Is it all hype or do we really need to take probiotics? So many parts of our body depend on our intestines and scientific research agrees that we need to create a wide variety of good bacteria in our gut, which will in turn support our overall health.
There is still a great deal of confusion out there. A recent survey by nutrition company Healthspan found that people are confused about the why, when and even what time of day they should be taking probiotics. Nearly a quarter of 2,000 people admitted that they took a probiotic supplement to support a specific health condition but then 67 per cent of people openly declared that they were unaware of what strains they needed to support their health.
Rob Hobson, Head of Nutrition at Healthspan talks to Dr Arthur Ouwehand, a Professor of Mircrobiology leading probiotics researcher at Turku University in Finland to find out what really should we be doing.
Does one strain fit all?
Do not assume one strain or strain combination has all the health benefits that are suggested for probiotics. It’s best to choose a probiotic that combines a number of the best researched strains being Lactobacillus and Biftidobacterium.
What is the ideal dose to take each day?
You need to take one to two capsules a day of a probiotic that has a minimum of ten billion bacteria in per serving and again a combination of strains is important. Healthspan’s new Super-Pro 50 is an advanced probiotic with over 50 billion friendly bacteria from four well-researched strains as well as containing calcium, vitamin D3 and B6 all formulated to support digestive health, immunity and energy metabolism.
What’s the difference between a pre and a probiotic?
Prebiotics are a non-digestible food ingredients such as inulin or resistant starch found in foods such as Jerusalem artichoke, asparagus, onions, garlic, leeks, potatoes and rice (these last two starchy foods must be cooked then cooled to produce resistant starch). Probiotics have what is called a symbiotic relationship with prebiotics helping them to thrive.
Do we need different types as we age?
Ageing has many effects on the body including the absorption of key nutrients and this extends to the diversity of your microbiota. Bacterial strains such as Bifidobacterium lactis have been shown to decline in later life and this reduced diversity of bacteria could open the pathway for disease-causing pathogens. As you age it may be particularly beneficial to invest in a good quality probiotic supplement as part of your health regime.
Why can’t we just get what we need from food?
Diet alone cannot provide us with the right strains and levels of live bacteria we need to maintain a healthy microbiome,’ says Hobson. ‘Plus, we need more than one strain of bacteria for individual health needs and this is where supplementation works well choosing a products that has well researched strains with a blend of lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus planetarium and two strains of Bifidobacterium lactis which is shown to decline even more so as we age.’
What to look out for when choosing a probiotic supplement
Alongside a healthy diet that includes prebiotic foods, probiotic supplements can be a useful way to top the gut up with friendly bacteria but there are some things you should keep in mind when choosing and taking your supplements.
- Probiotic bacteria from supplements cannot live in the gut for ever so they need to be consumed on a regular basis.
- Don’t take a probiotic supplement with hot food and drinks like tea or coffee as this can lessen the chance of the bacteria getting to your gut unharmed.
- Alcohol can also render the bacteria in probiotic supplements useless so try not to knock back with a glass of pinot!
- Research suggests that breakfast might be the best time of day as this is when bacteria have the greatest chances of surviving the acidic conditions in the upper part of the gut.
- Make sure you check the expiry date because once that’s passed there may not be any live bacteria left in the product.
- The use of antibiotics also wipes out bacteria from the gut and is not fussy whether that bacteria is good or bad. If you’re taking a course of antibiotics, then take a probiotic alongside your medication and for a few weeks after to help rebalance your microbiome (try not to take your antibiotic and probiotic at the same time).
- Choose a probiotic supplement with a range of well researched strains such as Healthspan Super50 Pro (60 capsules for £28.50). The new Healthspan SuperPro 50 has an advanced blend of lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus planetarium and two strains of Bifidobacterium lactis which is shown to decline as we age.’
