What you should know about probiotics

Let's dive straight into what you should know about probiotics so you can start reaping the benefits from these microorganisms today! 

Probiotics have the potential to improve your digestive, cardiovascular, immune, and mental health as well as your metabolism and skin. It almost sounds too good to be true, right? Fortunately for us, there’s enough research to prove it.

Adding probiotics into your routine can be an amazing way to improve your health and wellness. But before doing so, it’s important to know the who, what, where, when, and why.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are defined as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”;  host being you or I – the person taking or consuming the probiotics.

The microoganisms mentioned are live bacteria that we consume, in adequate amounts. This may be in the form of a food item or a supplement. While you might traditionally associate bacteria with an infection or something, here we’re actually talking about the good bacteria. 

These good bacteria, or probiotics, work their magic in the colon. In order for them to have a positive impact on our health, they must first make it past the stomach, through the small intestine before reaching the desired location.

Probiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics

When talking about probiotics, it is also important to understand prebiotics and synbiotics as well.

In simple terms, prebiotics essentially feed the good bacteria in your gut. They are the non-digestible components of food that help desirable microorganisms grow and thrive. For example, inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), beta-glucan, oligofructose, and xylooligosaccharides (XOS), are all examples of prebiotics. They can be found in fibrous fruits and vegetables such as asparagus, bananas, oats, onions, and apples as well as many others. On the other hand, synbiotics, like Seed’s Daily Synbiotic, are simply products that contain a combination of probiotics and prebiotics all in one. 

How To Interpret Probiotic Names

Before we really get down to specifics here, we need to know what exactly we’re referring to when we break down the components of probiotics. There are three parts to every probiotic – first comes the genus, followed by the species, and then the strain.

For example, there’s a probiotic called Lactobacillus plantarum SD-LPLDL-UK. Within this probiotic, Lactobacillus is the genus, plantarum is the species and SD-LPLDL-UK is the strain.

Health benefits of probiotics

Now that we know what probiotics are, let’s discuss why we would even want to consume them in the first place. 

While there are quite a few variations of microorganisms that can be considered probiotics, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two of the most common.

Lactobacillus

One of the most well-known species of Lactobacillus is the acidophilus species. This particular species has been associated with optimal immune, vaginal, gut, digestive, and immune health. Other strains of Lactobacillus have also been shown to improve atopic dermatitis, pediatric acute infectious diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, IBS, hypercholesterolemia, and even obesity.

Bifidobacterium

Within the Bifidobacterium genus, a plethora of species have been identified for their potential health benefits as well. Generally speaking, the main function of Bifidobacterium is to digest fiber and complex carbohydrates that we generally cannot digest on our own. Additionally, Bifidobacterium has been tied to quite a few health benefits. It’s been proven to aid cardiovascular health and digestive health. Plus, it has been shown to reduce weight gain and chances of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults. It has even been shown to improve immune function in infants. The particular genus we’re discussing has also been associated with reduced symptoms of IBS and reduced inflammation. This was particularly prevalent in those with chronic fatigue syndrome, IBD, ulcerative colitis, and psoriasis.

So why take probiotic supplements?

There are quite a few indications for the use of probiotic supplements. This includes benefits for digestive, skin, and even heart health. Scientists have also been researching the potential of probiotics in preventing and treating disease!

When contemplating a probiotic, there are quite a few components to consider. You need to consider the purpose of the probiotic, the bacteria strains included, the amount that is taken, and the frequency of supplementation in addition to any contraindications that may be present. The best way to navigate this process is to work with your Registered Dietitian or doctor. They’ll be able to consider your goals in the context of your health and point you in the right direction.

I personally recommend Seed’s Daily Synbiotic (probiotics + prebiotics) to many of my clients. They’ve been shown to support several markers for digestive health, cardiovascular health, and dermatological health in 23 strain-specific human clinical studies (published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, Scientific Reports (Nature), and JAMA Dermatology). 

They have a patented algae microsphere delivery system that ensures the most sensitive strains make it through digestion and into the colon. In addition, the probiotic strains they use are unique to Seed and not found in yogurt, fermented foods, or “probiotic’ beverages. Plus, they’re free from the 12 classes of allergens.

I’ve been using Seed probiotics for about a year and they are a brand that I respect very much. If you are interested in checking them out, you can use my code to enjoy a special discount of 15% off your purchase. I'm sure you'll enjoy their products as much as I do!

I would love to hear about your experience with probiotics! What works for you? What have you tried that didn’t work so well? I’m sure someone else reading this article would love to hear about your experience as well. As always, you can connect with me on Instagram via @moniquenikki. 

With love,