Choosing the right probiotics is crucial. A product must contain live and active bacterial cultures, and it should indicate as much on its packaging. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria similar to those typically found in the human body. There are numerous probiotic products on the market that contain a variety of probiotic bacterial strains. Choosing the right one for your needs is essential to reap their benefits.
Why Do We Need Probiotics?
Taking probiotics might lower the number of bad bacteria in your gut that can cause illness or inflammation. They can also replace those problem germs with good or helpful bacteria. Researchers have also found when and how probiotics might best help. There’s more research for some illnesses than others. They might help people with:
- Diarrhea
- Inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
Probiotics also are being studied for many other conditions. There isn’t as much research yet, but some people say that probiotics have helped them with:
- Treating allergies and asthma
- Decreasing inflammation, such as from rheumatoid arthritis
- Preventing and treating yeast infections
- Skin conditions such as eczema
- Treating certain stomach and respiratory infections, especially in children
- Preventing and treating urinary tract infections
- Lactose intolerance
What To Look Out For When Choosing A Probiotic Supplement?
With so many choices available on the market, how do you choose the right one? There are various factors to consider when choosing a probiotic including the storage temperature, number of colony forming units, or CFUs, and types of bacterial strains included in the supplement.
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a probiotic:
- Review the storage recommendations
- Choose probiotic products with at least 1 billion colony-forming units and containing the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, or Saccharomyces boulardii, some of the most researched probiotics.
- Know what strains you need
- Be aware of other ingredients. Make sure everything in the probiotic is safe and there’s nothing you’re allergic to, like soy or dairy.
- Take your probiotic daily
Ways of Getting More Out of Your Probiotic Supplements
We know how important it is to take probiotics at the best time and in the best way, and so we’ve compiled a few tips to help you get the most out of your probiotic supplements:
- Take your probiotics at breakfast. The best time to take your probiotics are in the morning. Probiotics have the best chance of surviving the harsh stomach environment and reaching your gut alive because breakfast time is when your stomach is at its least acidic.
- Don’t mix probiotics with heat or acidity. Just as stomach acid can damage delicate bacteria, so too could strongly acidic food and drinks.
- Make them part of your morning ritual. You aren’t going to see a significant difference by taking just one capsule every so often so make it part of your routine.
- Get the right probiotic for you. Make sure that you take the probiotic that’s right for you, and your specific health requirements. If you have any underlying health conditions, it is always recommended that you seek medical advice first before purchasing a probiotic.
- Opt for quality over quantity.
