are ingested and help to combat the symptoms of IBS and digestive issues. The brand opts for spores over live actives that are cocooned to protect them through the stomach acid and so that they remain dormant until they reach the small intestine where they multiply, grow and get to work. In a double-blind placebo trial, they were shown to improve abdominal pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea and bloating. They also play a part in boosting immunity and promoting clearer skin.
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How To Pick A Probiotic Supplement That Works And Get It At A Great Price
With all the media craze surrounding probiotics and their incredible health benefits, we decided it was time to write an in depth analysis of the benefits and what you want to look out for when buying an effective probiotic supplement.
The increase in popularity of probiotic supplements is growing and supplement manufacturers have been crawling out of the woodwork to create their version of a probiotic supplement, with wild claims as to its actual benefits. As each new company bursts into the market with their own proprietary formula, it becomes harder to separate fact from fiction, premium product from worthless imitation.
We decided it was time to analyze them ourselves to find out which products were subpar, which were flat-out lying about what was even in their pills, and which, if any, might actually be worth a try.
Its hard to believe, but most companies slap on a label that says Probiotic Supplement, often without even mentioning which strains of probiotics are found in the product or how much of the key ingredients are in each pill or without actually including the amount they claim.
When Does Your Body Need Probiotics
The human body contains more bacteria than cells, so maintaining healthy bacterial balance is important for overall health. Although probiotics can regularly support your overall health, there are certain occasions when they can be beneficial.
For example, when you are taking antibiotics, your doctor might also suggest you take probiotics. Regular probiotic supplementation can also help promote digestive health to help alleviate common gas, bloating, and indigestion, particularly after eating.
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Ultimate Flora 50 Billion
- 50 billion live cultures per serving
- 12 diverse strains
- Vegan friendly, Soy Free and All Natural
- Essential Ingridients*95%95%
- Return Policy*92%92%
- Overall Score*95%95%
Ultimate Flora came in 3nd place in our survey. Its no wonder because Ultimate Flora is a great product with 50 Billions CFUs which is in the range of the recommended dosage. It also has 12 robust strains but lacks prebiotics and delivery system.
Another complain some customers had was that Renew Life Ultimate Flora only offers a 60 days return policy.
*Individual Results May Vary Ratings are based on eNutrition Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. We encourage consumers to research by visiting each product websites for more information.
What Is A Probiotic Strain
Probiotic strains are where things get a bit more complicated.
You see, most of us are used to seeing probiotic names listed on supplement labels with two parts to the name.
For example, you might see Lactobacillus rhamnosus on a supplement label and nothing more than that. Looks pretty legit, right? Its a complicated name that most of us probably wouldnt pronounce correctly.
But the truth is that its missing the most important part of its name its strain.
Probiotic effects are strain-specific. That means that you cant expect Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG to do the same things as Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01. Those third letters/numbers are the strain of the bacteria and are extremely important when you are evaluating the best probiotics for you.
For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG is a highly-studied strain that has a whole host of benefits, including preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea, C.difficile treatment, and promoting intestinal barrier function.
On the other hand, Lactobacillus rhamnosus PB01 is mostly studied for urogenital infections in women, sperm motility, and pain.
So if youre looking for the best probiotic to prevent diarrhea while youre on an antibiotic, should you really be taking a probiotic that has mostly been studied to help get rid of a urinary infection or improve sperm motility? Absolutely not!
The best probiotic for you is going to be different from the best probiotic for someone else.
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Choosing The Right Probiotic Supplement
With so much choice on the market, finding the right probiotic supplement can be challenging. Weve done extensive research to determine what criteria you should look for when choosing your probiotic supplement.
Finding a quality probiotic supplement starts with choosing one that contains the best probiotic strains. When buying your supplement, you should seek one that has strains of both Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Not only are they two of the most researched species, but different strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus also offer extensive health benefits, including:
Bifidobacterium:
- Supports digestion and alleviates symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases
- Helps to heal certain intestinal infections
- Prevents you from catching the flu and common cold
- Supports respiratory and heart health
- Improves lactose digestion10
- Prevents you from catching the flu and common cold
- Supports digestion and alleviates symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases
- Promotes healthy weight management
- Supports womens health, such as preventing yeast infections and urinary tract infections11.
There are numerous probiotic supplements you can take for gut health, however, the only real way to reap the benefits from them is to choose the right one. Keep reading to see our picks for the top 5 best probiotics on the market.
Which Foods Are Rich In Probiotics
Fermented foods, such as yoghurt, kefir, sauerkraut and kimchi, contain live bacteria and have been linked with numerous health benefits, although the science is still lacking for many claims.
However, there’s a good argument for getting your probiotics from yoghurt rather than a pill, as they contain other valuable nutrients.
Prebiotics are non-digestible food ingredients that can increase the activity of select ‘good’ bacteria
Certain brands of yoghurt and cultured drinks have been studied in clinical trials, and found helpful for treating diarrhoea and various other conditions. A 2015 Australian study, for example, found that Vaalia yoghurt reduced the incidence of diarrhoea in children taking antibiotics.
However, results obtained from one brand of yoghurt can’t be applied to all as with pills, it depends on the strains of bacteria and dose. There’s also some concern that many trials are sponsored by the manufacturers, with the possibility of bias.
Then there are prebiotics non-digestible food ingredients that can increase the activity of select ‘good’ bacteria. A high-fibre diet is naturally rich in prebiotics, with foods like bananas, asparagus, leeks, onions, garlic, chicory, and wholegrains like wheat, rye, barley and oats particularly beneficial.
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Bioglan Biotic Balance Ultimate Flora
Those suffering with acne or hormonal imbalances will probably find a supplement such as this Bioglan to be the most effective at helping tame the problem. Each capsule contains 5.8 billion CFU of lactobacillus acidophilus, which aside from helping boost the immune system is also known to help soothe the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance .
There are four bacteria strains in this brand overall and each of the 30 capsules contains 20 billion live cultures. The recommended dosage is one capsule a day and being free from gluten, wheat and soy, theyre a great option for those with coeliac disease.
Zenwise Health Digestive Enzymes Plus Prebiotics & Probiotics Supplement
- Digestive Enzymes with Pre & Probiotics Supplements: Pre-meal plant-powered pills formulated to help women and men find relief from occasional bloating, gas, and discomfort.
- Complete Gut Wellness: Replenishes digestive enzymes that may decline with age.
- Clinically Proven Reliably Alive De111 Probiotic: Guaranteed to arrive alive and work within hours in small intestine where 90% of nutrient absorption occurs + 70% of immune system resides.
- Botanical Bounty: Turmeric, Ginger, Green Papaya, Inulin, Apple Pectin, Bladderwrack, Fennel, and Wakame all aid gut health and stomach comfort.
- 180 Serving Supply: Includes 1 Zenwise Digestive Enzymes + with Pre & Probiotics.
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Newrhythm Probiotics 50 Billion Cfu 20 Strains
- Made in New York, USA NewRhythm 50 Billion Probiotics is made in a Facility Based in New York, USA.
- 50 Billions 20 Strains Targeted Release Formula NewRhythm 50Billion Probiotics Capsules is Scientifically Backed and Clinically Proven, Formulated by Doctor with 50 Billion Living Organisms Per Serving, Featuring Targeted Release Technology to Help Probiotics Survive Stomach Acids and Reach Your Intestinal Track.
- Potent and Pure for Your Digestive Health and Immune Health* Our All Natural Probiotics Provides Support For the Establishment and Maintenance of Favorable Intestinal Flora.
- 100% Natural, Non-GMO, Gluten FreeNewRhythm 50 Billion Probiotics is Formulated with 100% Natural Ingredients and Independently Tested in 3rd Party Labs in USA.
Are Some Strains Better Than Others
Many probiotics contain mixtures of two or more individual strains of bacteria or yeasts. They may also contain prebiotics, which are compounds that the probiotics can feed on. If a formula contains both probiotics and prebiotics, it is called a synbiotic.
Products most often contain Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium species, although many other species exist. Different strains of the same species of probiotics can act in different ways, according to some research .
Some people take probiotics for maintaining everyday health. When using a probiotic for a specific health concern, people should speak to a healthcare professional about the best strategy. This is because show that different probiotics and dosages are effective for different conditions and situations.
Read on to learn more about the best probiotics for specific uses.
People can take probiotics in supplement form or in the form of foods and beverages such as yogurt and drinks that have live cultures added to them.
Fermented foods also naturally contain beneficial bacteria. Examples of fermented foods include:
- miso
- kimchi
- kombucha
Probiotic manufacturers measure amounts of bacteria in colony-forming units . Supplements can vary, with some commonly having a CFU of billions. Foods with added probiotics often contain lower numbers of bacteria. Generally, people might take higher-CFU products for specific conditions and a lower-CFU product for general health maintenance.
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What Did We Research
With hundreds of manufacturers out there, we wanted to figure out what to look for and how to overcome our concerns regarding nutritional health supplements. We started the process by making a list of the main concerns we have over buying a good probiotic product.
- Its not going to be effective. The truth is, there are a lot of products that dont work at all. Typically, this is because they dont contain the right ingredients or the right proportions. A lot of interested consumers dont realize how exact a science creating an effective supplement really is.
- Its going to be too expensive to afford. As we conducted our research, we found that a lot of companies sell probiotic supplements for $100 or more! Who wants to risk that kind of money on what could just be snake oil salesmanship?
- The company I buy from might just be exploiting another fad. How can you tell when a manufacturer is just trying to cash in on the latest trend? Most of those companies are all gimmick and no substance. How do you know that the company you choose to buy from is giving you the real deal?
Common Types Of Probiotics
There are more than 500 different kinds of probiotic species, according to Harvard Medical School. Each probiotic is identified by its unique strain, which is named first by its genus, then by the species, and then by their strain . The microbes in the genus share genetics but each species and strain have a variety of genes.
Different probiotic species and strains perform different functions in the body. Thats why it is so important to choose a probiotic supplement that mindfully combines the probiotic strains and clinically tests the products for efficacy.
Youll most likely see probiotics listed by their genus and their species or by their strain nickname. But its helpful to have a basic understanding of probiotics classification so you spend your money on a probiotic supplement or probiotic food that will actually help you.
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