Probiotic Supplements - Guidelines for Selecting the Best

Probiotics are a current keyword in the health food industry, with many health studies citing therapeutic benefits. The problem is that there are hundreds of probiotic supplements available. Pills, powders, fluids, freezing and life habits, single strains, various strains, endless options. So how do you choose the right supplement? Which is safe and effective for you?

Guidelines for Choosing Probiotic Supplements

A set of guidelines entitled "Probiotics" and published by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), recommend that consumers should consider 5 criteria when comparing probiotic supplements:

1. Probiotic Strain

2. Clinical Evidence

3. Packing

4. Quality

5. Quantity

In this article we will look at each of these criteria in detail.

Probiotic Strain

Probiotics are bacteria that have a (symbiotic) relationship that benefits our digestive system and our immune system. If you are new to probiotics, it's important to understand some facts about your body. There are billions of bacteria in your gut. It is a mixture of beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria. Maintaining a healthy level of beneficial bacteria will keep your digestive system balanced and support its ability to function properly.

There are many types of probiotic bacteria. Different strains play different roles in our body. Some strains will be beneficial to general digestive health and some will be effective in combating disease.

Some probiotic supplements contain a single strain, others contain a combination of various strains that target certain conditions, or provide more benefits to overall health.

The most well-known probiotic strain is Lactobacillus acidophilus. This strain is found mainly in the small intestine, where it inhibits the growth of pathogens and also has a beneficial effect on the growth of tumors and carcinogenic substances, also reported lowering blood pressure.

Here's a list of other probiotic strains you might encounter, and the benefits of the study:

Lactobacillus amylovorus - helps lower cholesterol and prevents cancer

Lactobacillus casei - useful for lactose intolerance, protects against listeria, stimulates healthy cell function

Lactobacillus plantarum - Helps people with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), reduce bloating

Lactobacillus fermentum - to prevent and treat urogenital infections in women

Breach of Lactobacillus - Immunity bolsters

Lactobacillus bulgaricus - Help for digestive problems

Bifidobacterium longum - Studies show benefit in liver, breast, colon cancer research

Bifantis - The patented strain on Align Probiotics, aids for IBS and indigestion

Lactobacillus GG - The patented tension found in Culturelle, is useful for various digestive disorders

Bacillus Coagulans - Take control of your digestive and stomach problems

Bacillus Subtilis - find bad bacteria in the gut

Enterococcus Faecalis - natural bacterial recreation in our digestive system

Lactobacillus Salivarius - helps relieve chronic bowel syndrome

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus - stimulates the immune system

Streptococcus thermophilus - helps eliminate pathogens like E. Coli

Clinical Evidence

You need to make sure that the probiotic supplement you choose has undergone extensive scientific research and is supported by clinical evidence to benefit. The right amount and probiotic tension for a given condition is very important if you are looking for help with a particular condition. Reliable probiotic supplements will always be supported by clinical trials and these pathways and other research should be available for you to review.

Probiotic packaging

If not packed properly, probiotics may lose their potential. These supplements come in many forms:

Liquid

Pills

Capsules

Powder

Pastes

Food Products (included in yogurt, milk powder, miso, tempeh, some juice)

The best form is an ongoing debate. The mechanism of delivery of probiotics to the digestive system is important. It is important for bacteria to survive in the hostile environment provided by the stomach and make it all the way for the digestive system to be established and thus effective. There are various types of coating available that can withstand hard stomach acid.

Quality and Quantity of Probiotics

Probiotic supplements are not regulated by the FDA. It is up to the manufacturer to make it safe and effective. To be completely therapeutic, a single probiotic supplement should deliver at least 1 billion viable bacteria per gram.

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