Are you taking the right probiotic?

Probiotics have become really popular in the last 10 years.  Gut health has become a hot topic and it’s about time in my opinion.  As a Naturopath I have always looked at gut health first when I saw a client, it is the root of all health and a disrupted digestion will cause havoc in all areas of your health.
 
Probiotics have become the heal all panacea of the decade, but did you know that not all probiotics are created equal?
 
Pro’s and cons of liquid/yoghurt/capsuled probiotics

• Yoghurt – natural yoghurt is a good source of probiotics but any added sugars will counteract the good you are trying to achieve.  Yoghurts tend to be helpful for Issues between the mouth and the stomach (upper GI).
• Liquid – There are many liquid probiotics on the market, some better than others.  They are ok for upper GI issues, oral issues but I have rarely seen good results for any lower GI issues, plus they often contain a lot of sugar.
• Capsule – This is my favourite form of probiotics to use for most digestive issues.  They survive to the lower GI (stomach, small intestines and large intestines).  

 
How to use a probiotic
 

• Start with a large dosage (normally 5x the recommended) – the body will excrete what it doesn’t use
• Take for a minimum of 3 months daily
• I tend to advise taking in the morning
• Before or after food is normally ok for the majority but will depend on the reason for taking in the few.

 
Simple solution

• If you suffer from constipation/diarrhoea a large dose of probiotics can help to clear.  If either is persistent seek medical advice.

 
 
Keep an eye out, next week I’ll go into what specific strains of probiotics help specific symptoms.
 
 
 
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