Friendly bacteria and the amazing gut
How much do you know about your intestines? You will be surprised to learn that, at any one time, you have about one hundred trillion bacteria inside your digestive tract, particularly in your intestines. These trillions of bacteria are made up of about 500 different species, which began settling into your body from the very first day you were born.
Most of these bacteria perform beneficial functions, such as digesting food, protecting against infection and influencing a few physiological processes in the body. The remainder of the bacteria may either not provide any benefits or could be potentially harmful, which are sometimes referred to as “bad” bacteria.
Good vs bad. Your digestive system is counting on you.
The balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut has to be maintained in a fragile balance. This ratio between the "good" bacteria and the other bacteria becomes one of the critical factors determining your optimal health. Our environment greatly influences this balance, and a poor diet, stress, medications and an unhealthy lifestyle can disrupt it.
When that happens, a person is likely to experience digestive health problems, such as bloating, intestinal pain, constipation or diarrhoea.
On the other hand, a healthy, balanced environment in the gut can protect the health. For instance, research suggests that a particular strain of bacteria may help to maintain a healthy intestinal microflora.
One way to boost our good bacteria count is by taking probiotics through our food or as supplements. Probiotics are live bacteria that help to re-establish a healthy bacterial balance in the intestines.
As more probiotic products appear on the market today, it is important to ensure that you are choosing a product that provides the best benefits.
Choose wisely. Are your probiotics getting through?
The first criterion of a good probiotic product is the strain of bacteria used. It should be clinically documented in published clinical studies, safe to be consumed, able to withstand the stomach acids and bile during the digestive process, and able to attach to the intestinal lining.
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two groups of bacteria commonly used in probiotic products, of which a few strains have been scientifically tested to be beneficial. The bacteria must be alive or viable, gastric acid and bile salt-resistant and have a better survival rate in order to perform their beneficial functions after they have been consumed.
Probiotics that contain highly stable microencapsulated strains with the right stabilisation processes during packaging and transportation will protect the bacteria against light, heat, humidity and moisture breakdown.
Biogrow Probiotics provides highly stable microencapsulated strains made from patented Probiocap Microencapsulation Technology from Institute Rosell-Lallemand, Canada, that ensures the probiotics are resistant to gastric acid and bile salts and have a better survival rate. Remember, only live probiotics confer benefits to their host, not the dead ones.
Get Biogrow Probiotics now for better gut health. It is available at all leading pharmacies.
This article is contributed by Legosan (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.
For more information, call 03-7628 8831/ 03-7956 2220/ 03-7628 8888 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or visit www.biogrow.com.my
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