´The human body is the best image of the Universe in miniature.´
Mahatma Gandhi
Human body is a small Universe. That is why we should take care of it every day, for our body and mind to be healthy. What is health for us? And do we really realize what its price is? Could we buy it if we have a lot of money? Unlike these practically achievable things, there are also those that cannot be bought even at the price of all the wealth in the world. We say that they are priceless. Such wealth is health.
The health of our digestive system plays a big role for a strong immune system. Whether you want to strengthen the function of the immune system, reduce the risk of disease or simply improve your overall condition, probiotics are a worthy addition to your daily routine. And in the following lines we will discuss the things of most importance you might not know about probiotics.
How are the probiotics stored…
…is the first thing we should be aware of when buying probiotics. It is very important that they are stored properly so that their important ingredients and benefits are not lost. Storage is indicated on the package – so always read what the manufacturer recommends. There are probiotics that are stored in the refrigerator and others that do not need it. Manufacturers should label probiotic foods very precisely, stating the shelf life and storage conditions. You need to make sure what you buy, where it is stored and keep track of where the store or pharmacy from which you get it is stored. The shelf life usually varies from 1 to 2 years for probiotics. So, step №1 when buying a probiotic is to read how it is stored and see its expiration date.
How do probiotics survive by passing through the stomach… …is a question that has kept more than one or two labs awake at night, because probiotics are supposed to work in the gut, but most of them don’t manage to get there because of the hydrochloric acid in the stomach kills them mercilessly. After all, hydrochloric acid role is to do just that – to neutralize all the external microorganisms that reach our stomach.
So, thanks to the question “how could more of them survive”, there are already several mechanisms in place for this to happen, the most famous of which are:
– double capsules (one dissolves in the stomach, the other in the intestine),
– delayed dissolution (using an adhesive),
– micro encapsulation.
Dose is also important…
….especially if taken for therapeutic purposes. The recommendation here is for the probiotic supplement to contain a minimum of 8-10 billion live probiotics from several different strains. And if you follow one of the above 3 techniques, this number is usually enough. However, if they are not protected – it is good to take much more, as some companies offer 25, 50 and even 100 billion per tablet.
The routine, when to take and how……is the fourth key point, because they, like everything else, require dedication and regular intake.
It is good to take them on an empty stomach so that they can pass through hydrochloric acid as quickly as possible, because, regardless of the technique of preserving them – the longer they stay in the stomach, more from them will be neutralized.
Benefits of probiotics
– improvement of intestinal health
– enhancement of immune response
– reduction of serum cholesterol
– cancer prevention
– acts as an antioxidant
– increases iron level in stomach
– increases level of some vitamins
– improve our mood
– fight obesity
– fight stress
.
Probiotics are not a panacea, but a biological approach that naturally turns “food into medicine and medicine into food” and helps us stay healthy. This makes them an integral part of the diet and lifestyle of our life!