Our Live Bacteria probiotic capsules are our best-selling, most popular supplement. I explore some of their many uses and benefits in this video.
Before you watch, let me share some more information that highlights how versatile our Live Bacteria capsules are, and if you are not already, why you need to be taking a daily probiotic.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial microorganisms found naturally throughout your body and especially in your digestive system. They are sometimes referred to as ‘good’ or ‘friendly’ bacteria because they help keep your intestinal bacteria balanced, protecting against other types of ‘bad’ bacteria that cause disease or illness. When too many ‘bad’ bacteria are in the gut, probiotics can help fight them off to rebalance the gut.
The ‘superpowers’ of our Live Bacteria probiotic capsules include:
Optimising gut function – probiotics can help maintain the healthy balance of bacteria in the gut and help repopulate with healthy bacteria after conditions that disturbed the microbiome. For example, taking antibiotics kills off many of your good gut bacteria. This leaves room for bad bacteria, viruses, and fungi to overgrow. Taking a probiotic during and after antibiotics is a must for sustained health. I talk more about this in the video.
Reducing the symptoms of some digestive disorders – conditions such as IBS may be partially caused by changes to the normal bacteria found in the gut. Some research suggests that probiotics may reduce the severity of IBS symptoms, including diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, and gas. Read more in this article here.
Reducing the frequency of diarrhoea – while there are many causes of diarrhoea, a change in the balance of your gut bacteria can lead to loose stools. Antibiotics often disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, leading to antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and causing loss of good bacteria. Taking a daily Live Bacteria capsule helps maintain the balance of gut bacteria, helping to prevent the onset of diarrhoea.
Maintaining the integrity of the intestinal barrier – by nature, the gut is permeable, to allow essential nutrients to pass through into the body. However, if the gut barrier is damaged or compromised, the permeability of the gut can increase, allowing substances that don’t belong in your body to enter the bloodstream. This is known as intestinal hyperpermeability, leaky gut, or gut barrier dysfunction. A variety of factors may contribute to leaky gut, including chronic inflammatory states, like IBD and coeliac disease, the overuse of alcohol or anti-inflammatory medication, or food allergies that trigger an immune response. An imbalance of gut bacteria could also contribute to leaky gut. The best way to support your gut barrier is to take care of your overall and gastrointestinal health. One simple place to start – probiotics. Certain probiotic strains, along with short chain fatty acids from Omega 3s have demonstrated the ability to promote the integrity and ‘tightness’ of your gut barrier. you can read more about it here.
Benefits for the mind and brain – scientific evidence shows that the gut and the brain stand in constant communication with each other. You may have noticed this connection when your stomach starts churning when you feel stressed, or you have a ‘gut feeling’. This gut-brain axis influences many mental health conditions. Supplementing with probiotics can help repopulate the gut bacteria during and after periods of stress and they have been shown to improve mood, sleep, and cognitive function.
Benefits for the immune system – up to 80% of the body’s immune cells are found in the gut. Keeping the gut healthy is key to keeping the immune system functioning normally. Probiotics have been shown to improve the immune response, helping to prevent autoimmune diseases and limit chronic inflammatory diseases.
As I mention in the video, during illness or after surgery, the bacteria in the gut are often thrown off balance, especially when you suffer from a stomach virus, food poisoning, or have had to take antibiotics. Probiotics replenish your gut flora with good bacteria and can help to balance the immune system. If you are already struggling with digestive issues, whether it’s IBS or IBD, you will be more run down and therefore more prone to picking up infections. This is why I always recommend a daily probiotic to give the immune system additional support.
Healing damage after an intestinal infection – there is reason to believe that probiotics may help protect the microbiome from lasting damage after a viral infection. Specifically, it may help prevent post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS). Some people develop IBS after having a stomach infection. This may occur due to the toxins that some species of virus or bacteria create. Genetics, stress, and anxiety may also be risk factors. Research has shown that taking a probiotic both during and after a stomach virus may help decrease damage to the gut microbiome.
The list doesn’t end here! Watch the video to hear me talk more about the versatility of these multifaceted capsules.
And read how the Live Bacteria helped Paula in multiple ways:
If you would like to know more about any of our supplements or need advice about a supplementation protocol, please get in touch.