Choosing The Right Probiotic Supplement

The GI tract contains trillions of bacteria with over 1000 different species. That’s a lot of “stuff” camping out in our gut! And many of those species are pathogenic, meaning they are viruses, bacteria, and other types of germs that can cause some kind of disease. 

When the number of beneficial bacteria is reduced or a person has an increase in pathogenic bacteria, there is a great chance the pathogenic bacteria may cause illness or disease. This is known as dysbiosis, an imbalance of the pathogenic and beneficial bacteria. Some diseases linked to dysbiosis are inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, autoimmune disease and obesity. 

Why Are Beneficial Bacteria Important?

The beneficial bacteria in someone’s GI tract are extremely important for:  

• Supporting the immune system

• Protecting the body against pathogenic bacteria that may cause disease

• Ensuring proper digestion and absorption of food and nutrients

• Maintaining the gut barrier

• Keeping inflammation in check

How Do Probiotics Work?

Probiotics work in these ways:

• Modify the gut microbiota

• Inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria

• Maintain the gut mucosal barrier

• Restore balance to the intestinal flora

How To Select A Probiotic Supplement

The criteria for selecting a therapeutic probiotic include:

• The strain is of human origin

• It’s safe for human consumption

• It’s stable in both bile and acid environment

• Adhere to the intestinal mucosa

The main reason for supplementing with a probiotic is to establish the bacterium in the intestinal tract. The stomach and intestinal tract represent a hostile environment that can easily discourage growth or survival of microorganisms. The viable strain should have the ability to adhere to the intestinal wall. The manufacturer should provide assays attesting to the type of strain and any research on the attributes of that strain.

Recommendations For Using Probiotics

Probiotics are often viewed as a low-risk intervention for most patients, especially for the following:

• Maintaining a healthy gut

• Taking antibiotics

• Traveling to foreign countries

• Eating at suspicious restaurants

• Straying from a healthy diet, especially excess grains or sugar

• Treating a condition or disease that responds to probiotics