When it comes to microbiota, choosing a probiotic supplement can be quite an endeavor! Here are
It is well recognized: The quality of the intestinal microbiota is involved in several health issues:
• Digestion problems and inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
• Chronic illnesses, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease
• Certain cancers
• Certain mental illnesses: anxiety, depression...
• Yeast infections
• Autism
Look for Diversity, not quantity
With microbiota, health is a matter of diversity. The type of bacteria that your digestive system hosts will reflect the environment you were brought up in. Children form Burkina Faso have much more beneficial bacteria than we do, on our aseptized western diet! This has a lot to do with our widespread use of antibiotics such as those from medication, but also in from the food industry.
You may have heard about the link between microbiota and obesity and inflammation. Well, it is true: obesity is highly correlated with microflora diversity, obese people having a less varied microflora. The good news is: it is completely reversible! Even losing 10 pounds makes a difference. And it also helps a lot with inflammation.
Your diet is what has the greatest impact on your microbiota such as your protein to carbohydrate ratio. Some people thrive on whole grains, others do great on a a high-protein diet. It's in your genes, and the only way to know for sure is by doing a nutrigenomic test.
First, your genes affect the type of bacteria you will harbor. But it also affects the way you react to probiotics. What works for some may not work for another! Is it important to find the right strain for YOU!
Benefits of a probiotic supplement
Their beneficial effects have been scientifically demonstrated for several conditions including allergies, irritable bowel syndrome, stomach ulcers, lactose intolerance, treatment of constipation and diarrhea due to antibiotics or traveler's diarrhea. But the microbiota is our second brain, don't forget it! They therefore all regulate a host of mechanisms in our body and we still only know a tiny part of everything that these billions of bacteria that inhabit us do for us.
The universal probiotic supplement does not exist. When you look on the label of the probiotic in question, you should see the strains present as well as the quantities. Are you taking your probiotics blindly, or did you do your due diligence to look for strains that best suit your specific conditions? Or maybe you got lost in the process? If so, I've looked for some strains for you that may be useful for the health problems for which probiotics are most commonly used. Here's a little cheat sheet!
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus: Prevention of traveler's diarrhea
• Lactobacillus paracasei: Allergies, including those to pollen
• Lactobacillus reuteri: Baby colic (e.g. BioGaia)
• Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactococcus lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus: Irritable bowel syndrome (a catch-all for a host of digestive problems by the way!)
• Lactobacillus gasseri: Strengthening the intestinal barrier (and therefore, immunity!)
• Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus salivarius: Vulvovaginal candidiasis
• Bacillus coagulans: Because it is particularly robust, this probiotic tends to remain alive even in hostile conditions, unlike the others, through its ability to produce spores. It therefore resurfaces, even after harsh ordeals, including antibiotic treatments. It is therefore particularly useful for rebuilding the intestinal flora or even in people suffering from gastric acidity.
As a complement to traditional treatments for arthritis patients, they have alleviated symptoms. Some studies also demonstrate an increase in the production of cells helping to prevent infections (Influenza, adenovirus, etc.)
Probiotics are like us: they need food!
If you don't give fuel to your good bacteria fuel, they won't grow. You will be subscribed to probiotics for life! On the other hand, if you maintain good bacteria through healthy habits, including pre-biotic foods, you are actually changing your intestinal environment in a lasting way. If you have difficulty tolerating pre-biotic foods (such as if you suffer from irritable bowel syndrome), taking a symbiotic is the best solution for you. Symbiotics contain probiotics AND probiotics. They help with the transition, until you can tolerate prebiotics on your own. They also often contain post-biotics, which are the beneficial enzymes produced by good bacteria.
Personalized recommendations are essential when it comes to regaining your digestive health. Because your genetic profile matters! And changing you lifestyle in the long run is the only way to go! Once you have done your nutrigenomic test, you will know exactly what your body wants. It will be so motivating! Your nutrigenomic consultation is just the beginning. Our motivation program is there to help you stick to the plan, for as long as you need. Personalized nutrition plan, with flexible guidance, that is what Nutr-Genious is all about!
For more advice on how to choose the right strain for you, and above all improve your microbiota through a healthy diet, book an appointment with us. We'll help you make some new microbe-friends!