WHAT IS A PROBIOTIC?
  • As defined by the World Health Organization, “probiotics are live micro-organisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”
  • Probiotics are bacteria that help maintain the natural balance of organisms (microflora) in the intestines.  The normal human digestive tract contains about 400 types of probiotic bacteria that reduce the growth of harmful bacteria and promote a healthy digestive system.  The largest group of probiotic bacteria in the human digestive tract is Lactobacillus acidophilus.  (Source: WebMD)
     
HOW DO PROBIOTICS WORK?
  • Researchers believe that some digestive disorders happen when the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestines becomes disturbed.  This can happen after an infection or after taking antibiotics. Intestinal problems can also arise when the lining of the intestines is damaged. Taking probiotics may help. (Source: WebMD)
      
  • WHY ARE PREBIOTICS ADDED TO PROBIOTICS?
  • Prebiotics are non-digestible carbohydrates that act as food for probiotics.  When probiotics and prebiotics are combined, they form a synergistic or “synbiotic” relationship.  Prebiotics and probiotics combined are considered “synbiotic” because they contain live bacteria and the fuel they need to thrive. (Source: Mayo Clinic)

PROBIOTIC HEALTH BENEFITS:
  • Probiotics are believed to protect us in two ways.
    • The first is the role that they play in our digestive tract. We know that our digestive tract needs a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria, so what gets in the way of this? It looks like our lifestyle is both the problem and the solution. Poor food choices, emotional stress, lack of sleep, antibiotic overuse, other drugs, and environmental influences can all shift the balance in favor of the bad bacteria.
       
    • When the digestive tract is healthy, it filters out and eliminates things that can damage it, such as harmful bacteria, toxins, chemicals, and other waste products. On the flip side, it takes in the things that our body needs (nutrients from food and water) and absorbs and helps deliver them to the cells where they are needed. (Source: OnHealth.com)
       
    • The other way that probiotics help is the impact that they have on our immune system. Some believe that this role is the most important. Our immune system is our protection against germs. (Source: OnHealth.com)
       
HOW TO PICK A GOOD PROBIOTIC PRODUCT:

  • Look for probiotics that use tested and proven strains.
     
  • Look for a product which comes in a moisture resistant air tight bottle like the
    Activ-Polymer™ Bottle to enhance stability of the probiotics.
     
  • Look for a delayed release veggie capsule to make sure the probiotics can be delivered through the stomach acid and reach the intestines without compromising the live count of the probiotics.
     
  • Look for a cGMP compliant manufacturer.
     
  • Look for an adequate CFU per serving and a company which uses third party testing to verify CFU count in product.  Five billion CFU per daily serving is usually adequate for a healthy person.  


Our premium probiotics offer Digestive Health, are and Non-Dairy, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, and contain NO Artificial Flavorings or Preservatives.