How to Choose the Best Probiotics for Health?
Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when givens in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit. Probiotics contain a combination of good bacteria and yeast to help keep your body healthy. In your microbiome, or gut, there is a delicate balance of good bacteria and bad bacteria. Sometimes, when we get sick, our bad bacteria can overpower our good bacteria. Probiotics may assist your body by providing good bacteria and stabilizing the microbiome into its natural state. Choosing a probiotic may be a daunting task, but with these simple tips, hopefully you can choose the right probiotic for you!
Mode of therapy: Prevention or Treatment?
The first consideration is the mode of therapy as different probiotics may be more appropriate in certain cases. Probiotics may be used to prevent or treat bowel complications, boost the immune system, maintain gut health, or even help with inflammation and allergies. This is not an exhaustive list. Probiotics are being researched every day for new uses. After determining your mode of therapy, research the specific strain that is needed for prevention or treatment. Knowing the specific strain of bacteria allows you to make the right choice for your health. For instance, to treat acute diarrhea, a probiotic with the strain “Saccharomyces Boulardii I-745” may be the best option. This information can be found in published journals or you can directly ask your health care team for additional help.
Formulation
There are various probiotics available in the marketplace, so how do you differentiate the good from the bad? A simple step is to research the probiotic supplement manufacturers. Look for manufactures that have clinically studied ingredients and are GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) registered facilities. The next step is to assess the daily dose needed for your therapy. To do this, review the Colony Forming Units (CFUs) on the label; this tells you how much bacteria you are receiving in each dose. A good estimate is to have at least 1 Billion CFU. Lastly, confirm the strain that is needed for your mode of therapy is the same on the probiotic’s label. All of this information will be provided in the Supplement Facts on the label.
With this information, we hope you can choose the right probiotic! Remember having a healthy microbiome is extremely important, and probiotics may provide an additional helping hand in improving your quality of life.
References
# Hill, C., Guarner, F., Reid, G. et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 11, 506–514 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrgastro.2014.66
# Sniffen, J. C., McFarland, L. V., Evans, C. T., & Goldstein, E. (2018). Choosing an appropriate probiotic product for your patient: An evidence-based practical guide. PloS one, 13(12), e0209205. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0209205
