How can I support gut health?
Your digestive system needs the same things that the rest of you needs to be at its best: healthy food, plenty of sleep, healthy work, school and lifestyle habits, even plenty of water. If you eat a diet high in fiber, fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fats, your gut will thank you!
What are the best probiotic strains for gut health?
When choosing digestive health probiotics, look for these names on the back of your gut health supplement. But remember to pay attention to all three parts of the name. The first letter or word is the genus name. The next word (hint: it's usually in Latin) is the species name. The last word is the strain. Scientists have studied these individual strains to find the ones that work best for supporting digestive health, so the last part is very important.
- L. reuteri DSM 17938
- L. acidophilus CL1285
- L. casei LBC80R
- L. rhamnosus CLR2
- L. acidophilus NCFM
- L. paracasei Lpc-37
- B. lactis BI-04
- B. lactis Bi-07
- B. breve (Bbr8)
- L. plantarum (14D)
- B. animalis (subspecies lactis BLC1)
- L. paracasei (IMC 502)
- L. rhamnosus (IMC 501)
- L. acidophilus (LA1)
- B. longum (subspecies longum SP54)
What do probiotics do?
Probiotic bacteria that have been studied for digestive health help convert the foods we eat into nutrients we can use. Regular use of probiotics also helps crowd out the bad bacteria by using up those prebiotic nutrients, as well as maintaining the proper pH balance in your digestive tract. Helpful bacteria also help nourish and encourage your body's healthy immune response. But not all probiotic bacteria focus on digestion. New science indicates that there are probiotic strains that can be beneficial for your liver health, mouth and throat, and even your heart.
