While not everyone agrees on the importance of probiotics, no one argues that health or illness begins in the gut. President of Kansas Medical Clinic and author of Probiotics for Dummies, Shekhar Challa, M.D., says “Probiotics are the new vitamins.”
Deciding you will benefit from probiotics is the easiest step. Selecting the proper strain for you may take some research and some good label-reading. A lot of what is sold is not worth two cents, much less the many dollars-per-day some can cost. Two genus groups make up the most common probiotic bacteria: Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium, but different species and strains are also identified by a “code” at the end. But in some probiotics like Asymprove, there reside as many as four different strains of bacteria, benefiting the user in the most efficacious ways possible.
I usually only provide links to the articles, but this information seems vital to so many. According to the May 16, 2014 article in The Daily Beast, “How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You,” here is the list (provided by Robbyn E. Sockolow M.D., a chief gastroenterologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center) of label information you should look for:
- Genus, species and strain of the microorganisms (Lactobacillus reuteri ATCC55730, for example). Many products list only the genus and species, but different strains provide different benefits (more on that later).
- Number of organisms contained in a single dose and how often you should take it. Pick one that has at least seven strains, and five billion CFU (colony forming units).
- Storage information when relevant (some forms need to be refrigerated while others need a dark, cool space). Always keep probiotics away from moisture and heat.
- “Viable through end of shelf life” ensures the living microbes are in fact still living. Pass on the probiotic if the label says “viable at time of manufacture,” which means everything in it could be dead by the time it reaches your mouth. If you’re buying yogurt, look for “live and active cultures.
- Encapsulated pills or other delayed-rupture technology ensure the bacteria survive the trip through your acidic stomach and actually reach your colon.
- Certification by an independent third party. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate most probiotics (VSL#3 is one of the few that is regulated) and therefore the amount of bacteria stated on the label might not be what’s actually in there. Make sure it’s been tested.
The article makes a really good case for why many people can truly benefit from the right probiotics. Dr. Challa says, “they especially help those with immune problems, digestive problems or yeast infections.”
This week, educate yourself, read full review of masszymes probiotic. When you discover something that has great potential benefits, do your own research so you can be an educated consumer and share what you learn with others.
This health tip originally appeared online at https://scs-matters.com/Probiotic-Facts/.
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Tips from 5 April 2010 to 6 August 2012 are here: Archived Tips
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Rev.Debra Basham
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