The Health Benefits of Probiotics

Benefits
How They Work
Strains
Foods
Supplementation
Side Effects
Sauerkraut is an excellent source of probiotics.

Gut health is a balancing act. Stress, toxins, and a bad diet can upset the balance and throw your whole digestive system into complete disarray. Probiotics are one key to keeping the peace and pushing out harmful gut organisms that throw everything off balance.

Probiotics have a symbiotic relationship with the human body. They help you detoxify substances you consume, digest the fiber you eat, and help balance the gut. They even produce B vitamins as well as serotonin. When you consume probiotics in supplements or foods, they establish a healthy microbiome with a diverse microbiota in your gut.

When your body is colonized by health-promoting probiotic organisms, your physical, mental, and emotional well-being are in balance. You can take your health to new heights, giving yourself incredible immune function, mental clarity, and superior digestion. For many, the chain reaction of health benefits keeps the whole body healthy and decreases the possibility of developing health, digestive, and mood-related difficulties.

Probiotic Quick Facts

What Are They: Living beneficial bacteria and yeasts

Main Benefit: Gut health

Food Sources: Yogurt, sauerkraut, kombucha, kefir, kimchee

What Are Probiotics?

Simply put, probiotics are living bacteria and yeasts. The fundamental difference separating a probiotic from a pathogenic or harmful bacteria is that probiotics have a symbiotic, or mutually beneficial, relationship with your body. Every person is already carrying around hundreds of probiotic microbes in their digestive system, on their skin, in their mouth, and other orifices like nostrils. The gastrointestinal tract alone harbors more than 500 different bacterial species.[1] Sometimes, the ecosystem gets disrupted and off-balance. Ensuring your gut microbiota is balanced plays an important role in overall health.

Top Health Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics have many well-established health benefits, including the ability to balance the gut, improve digestion, and alleviate the uncomfortable side-effects of harsh antibiotics. The top benefits of probiotics include:

  • Enhanced immune system response[2]
  • Balancing out the adverse effects of antibiotics, including occasional diarrhea[3]
  • Calmed colon irritation[4]
  • Healthier looking skin and improved complexion[5]
  • Enhanced ability to digest food[6]
  • Therapeutic effects for upper respiratory health[7]
  • Improved lactose tolerance[8]
  • Promotes healthy yeast balance.[9]
  • Support for vaginal health[10]
  • Increased nutrient absorption from food[11]
  • Encourages normal digestive health, including promoting normal bowel movements.[12]
  • Promotes oral health and acts as a remedy for bad breath (halitosis)[13]
  • Increased ability to synthesize B vitamins[14]
  • Heightened ability to absorb calcium[15]
  • Supports vitamin K production[16]

Probiotic Research

Researchers publish new and exciting discoveries about the benefits of probiotics with regularity. Here are some of the most exciting recent findings for how probiotics can support your health.

  • Studies show that probiotics improve the bioavailability of many essential nutrients in the body such as zinc, iron, phosphorus, all of the B vitamins, calcium, copper, and magnesium.[17]
  • A study on the probiotic strain Bacillus infantis showed significant potential for normalizing bowel function in patients with digestive discomfort.[18]
  • Probiotics significantly lower the rate of diarrhea and diaper rash in babies’ consuming infant probiotics.[19]
  • Active bacteria cultures, such as Acidophilus, aid in reducing intolerance to the lactose found in dairy products.[20]
  • Several studies on probiotics indicate that, through the process of regulating intestinal transit time of fecal matter, probiotics can dramatically reduce constipation in the elderly.[21]
  • Other reports suggest that some forms of probiotics promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the colon, significantly reducing the conversion of chemical compounds in feces into carcinogens.[22]
  • One study found probiotics inhibited the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections.[23]
  • Many studies show a link between mental health and probiotics.
  • Many powerful neurotransmitters, including serotonin, are produced in a healthy gut with thriving probiotic colonies.[24]
  • Some studies demonstrate that probiotics enhance overall immunity through a process of regulating proteins and antibodies in the body.[25]
  • Probiotics may promote heart health.[26]

Who Should Take Probiotics?

The truth is nearly everyone could benefit from probiotics. However, people who are exposed to a toxic environment, eat processed foods, or suffer from high-stress levels will likely see the greatest impact on their health. Likewise, antibiotics can severely disrupt existing beneficial bacteria in your digestive system and gut. Anyone taking a strong antibiotic should consider supplementing with probiotics to help re-establish a balanced gut flora.[27] Other common factors that disrupt gut health include frequent fevers, colds, and Candida overgrowth.

Signs You May Need Probiotics

When there is a disruption in your gut bacteria by harmful organisms, there are many recognizable signs. Often, people report fatigue, mood swings, acne, and digestive symptoms like bloating and constipation. If you are experiencing any of these side effects, you may benefit from taking probiotics.

History of Probiotics

Probiotics are found in many foods and animals the world over. However, being able to isolate them and understand their ability to influence your health is a much more recent development. The idea of probiotics was first put forth in the 20th century by Nobel laureate, Elie Metchnikoff.[28]

Before Metchnikoff started telling people to eat microorganisms, people focused on eliminating them. Even with his groundbreaking work, it was not until the 1980s that probiotic supplements entered the public consciousness. Today, more than any other time in history, people are aware of the benefits of probiotics. This is why you hear about them in the news, at the grocery store, and even in your doctor's office.

How Probiotics Work

There are several ways probiotics support your health. By outcompeting the bad bacteria for food and resources, they help protect your body against harmful organisms and undesirable bacteria species from establishing stable colonies.[29] Some probiotic strains influence pH levels inside the gut, which helps create a favorable digestive environment. Others help metabolize certain foods that would otherwise go undigested or be poorly digested. By breaking down these foods thoroughly and into more bioavailable forms, your body can better absorb vitamins and nutrients that may otherwise go unused.

All of these interrelated factors promote a balanced microbiome which in turn can stimulate immune responses and contribute to maintaining better overall physical and mental health.[30]

Common Probiotic Strains

As the investigation into probiotics continues, researchers are better able to identify different organisms and their potential benefits. Still, the scientific names, with their genus and species, are rarely used beyond an ingredient label or textbook. Instead, the term probiotics is applied equally to all beneficial strains. However, you’ll hear about these two major groupings or genera most frequently: Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.

Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus strains are a significant part of a healthy person’s microbiota. Species in this grouping all create lactic acid by metabolizing sugars in the body. This increased acidity creates an unfriendly environment to harmful organisms and helps cleanse and detox the digestive system of toxins and waste.[31] Cultured or fermented foods like yogurt, pickles, beer, and sourdough bread use Lactobacillus species and strains as part of the production process. On supplement and food labels, Lactobacillus forms are often abbreviated with an L., followed by the species name.

Bifidobacterium

Bifidobacterium are found in the mouth, throughout the digestive tract, and make up the largest proportion of the bacterial flora in the colon.[32] Bifidobacterium species and strains play a vital role in breaking down and utilizing carbohydrates.[33] Some foods that contain Bifidobacterium include infant formulas, kimchee, and certain kinds of cheese. Similar to Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium can be abbreviated with a B. on ingredient or nutrition labels.

The Best Probiotic Strains for the Gut

Even within these two genera, not all probiotic species function in the same way or have equivalent effects on the body. Global Healing has years researching and identifying some of the best probiotic strains for your gut. Here are the top strains we have found that help to cleanse, rebuild, replenish, and nourish the gut.

  1. Bacillus coagulans
  2. Bacillus subtilis
  3. Lactobacillus paracasei
  4. Saccharomyces boulardii
  5. Lactococcus lactis
  6. Lactobacillus plantarum
  7. Lactobacillus acidophilus
  8. Lactobacillus casei
  9. Streptococcus thermophilus
  10. Bifidobacterium animalis lactis
  11. Lactobacillus brevis
  12. Lactobacillus gasseri
  13. Lactobacillus bulgaricus
  14. Lactobacillus delbrueckii
  15. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856
  16. Lactobacillus fermentum
  17. Lactobacillus reuteri
  18. Bifidobacterium longum
  19. Bifidobacterium bifidum
  20. Lactobacillus rhamnosus
  21. Lactobacillus salivarius
  22. Bifidobacterium breve
  23. Bifidobacterium lactis
  24. Bacillus clausii
  25. Pediococcus acidilactici

Probiotic-Rich Foods

Many strains of probiotics are naturally present in a healthy, diverse diet rich in fermented foods and drinks, pickled foods, and cultured dairy products. Each of these foods requires bacteria to transform them into probiotic powerhouses. Unfortunately, many of these foods and drinks are absent from a traditional western diet. Adding any of these to your diet will encourage probiotic growth and help diversify your gut flora. Here are some of the best vegan foods with probiotics:

  • Nut Milk Yogurt
  • Kombucha
  • Coconut Kefir
  • Sauerkraut
  • Kimchee
  • Ginger Beer
  • Sour Pickles

Choosing the Right Probiotic Supplement

A daily probiotic will help you maintain a healthy gut. Stress, sickness, a poor diet, and your environment can all degrade the health of your intestinal microbiota, but taking a high-quality, daily probiotic can help undo this damage. Before taking a probiotic, there are a number of important factors to consider. Here are the top 10 things you need to know about before buying probiotics.

YouTube Video

How to Choose the Right Probiotic

Length: 7 minutes

1. CFUs

A colony-forming unit (CFU) is a measurement used to describe the number of available bacteria in a product. Look for a high CFU count of 75 billion. Sounds like a big number, but remember this is a small percentage compared to existing cultures already living in your body. High CFUs are critical to giving the bacteria the best chance of surviving the journey through the digestive tract. If the product has no CFU information, be cautious. There is no way to tell how many probiotics you are really getting without this value.

2. Survivability

Your digestive system is a harsh environment that is designed to fight off foreign intruders. This presents an obstacle to the good bacteria you want in your gut. Good probiotic supplements will take this into consideration and provide specific strains that have an established record of surviving the digestive process. The best surviving strains are the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains we discussed earlier.

3. Diversity

A well-balanced gut requires species and strain diversity. Some probiotics help digest fats and sugars, while others alleviate digestive concerns. Providing a diverse selection will help create balance and stability.

4. Manufacturing

How your supplements are manufactured matters immensely. Always look for probiotics that are produced in the U.S., that use high-quality sources and ingredients, and that abide by strict FDA manufacturing guidelines.

5. Stability

Probiotics are living organisms and are prone to outside stressors. Research is ongoing to identify the best practices to limit stress on the probiotics during the manufacturing process. Certain species and strains are more resistant to stress and have a more stable shelf life. Once they are packaged, it's difficult and expensive to verify potency. You are better off sticking with a brand you trust to ensure you get a high-quality, stable product.

6. Live Cultures

Always give preference to products that have live probiotic cultures. Yogurt, for example, is made with live cultures, but they are eventually killed off during the fermentation and pasteurization process. For the best results, only take live, active forms of probiotics.

7. Freshness

With all supplements, the expiration date matters, and this is especially true with probiotics. From the second they are bottled those live cultures will slowly start to die off. The closer a product is to its expiration date, the higher the incidence of inactive probiotics.

8. Storage

One of the biggest mitigating factors to preserving probiotics is how they are stored. Heat is the enemy. Instead, probiotics do better in cold temperatures. Look for probiotics that are stored and shipped in a way that keeps them cold and out of direct sunlight.

9. Packaging

Pay close attention to the bottle. A proper container should help block out light, which can cause deterioration of the probiotics, and should be made of non-toxic materials. Dark glass bottles are optimal for probiotic storage. Unlike plastic bottles, glass will not leach out toxic chemicals into the probiotics when exposed to heat or light.

10. Other Ingredients

Look for a product that has both prebiotics and bacteriophages, tiny lytic bacterial viruses that we now know play a role in digestive health. Using phages in probiotic formulas is a relatively new phenomenon, but it's revolutionizing the industry. Ensuring you get the right beneficial phages is important in having a healthy gut because they selectively help remove the bad bacteria. Likewise, having a prebiotic in your formula provides food to the beneficial bacteria. Last, but not least, avoid products with fillers or sugar.

Helping Probiotics Flourish

There are several things you can do to help probiotics become better established and flourish in the gut. Here are some practical dos and don’ts for cultivating a healthy environment for your probiotics.

Dos

  • Do eat more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans
  • Do consume more probiotic foods
  • Do drink distilled water
  • Do commit to recovering from life stress
  • Do eat organic

Don’ts

  • Don’t overuse antibiotics
  • Don’t eat processed foods
  • Don’t eat GMOs
  • Don’t eat excess sugars
  • Don’t drink alcohol
  • Don’t expose yourself to environmental, household, and dietary toxins
  • Don’t drink water that contains fluoride or chlorine

The Importance of Prebiotics

Prebiotics are different from probiotics. Probiotics "eat" prebiotics as their food. Many foods that are high in fiber are good sources of prebiotics. Here are some of the best vegan foods with a high prebiotic content.

  • Chicory Root
  • Garlic
  • Leeks
  • Onion
  • Asparagus
  • Bananas
  • Jicama
  • Agave

Side Effects

While relatively safe, probiotics may have mild side effects in some people. The majority of these come from a sort of transition period in individuals who do not yet have a balanced gut. As the probiotics alter the gut environment, some people may experience worsened gas and bloating. Others have reported nausea or bad breath, which may be caused as harmful organisms are expelled from the body. More serious side effects could occur with people that have a compromised immune system.[34]

Global Healing's Ultimate Probiotic

Points to Remember

With so many aspects of your health tied to your gut, you never want to leave anything to chance. Be proactive and consume the right probiotics now to help support your health in the future. A thriving gut environment does not happen overnight.

At Global Healing, we know that there is not a single solution for every health concern. That is why we have provided several approaches to gut health, including our revolutionary Gut Health Kit and two different targeted probiotic formulas. Latero-Flora™ helps when doing any cleanse or detox regimen and Global Healing's Ultimate Probiotic is the absolute best daily probiotic available. Remember, before using these or any gut health product, do your research, find what best aligns with your personal health goals, and consult with your trusted healthcare provider.

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†Results may vary. Information and statements made are for education purposes and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. If you have a severe medical condition or health concern, see your physician.


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Dr. Edward Group, DC
FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATE

Dr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.

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