In seeking the best probiotic products, consider these factors:- Read the label for the numbers of each bacteria strain per
serving (not per bottle). These should be listed in billions,
not millions. - Be sure there are enough varieties of bacteria, especially
the ones noted above. - Check the expiration date as even freeze-dried bacteria
eventually die. - Bacterial cultures that last the longest are those that are
kept refrigerated. - A healthy diet helps these supplemental bacteria main-
tain the friendly bacteria in the intestine, especially the
“prebiotics” food as previously discussed.
The gut also has many far-reaching influences throughout the
body. The gut is the home of much of an adult’s immune system, and
the health of the overall body is influenced by the intestine. The
potential for allergy is gut-related as absorption of undigested pro-
teins can trigger allergic reaction, which can affect the skin, sinuses,
immune system and even the gut itself. Food intolerances, previous-
ly discussed, are also gut-related. And in recent years, the idea of a
“gut-brain” connection has begun to develop, with significant influ-
ence on the brain from the gut’s overall health.
How do you know when the gut is working best? The answer
seems obvious but it’s a common question. Most people don’t feel dif-
ferent after taking a probiotic supplement, for example, or imple-
menting other seeming healthy habits for the gut. Clearly, you should
not just feel better, but function better when the proper combinations
of food changes, dietary supplements and other lifestyle factors are
implemented. You should not have indigestion or large amounts of
gas. You should have one, two or three bowel movements per day
that are not foul-smelling. In addition, if you start taking a probiotic
supplement, or otherwise improve gut bacteria (such as with yogurt
or other cultured foods), the result should be a noticeable increase in
stool bulk. Consider that almost half of the stool may be bacteria.
272 • IN FITNESS AND IN HEALTH