Which Probiotic Should You Be Taking?

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Probiotics are those naturally occurring “good” or “helpful” bacteria found in the body, and probiotic supplementation can be beneficial even if you do not have a digestive problem.

Many over-the-counter probiotics may have little to no effect because they may not be the right strains for you or they may be destroyed by your digestive system before they can begin working. Just like with shoes, it is important to find the right fit.

Why Do I Need Additional Probiotics?

Common factors that increase the need for probiotics include poor food choices, antibiotic and NSAID use, alcohol consumption, and exposure to viruses and illnesses. While antibiotics can be life-saving, they are non‑discriminant and often destroy beneficial bacteria along with harmful ones, reducing the body’s natural probiotic population.

Artificial food colorings and additives can also have antibacterial effects, disrupting intestinal balance. Diets high in sugar further worsen imbalance because pathogenic bacteria thrive on excess carbohydrates. Chronic alcohol use can reduce beneficial bacteria and allow harmful bacteria to repopulate. Certain viruses, known as bacteriophages, specifically attack friendly bacteria and are commonly found in individuals with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.

How Can the Naturally Occurring Good Bacteria Get Replenished?

Fermented foods are one of the best natural sources of probiotics. These include live‑culture yogurt, buttermilk, sauerkraut, pickled vegetables (brined, not vinegar‑based), sour cream, and unfiltered beer. Most people do not consume these foods regularly enough to achieve therapeutic probiotic levels.

While yogurt does provide beneficial bacteria, studies show that participants typically consume yogurt multiple times per day to see significant effects. A single serving in the morning is usually not enough to reach a therapeutic dose.

This is similar to vitamin C intake. One orange provides about half of the recommended daily intake, but certain situations require much more to achieve therapeutic benefit. Since few people want to eat a dozen oranges or cups of yogurt, supplementation offers a convenient and controlled alternative.

Although yogurts contain some beneficial strains, they generally do not provide enough bacteria for optimal gut health. Because most diets do not adequately support intestinal bacteria, supplementation with a high‑quality probiotic can provide a reliable and effective daily dose.

Which Probiotic Is Best for Me?

Research over the past two decades has demonstrated that specific probiotic strains provide benefits for specific health concerns. High‑quality probiotics often use acid‑resistant capsules and pH‑targeted release systems to ensure the bacteria survive stomach acid and reach the intestines.

Premium probiotics also contain significantly higher colony‑forming units (CFUs), such as 20 billion organisms instead of 1 billion, increasing the likelihood that beneficial bacteria successfully colonize the gut. Quality probiotics also use targeted strains rather than a “one‑size‑fits‑all” approach.

Digestion

Probiotics can help support regular digestion and bowel function. Studies published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and Nutrition Journal have shown improvements in constipation severity, stool consistency, and colonic transit time in individuals taking probiotics.

Additional research from the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology demonstrated reduced abdominal pain, bloating, and discomfort in individuals with digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.

For digestive support, blended probiotics containing Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus are commonly recommended. Lactobacillus acidophilus is one of the most researched strains and is known for its ability to survive stomach acid and adhere to intestinal walls.

Immune System

Probiotics play an important role in immune regulation by influencing T‑cell activity and supporting immune balance. A study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport found that probiotics containing Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium longum reduced the incidence of colds and gastrointestinal infections.

Participants taking probiotics experienced fewer illnesses than those taking placebo, and additional research from Clinical Nutrition suggests probiotics may shorten the duration and severity of common colds.

Antibiotic Recovery

Antibiotics can disrupt gut bacteria balance and contribute to metabolic and immune dysfunction. One serious complication is overgrowth of Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a common cause of antibiotic‑related diarrhea.

Research published in Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology suggests probiotics help maintain gut balance and inhibit pathogen growth. Probiotics containing Saccharomyces boulardii are particularly effective because this yeast‑based probiotic is less affected by antibiotics.

Seasonal Allergies

Emerging research suggests probiotics may help reduce seasonal allergy symptoms by modulating immune response. Studies from International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology and North American Journal of Medical Sciences indicate potential benefits, although further research is needed to determine optimal strains and timing.

The best time to take probiotics varies by individual. For most people, probiotics taken with a light meal containing some fat may improve survival through the stomach and delivery to the intestines.

If you have questions about probiotics or the topics discussed, please contact our customer service team at customerservice@oakwaynaturals.com or call 888‑460‑3091.

Until next time, stay healthy!

Yours in health,
Dr. Gregg Gittins

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Probiotics are those naturally occurring “good” or “helpful” bacteria found in the body. They are mostly found in your digestive system, but they don’t just help with digestion.

The most common factors that require people to help out their bodies with the addition of good bacteria are poor food choices, antibiotic and NSAID use, alcohol consumption, and various viruses and illnesses.

Eating fermented foods on a frequent basis is one of the best ways to ensure that the digestive system is always repopulated with healthy bacteria. Most of us do not regularly eat fermented foods, such as live culture yogurts (yogurt in the morning for breakfast is not usually sufficient as a therapeutic dose of probiotics), buttermilk, sauerkraut, pickled vegetables (pickled in brine, not vinegar), sour cream and even unfiltered beer.

Since most of us do not have an optimal diet that properly supports intestinal bacteria on its own, we can benefit from supplementation with a high-quality probiotic supplement that gives us a reliable, controlled and effective daily dose.

Over the past 20 years, extensive research has uncovered numerous potential uses and benefits of specific kinds of probiotics for specific health concerns.

One of the key differences between a quality, high-end probiotic and a discount, grocery-store version is that the higher-quality probiotics are usually made with acid-resistant capsules and often feature pH-targeted release mechanisms that ensure the probiotics are released in the digestive tract at the right time – so that they work.

Another key reason to choose a quality probiotic is that they usually have carefully-selected strains, as opposed to the “one-size-fits-all” approach commonly taken by inferior probiotics, which specialize in treating particular health problems.

Which probiotic is right for you?

Digestion: One study discovered that probiotic therapy lowered the abdominal pain and discomfort that is often associated with digestive issues, such as irritable bowel syndrome, and also led to an improvement in bloating and distension, sensation of incomplete evacuation, passage of gas, straining, and bowel habit satisfaction.

Those looking for a probiotic to aid with digestive concerns, such as those mentioned above and others, should look for a blended product that also contains Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains.

Immune system: Certain bacteria in the gut seem to influence key aspects of the immune system, such as correcting deficiencies and increasing the numbers of certain T cells that scan for cellular abnormalities and infections. A recent study found that probiotics containing Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium longum can reduce the occurrence of colds and gastrointestinal infections.

Antibiotic recovery: To combat the adverse effects of antibiotic use (which indescrimintately kill both good and bad bacteria, studies recommend using a probiotic that contains Saccharomyces boulardii, using the right probiotics can prevent many of the side effects of antibiotics and keep our body operating the way it is supposed to.

Seasonal allergies: Recent studies have suggested that probiotics may even be able to help relieve seasonal allergies (also known as hay fever). The theory behind this concept is based on what we know about probiotics’ effect on the immune system.

Allergies are essentially a misguided flare-up of the immune system in response to relatively harmless pollen or other allergens. Probiotics may help by changing the balance of bacteria in the intestines in a manner that might prevent the immune system from overreacting to the presence of allergens, which may help reduce allergy symptoms.

Ortho Biotic

Probiotics are good preventative and general wellness supplements.  I hope we have shown you the importance of choosing a professional supplement that provides a controlled delivery of the right probiotic in sufficient quantities, whether it is for digestive, immune or even allergy-related health concerns.

For the best all-around probiotic, I recommend Ortho Biotic.  It is a highly concentrated 7 blend formula including 20 Billion CFU (colony-forming units) of probiotics along with the addition of 200 mg of Sacchoromyces boulardii (3 Billion CFU).  If you are looking for immune support or antibiotic recovery, you should consider FloraMend Prime by Thorne Research or Sacchoromyces boulardii by Pure Encapsulations.

 

We hope this slide show was helpful and informative. Should you have questions, or suggestions, please feel free to fill out our Ask the Doctor form found at the Doctors Corner.

 

Yours in health!

Dr. Gittins