How to Choose a Daily Probiotic

"Do I need a probiotic?"

"Do I need to spend a lot of money on a probiotic?"

"Do I need to take a probiotic everyday?"

Common questions I hear from my clients and the same questions I asked myself before diving deep into my gut health journey. Before my gut health education I too was hella confused by all the professional gut health jargon. 

The truth is, you are exposed to stores and websites LINED with probiotics supplements which leaves you confused and empty handed.  It can be a grueling task to choose the right probiotic supplement, so how do you decide which probiotic is right for you?

Here are simple tips to guide you towards choosing the best probiotic supplement.

REVIEW THE COLONY FORMING UNITS (CFUs)

CFUs, or Colony Forming Units, are the measuring unit of probiotics. This number must be clearly displayed on the probiotics bottle. To best suit the digestive system a probiotic should be in the range of 3-50 billion.  

Lower range CFU products can be sufficient as a maintenance product. This potency will allow you to recover the probiotics lost during modern day living.

Higher range CFU products are recommended for specific instances such as chronic stress, traveling, aging, poor diet, or a compromised digestive system.

• Stress and Travelling: Modern day living - hours in front of computer screens,  maneuvering through family chaos, traveling for business & pleasure, and high exposure to antibacterial & chemicals can put your body in a state of dis-ease. Over 70% of the immune cells live in the gut. It is imperative to reinforce those cells during high stress times so that you re-populate the gut with friendly bacteria.
• Aging: As you age, the microbiome loses probiotics much faster, particularly Bifidobacterium. This species of normal bacteria promotes healthy digestion, pH levels, and immune function. It also helps to prevent an overgrowth of opportunistic bacteria and fungi/yeast.  
• Poor Diet: A diet loaded with PC (processed crap) is responsible for depleting natural probiotics. If you deplete you should replace.
• Compromised Digestive System: When there is imbalance in normal bacteria or an over populated system with toxic bacteria and pathogens the proper probiotic intake may help restore the balance and reduce symptoms.

LOOK FOR NO IRRITANTS 

Look for a supplement that is free of chemicals and fillers. Also carefully review ingredients which you may be sensitive too such as wheat, soy, or corn. Chemicals and sensitive causing ingredients lead to symptoms downstream and keep your system inflamed.

REVIEW SHELF STABILITY AND GUARANTEED POTENCY

Confirm high quality by reviewing the wording on the bottle. Look for “Potency Guaranteed Until Time of Expiration, Refrigeration Not Required, or Shelf Stable.”

For example, if the manufacturer says 50 billion CFUs, that number of CFUs should remain the same until time of expiration.

REVIEW STRAIN DIVERSITY

For an average adult look for a combination of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli. This will support both the large and small intestine. Look for the abbreviations L. and B. on the label.

Your gut has its own unique blueprint. Probiotics are trial and error depending on your microbiome’s needs. Focus on quality and investigating which brands & strains work best for you.

Conduct a GI Map test to discover your gut blueprint, schedule your session here-> BREAK THRU

Be Gutsy as a Mother,

-Mary

Ps: Ready to ditch the belly bloat and increase your energy? Sign up for my 5-day gut health challenge, learn more here-> REVIVE