Bloating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and constipation are just a few of the many common Health problems that Probiotics could ease or eliminate, yet many people are unfamiliar with them. Others have a limited understanding of probiotic benefits, using them only to combat occasional digestive discomfort or antibiotics. 

We want to set the record straight and help more of our customers recognize the best probiotics and the importance of rebalancing gut health each and every day!

What Are Probiotics?

 According to U.S. Department for Health and Human Services article “Probiotics: What You Need to Know,” 

Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body. They can be found in yogurt and other fermented foods, dietary supplements, and beauty products.

Although people often think of bacteria and other microorganisms as harmful “germs,” many are actually helpful. Some bacteria help digest food, destroy disease-causing cells, or produce vitamins. Many of the microorganisms in probiotic products are the same as or similar to microorganisms that naturally live in our bodies.

In essence, probiotics are good, healthful microorganisms that can help restore balance within your body, especially your digestive system. At Pure On Main, we call probiotics, “an army for your gut,” and we highly recommend that everyone takes some form of probiotic regularly.  

Why You Should Take a Probiotic Everyday

Moreover, we aren’t the only ones promoting this idea. An article from Harvard Medical School tilted “Health benefits of taking probiotics” confirms, 

Some digestive disease specialists are recommending probiotic supplements for disorders that frustrate conventional medicine, such as irritable bowel syndrome. Since the mid-1990s, clinical studies suggest that probiotic therapy can help treat several gastrointestinal ills, delay the development of allergies in children, and treat and prevent vaginal and urinary infections in women.

The piece goes on to list conditions that research supports probiotics have been effective in treating or preventing: 

• diarrhea
• irritable bowel syndrome
• ulcerative colitis
• Crohn’s disease
• H. pylori (the cause of ulcers)
• vaginal infections
• urinary tract infections
• recurrence of bladder cancer
• infection of the digestive tract caused by Clostridium difficile
• pouchitis (a possible side effect of surgery that removes the colon)
• eczema in children.

In addition, the U.S. The Department for Health and Human Services National Institute of Health also asserts that probiotics have shown promise in relieving “sepsis in premature infants, treatment of infant colic, and treatment of periodontal disease.” 

These statements are interesting because in many cases, scholastic sources hesitate to support homeopathic solutions to illness and discomfort. However, on the subject of probiotics, both proponents of traditional and natural medicine agree: taking probiotics is good for your health!

However, like most treatments, probiotics are only beneficial so long as you are incorporating them as a regular part of your wellness routine. You will see fewer results if you only remember to add good bacteria to your diet once in a while. Probiotics simply can’t work effectively if your body does not get enough of them to rebalance your system, so it’s imperative you have a source of probiotics daily. 

Which Probiotics Are the Best

That’s not to say one probiotic is best suited for everybody; it’s not one size fits all. Pure On Main recognizes that children and adults are going to need different doses. In the same way, some clients would benefit more from strong supplements while others might choose products best suited to sensitive stomachs. 

It’s all about finding the right balance for your body, so we carry a number of shelf stable and refrigerated probiotics as well as children’s formulas and fermented edible goods like sauerkraut and kombucha. There’s something for everyone, so let’s explore some of the best probiotics we’ve got to offer:

Shelf Stable Probiotics

Our shelf stable options can be kept out at room temperature without losing their efficiency. These products still contain live strains of bacteria, making them just as effective as refrigerated supplements. The differences between our probiotic options stem from each product’s focused specialty. They’re all great; the only determination you need to make is which one is best for you. 

Best Probiotics for Oral Health: Jarro-Dophilus

Not all probiotics are geared towards digestive assistance, for example. Jarro-Dophilus Oral Probiotic aims to combat harmful bacteria in your mouth, protecting against gingivitis and decay. In the form of 30 pineapple flavored lozenges, two documented strains of probiotics protect your gums and teeth from cavities and disease. Not to mention, they improve your breath. 

Best Probiotics for Women’s Health: Fem Dophilus

Formulated with women’s health in mind, Fem Dophilus by Jarrow contains two patented probiotic strains that have been researched since 1988, with 27 published clinical studies. Among the results, 75% of women using these probiotics experienced improvement in vaginal flora composition. If you’re someone who struggles with frequent urinary tract infections, consider adding this to your routine both during and after antibiotic rounds. 

Best Probiotics for Digestive Health: Saccharomyces Boulardii MOS

Another one of our favorite probiotics is Jarrow’s Saccharomyces Boulardii MOS. It’s a mouthful to say and a nightmare to spell, but this product is phenomenal at giving clients a “clean gut.” 

It helps you rebalance your digestive system by repopulating your gut flora and encouraging your body to make more of its own good bacteria naturally! Plus, these capsules are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, no-GMO, and certified NSF. 5 billion yeast probiotic cultures make this a really powerful product, so if you’re serious about combating intestinal issues, give it a try. 

Refrigerated Probiotics

There’s a common misconception that all probiotics need to be refrigerated to be effective; it’s not true. Obviously, the two supplements described above are still high quality products. However, refrigeration can be a good indicator that probiotic strains are live and that supplements are made with fresh ingredients. 

Best Probiotic for Colon Health: Ultimate Flora 

Our Ultimate Flora Probiotic by Renew Life has been specially created with colon care in mind. It has 14 probiotic strains and 80 billion live cultures. The capsules are vegetarian friendly and keep users regular while repairing damage in your gut. It provides relief from bloating, gas, and other uncomfortable symptoms of issues within your digestive system. Again though, this product is powerful and probably would not be suitable for children or people with extremely sensitive stomachs. 

Children’s Probiotics

Yes, even children can benefit from probiotics. Many parents come into the Pure On Main wellness center looking for ways to ease their kids’ gas, constipation, and stomach aches. Others want to make sure their little ones stay healthy while they endure antibiotic treatments, and we’re happy to help! 

Best Chewable Probiotics: Ultimate Flora Kids

Renew Life produces an Ultimate Flora Kids Probiotic that comes in berry flavored chewable tablets. This product is made with 6 scientifically studied Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains to ease occasional tummy trouble and support digestive and immune health. It’s free of any artificial sweeteners, flavors, and colors. Plus, improving your child’s immune function and digestive system will likely improve his overall mood and energy levels, giving you a happier healthier kid overall. 

Best Drinkable Probiotics: Kids Probiotic Daily Boost

If you don’t think your child will be on board with chewable tablets, consider Renew Life’s Kids Probiotic Daily Boost packets. They dissolve in water and are fruit punch flavored. These sweet treats are secretly moving your kids towards having better immune, respiratory, and digestive health… one glass of juice at a time. It’s a parent’s dream!

Fermented Products 

Maybe you’re someone who wants to experiment with probiotics, but you just can’t imagine remembering to take a supplement every day. We understand, and it’s okay! In fact, probiotics got their claim to fame through fermented foods! Another article in a journal by Harvard Medical School called “The benefits of probiotics bacteria” explains, 

Russian microbiologist Elie Metchnikoff (1845-1916) was the first to associate the large amounts of fermented dairy products with the good health and longevity of Bulgarians back in 1907. He proposed that the acid-producing organisms in fermented dairy products could prevent what he called “fouling” in the large intestine. He believed if eaten regularly, these foods could lead to a longer, healthier life. 

One version of the Old Testament even attributes Abraham’s long life — 175 years — to the “consumption of sour milk.” Fermented milk products may have also been used to treat illnesses of the digestive tract during Roman times.

The piece lists some sources of probiotics such as miso and fermented dairy products like yogurts which most people already associate with good gut health. At our Pure On Main brick and mortar locations, we offer quality kombucha, kefir sodas, and sauerkraut brands for people looking to add probiotics to their lives via a more culinary approach. 

Probiotics Vs. Prebiotics

As long as you’re getting a regular dose of probiotics, your gut health should remain in balance, but it might not if your body doesn’t have enough prebiotics. We know things can get confusing when we start talking about the difference between antibiotics, probiotics, and antibiotics. However, it’s not as complicated as it sounds. 

Simply put, antibiotics wipe out the harmful bacteria in your body. Probiotics are the helpful bacteria in your body that do good things for your health, and prebiotics are the food source those good bacteria need to survive in your body. 

According to an article by the Cleveland Clinic titled “Prebiotics vs. Probiotics: What’s the Difference?,” 

In a healthy state, you can trust your gut to do all the right things for you. Since you already have a good composition of friendly bacteria, you won’t need pre- or probiotics.

“Americans, unfortunately, don’t always live in a healthy state,” Dr. Cresci notes. “People don’t eat the 25 to 35 grams of fiber that the gut bacteria need to survive and replicate.”

For some people, it may not be a lack of fiber, but rather a chronic disease that results in not enough friendly bacteria in the GI tract.

To counteract this lack of prebiotics necessary to maintain digestive balance, the piece recommends boosting your intake of green bananas, boiled potatoes, jerusalem artichokes, and other fibrous starches. However, if this is difficult or inconvenient due to dietary restrictions, it also encourages trying a “Probiotic in spore form, which can survive on the shelf or in the digestive tract.”

Best Probiotics with Prebiotics

Pure On Main has you covered in this arena as well with the Latero Flora Probiotic by Global Healing Center. It’s got spores that establish new colonies of bacteria in your gut, helping your body to maintain the probiotics it already has and balance itself more effectively over a long period of time. 

Join the Probiotic Movement 

Between our extensive assortment of probiotic supplements and fermented foods, you should have no problem finding something that fits your needs and lifestyle. Cultures from around the world have been using fermentation and beneficial microorganisms to promote health for years, and it’s time Americans joined their ranks. 

Another figure from the National Institute of Health reports, “More and more people are using probiotic products to treat or improve illnesses or to maintain overall well-being. In fact, a 2017 report estimated annual global sales of probiotic supplements at $3.7 billion in 2016, and that is expected to rise to $17.4 billion by 2027.” 

It’s appropriate to see this leap in probiotic sales as “Antibiotic use in the US is three times higher in chickens than it is in the UK, double that for pigs, and five times higher for turkeys,” according to a piece by The Guardian called “Huge levels of antibiotic use in US farming revealed.” It also stresses that “Livestock raised for food in the US are dosed with five times as much antibiotic medicine as farm animals in the UK.” 

In conclusion

Probiotics can help you ease and eliminate numerous illnesses, especially surrounding digestive issues. They also rebalance your body’s natural flora when it’s exposed to antibiotics during medical treatment or through dietary choices. 

To consult with a Pure On Main team member about choosing a probiotic for you and your family, visit us at our wellness center, or call us at (864) 991- 2726. We look forward to serving you soon!