Things You Need to Know About Probiotics

Probiotics is a general term for living microorganisms -- often called "friendly" bacteria -- that have health benefits in the body. These can be bacteria or yeast that are similar to organisms that are naturally found in the body, especially in the digestive tract. Probiotics have become popular supplements and food additives, most often used to promote healthy digestion.

Why do people take probiotics?

According to WebMD Probiotics work by balancing the levels of microorganisms in the intestines. They drive down the numbers of harmful bacteria. They also seem to boost the body's immune system.

Although research is ongoing, there's good evidence that some probiotics may be helpful in treating irritable bowel syndrome, some types of diarrhea, colitis (particularly ulcerative colitis and and a complication of surgery for ulcerative colitis called pouchitis), acne, and eczema in children. They may also be used with antibiotics to help prevent diarrhea that may come with taking antibiotics.*

However, more research is needed to determine if probiotics are safe and effective for these conditions. (Source: WebMD)

Yaletown Naturopathic Clinic mentioned that Probiotics may also be useful for detoxification. Many of the toxins in the body originate in the GI tract. These include undigested proteins and unhelpful bacteria. The introduction of the correct probiotic strains can help to rid the body of unwanted toxins. Some strain of bacteria can harvest energy from undigestible foods. The healthy flora can also out colonize the pathogens and detoxify the gut in this way.

What are the Types of Probiotics?

There are many types of probiotics. They include lactobacilli (like Lactobacillus acidophilusand Lactobacillus GG), bifidobacteria (like Bifidobacterium bifidus) and some yeasts (like Saccharomyces boulardii). Different probiotics have different effects. So while one may help treat diarrhea or a vaginal infection, another may have no effect. Before you start taking a probiotic supplement, talk to your health care provider to make sure that you get the treatment most likely to help.

What is the Proper Probiotic Dosage?

Because there are so many different probiotic organisms, there is no set dosage. Ask your health care provider for advice. Some probiotics are dosed by the number of live organisms they contain. For instance, a typical dosage of Lactobacillus acidophilus ranges between 1 billion to 10 billion live organisms split into three or four doses. Dosage may also be indicated as colony forming units (CFU).

What is the Best Probiotics Brand in the Market?

There are so many brands of probiotic supplements available in the market. But do you know what is the best in terms of quality, the amount of the viable probiotic cells present are or the taste?

The list below are among the probiotic supplements that passed ComsumerLab.com's  laboratory tests, which provided good amounts of viable cells, reasonable pricing, including products for digestive health, products for women children, pets and oral health. 

Here are the Top Picks;

Find the best available USANA products in your location now.

THE BENEFITS OF USANA PROBIOTIC

Everything you ingest must go through your digestive system, which, in turn, provides all the micro- and macronutrients your body’s cells need to function properly. Because the digestive system is responsible for breaking down and absorbing the vitamins and minerals from food and nutritional supplements, maintaining digestive health is an important factor in optimizing nutrient intake.*

Not only does a healthy digestive system greatly reduce the likelihood of physical discomfort from gas, constipation, bloating, or occasional diarrhea, it also facilitates consistent waste elimination from the body through the regular passing of stool and normalization of stool consistency.*

To keep everything working smoothly, it is vital that you drink plenty of water; exercise; and consume a proper diet with plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. In addition to eating a healthful diet, using probiotics can help create an ideal environment for healthy digestion.*

What Makes USANA Probiotic Different From Other Probiotic Supplements?

While probiotics have known benefits, there are many factors to consider when choosing a specific probiotic supplement.

First, note that different probiotic products utilize different bacteria strains. Numerous probiotic strains are available, many of which have very little to no clinical data regarding their benefit or physiological activity.

Second, stability is a huge problem with most strains of bacteria. Shelf-life for most strains is very short and many strains need refrigeration. Even refrigerated products can have poor viability and very short shelf-lives. In addition, many strains that have good data in culture or in vitro show no viability when exposed to the actual human digestive process. If a strain does not make it through digestion all the way to the intestine to colonize, its benefit is questionable.

USANA spent many years researching and combing through data in search of a product unaffected by these potential roadblocks. The result is the USANA Probiotic product. The two strains used in this product have extensive clinical and human data to support benefit and viability. Most commonly used strains do not.

Additionally, this particular proprietary blend has proven to be ultimately stable at room temperature. In both in-house and third-party testing we have been able to corroborate the manufacturer’s claim of 18-month stability.

The bacterial strains used in USANA Probiotic have numerous human trials to prove viability and benefit in humans. And, with better stability than other products on the market, the majority of other probiotic products cannot measure up to the overall quality and effectiveness of USANA Probiotic.

Find the best available USANA products in your location now.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Sources:  
1. https://www.consumerlab.com/answers/how-many-cells-or-cfus-should-my-probiotic-have/probiotic-cells-CFU/ and https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/Probiotic_Supplements_and_Kefir/probiotics/#using retrieved on May 24, 2018
2. https://www.webmd.com/diet/probiotics#1 retrieved on May 24, 2018
3. https://askthescientists.com/qa/usana-probiotic/ May 22, 2018
4. http://yaletownnaturopathic.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-probiotics/ May 23, 2018