All probiotic strains are beneficial for one’s health, right?
WRONG! Pardon me BUT I have to burst your bubble.
I don’t know where this idea came from (maybe from the advertisements of popular probiotic supplement brands and companies) BUT this is totally mistaken. True, generally, probiotics are considered safe to take BUT not all of them bring health benefits.
So sit back, hold back a little from rushing to the food and drug store to buy a bottle of probiotics supplements, and take some time to know some of the most beneficial and most popular probiotic strains that you SHOULD take.
Check this out:
Probiotic Strain 1: Bacillus coagulans
According to research and studies, this probiotic strain is very helpful when it comes relieving abdominal pain and bloating experienced by Irritable Bowel Syndrome (or IBS for short) patients. Along with that, application of this probiotic strain showed heightened immune response against viral challenge.
Probiotic Strain 2: Bifidobacterium
In a study involving mice, Bifidobacterium provided enough protection against against Salmonella typhimurium. For improved colonization of Bifidobacterium, using prebiotics that will feed and keep the strain alive is essential.
Here are other benefits that this strain brings:
(A) Aids in apoptotic response when used in conjunction with resistant starch against colon cancer.
(B) Helps greatly in reducing inflammation and reduces the incidence of diarrhea, especially those patients who are suffering from Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD).
(C) Reduces the severity of infection and ulcerations caused by H. pylori – a bacteria strain that is responsible for peptic or stomach ulcers.
Probiotic Strain 3: Lactobacillus acidophilus
Enhances clearance of Candida albicans by inducing a certain immune response. Lactobacillus acidophilus reduces allergic response, incidence of tumor formation and size of intestinal tumors, and those are just to name a few.
Compared to other probiotics, Lactobacillus acidophilus has the best or superior survival power in the conditions of the gastro intestinal tract compared to other probiotic strains.
For people who are suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome, you would be pleased to know that this tough BUT friendly strain of bacteria helps greatly in reducing inflammation while inhibiting the reproduction of pathogenic bacteria like H. pylori, Salmonella typhimurium, and others.
Probiotic Strain 4: Lactobacillus casei
Just like the previous probiotic strains I have brought up, Lactobacillus casei shields you against the Salmonella typhimirium. For you to get the most out of it, using prebiotics in conjunction with this strain is necessary for improved colonization.
Dealing with IBD? No problem! This probiotic strain can greatly reduce the inflammation you are experiencing brought by the said disease. Lactobacillus casei also reduces the severity of H. pylori infection in your stomach (as mentioned, this is the primary reason of peptic ulcer).
Salmonella, E. coli, H. pylori – these are just some of the harmful micro organisms and bacteria that Lactobacillus casei stops. Strong enough to survive the not so friendly and acidic condition in your gastro intestinal tract, the strain Lactobacillus casei is one of the most commonly used strains in food supplements.
Don’t get me wrong – this is NOT an exhaustive list of beneficial strains of probiotics. This is just to show what are the most popular and widely used strains are. Bottom line: if you want to make sure you are getting the health benefits promised by your food supplement and probiotics provider, check the label to see which strains are included and do a research on them.