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Probiotics & Your Gut: Let's Take a Deep Dive!

Gut health awareness is growing fast as people are becoming more conscious that it is one of the most important health and wellbeing aspects in people’s lives. The more we learn about our gut and the important processes that take place there, the more we realize that we need to pay closer attention to what we are putting into our bodies. The gastrointestinal system is the main portal for processing nutrients, but it also serves a communication center for the body and a disease fighter. From your nervous and immune systems to your mental health and digestive function, a healthy gut plays a key role in your every day well-being. It makes sense why so many sayings relate to your gut; "Go with your gut", Butterflies in your tummy", " You are what you eat", etc.

Due to our shifting Westernised diets and excessive exposure to processed foods, probiotics are proving to be absolutely pivotal in the pursuit of gut health. Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that benefit your digestive system. We usually think of germs as things that cause illness, but your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often referred to as good or helpful bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy.

There isn’t just one probiotic that exists, but many unique and beneficial ones. These different types of probiotics—called strains— each have their own special function. Every person also has a unique gut microbiome or balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut, and so, investing in a multi-strain probiotic is the best way to ensure that your unique mix of good bacteria are functioning optimally!

We can use and benefit from many probiotic strains because of animal/plant species with a long history of safe use in foods or because of microorganisms that already colonize healthy gastrointestinal tracts. Based on research, multi-strain probiotics appear to show greater efficacy than just single strains. Two of the most focused strains are from two genus, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Let’s take a look at these different strains, how they encourage a healthy gut microbiome and where to find them…


Lactobacillus VS Bifidobacterium

 

Lactobacilli have limited biosynthetic abilities and ferment refined sugars, generating lactic acid as the major end product, whereas Bifidobacteria are important producers of short chain fatty acids (Bifidobacteria fermentation turns these plant and milk carbohydrates into short chain fatty acids, which is the main energy source for our intestinal cells).

Lactobacillus acidophilus

Lactobacillus acidophilus is found in dairy products and is commercially added to many foods. People commonly take Lactobacillus acidophilus to treat bacterial infection and inflammation and digestive disorders, as well as to promote the growth of good bacteria. All-in-all, Lactobacilli are very good for gut health. They produce lactic acid, which may prevent harmful bacteria from colonising the intestines. They also ensure the lining of the intestines stays intact.

Lactobacillus casei

Lacticaseibacillus casei is a type of probiotic found in an infant’s digestive tract. It produces lactic acid in the gut is used to prevent or treat diarrhea. This includes infectious diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea, and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. It may also have beneficial effects on other digestive problems, including colic, IBS and celiac disease. Another plus when taking this strain of probiotic is that it improves body weight management.

Bifidobacterium lactis/animalis

Bifidobacterium lactis/ animalis is rod-shaped bacterium which can be found in the large intestines of most mammals, including humans. This gut bacteria's role as a probiotic has an incredible ability to modulate and strengthen the immune system. Bifidobacteria are used for many conditions affecting the intestines, including preventing diarrhea in children and adults.

Lactobacillus plantarum

Lactobacillus plantarum is a species of lactic acid bacteria, which is mainly found in the fermentation of plant-derived raw materials. These good bacteria can help break down food, absorb nutrients, and fight off organisms that might cause diseases. Lactobacillus plantarum is commonly found in many fermented food products including sauerkraut, pickles, brined olives, Korean kimchi, sourdough, some cheeses, fermented sausages, and stock fish. It is used in the treatment of various chronic and cardiovascular diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, diabetes, obesity, cancer, hypertension, urinogenital complications and liver disorders.

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Bifidobacterium longum

Bifidobacterium longum is a type of probiotic that lives in the intestines. It produces lactic and acetic acid in the gut. A large number of studies have shown that Bifidobacterium longum can reduce the symptoms of colitis and relieve chronic inflammation. It was also found that only Bifidobacterium longum relieved constipation, which indicated that bifidobacteria had inter-species differences in relieving constipation.

Lactobacillus paracasei

Lactobacillus paracasei is a species of lactic acid bacteria. It's found in the human intestinal tract and mouth, but also in foods such as yogurt and naturally fermented vegetables and milk. People use Lactobacillus paracasei to boost the immune system and fight inflammation, hay fever, eczema, and the common cold. Lactobacillus paracasei also helps to strengthen the intestinal barrier and improve absorption of nutrients from food.

Lactobacillus rhamnous

Lactobacillus rhamnous is great for your digestive health. It produces lactic acid which helps prevent the survival of potentially harmful bacteria in your digestive tract. A recent study also determined that Lactobacillus rhamnosus significantly reduces depression and anxiety symptoms. Other amazing benefits of this probiotic strain include include reducing occasional constipation as well as weight loss.

Bifidobacterium bifidum

Bifidobacterium bifidum is one of the most common probiotic bacteria that can be found in the body of mammals, including humans. Bifidobacterium bifidum suppresses gut inflammation caused by things like repeated antibiotic disturbance. This probiotic strain is great for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and respiratory infections. It is also used to treat eczema, constipation, diarrhea.


DID YOU KNOW?

You can find all of these probiotic strains mentioned above in Klean’s Nourish Probiotic Capsules.

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Nourish is a comprehensive blend of 20 billion beneficial probiotic species combined to completely recondition your gut, boost immunity, stimulate a healthy metabolism, and promote homeostasis throughout your body and mind. Invest in real gut health, fight dis-ease from the inside, out and give your body the tools it needs to carry you through life.

 

SHOP NOURISH NOW

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