Probiotics help our body restore the intestinal bacterial flora... but you have to know how to choose them!
Since it has shed its anonymous guise of "intestinal bacterial flora" and assumed the more appropriate dignity of "intestinal microbiota"there is ever-increasing interest, both on the part of professionals and on the part of consumers, in that set of microorganisms that make up the population of this part of our digestive system.
Did you know that…
This attention, far from being just a media effect, is motivated by a series of very important acquisitions such as, for example, the awareness that the cells that make up our organism are, from a purely numerical point of view, clearly inferior to the number of cells of bacterial origin that we carry within us and that the future can depend on these proportions and these balances health or illness of our entire organism, the efficiency or dysfunctionality of some organs and systems and so on.
From this perspective, the set of cells that make up the intestine and the bacterial cells present there can be compared to a multi-ethnic society, which functions and makes everything work when a certain balance is maintained and no one prevails over the others.
In fact, once this balance is altered, the simplest alterations such as constipation, diarrhea, alternating bowel movements, etc. can manifest themselves, as well as more complex manifestations such as allergic, skin, immune reactions and so on.
Gut health? It's all about balance!
There are numerous factors that contribute to upsetting this balance, forming the basis for a suboptimal functioning (and for the possible evolution of diseases) of our intestine, for example, incorrect diet, stress, bad habits such as smoking, a sedentary lifestyle or alcohol abuse, viral or bacterial infections, etc.
Given the number of these potentially negative factors, it is often necessary to seek external help, which can contribute to bringing thebalance in the battery population: in practice, when the "multiethnic society" of our intestine is in disarray, it becomes necessary to send "support troops" to re-establish a condition of order and full functionality.
Read also: Microbiota: central to gastrointestinal health
And probiotics
Probiotics, according to the definition of the Italian Ministry of Health: "live and viable microorganisms capable of conferring health benefits on the host when consumed in adequate quantities as part of a food or a supplement."
Understanding this definition is crucial, as the current market offers everything and its opposite, making it incredibly difficult for consumers to navigate the vast array of options available.
Here are the essential aspects that can guide us in choosing a good product containing probiotics:
Which microorganism should be used in probiotics?
The ministerial regulation is more than clear in defining a probiotic as a product containing live and viable microorganisms, that is, capable of colonizing and reproducing in the destination environment, therefore all spore-based products should be excluded from consideration.
The dosage
The ministerial guidelines are more than clear in defining how "the quantity sufficient to achieve temporary colonization is at least 109 (1 billion) live cells per day per adult. This quantity of cells must be present in the daily portion/dosage of the food/supplement.
Different daily doses can be accepted only if proven by specific studies."
In light of these indications, it is clear that products that, upon expiry, do not guarantee the presence of at least one billion live cells per dose of product, should be excluded from consideration.
If we want to be even more meticulous, it would be preferable to have a product that can guarantee its shelf life upon expiry. 1 billion microorganisms for each strain used, to ensure optimal colonization.
How many bacteria does a healthy gut have?
Before choosing a product, it is important to remember that the proportion of bacteria in a healthy (eubiotic) intestine is 10 bifid bacteria for every lactobacillus.
Respecting this proportion in the formulation of a product is impractical due to the difficulty in processing bifid plants but, at the very least, the ratio should be 1:1 if not higher in favor of bifid plants (to restore balance I have to send "aid" in the correct proportions).
Contraindications of probiotics during antibiotic therapy
Some manufacturers encourage the use of their products containing probiotics even during pregnancy. antibiotic therapy as they are resistant to this drug.
This is not possible because the use of antibiotic-resistant strains It is not permitted by law (as it is potentially dangerous for the development of infectivity or the transfer of resistance to pathogenic bacteria), therefore either the product is not legal or the thing is not true, ultimately the recommended practice is not proving useful.
By applying these small practical tips it will be possible to select, with full knowledge of the facts, a probiotic-based supplement that proves to be effective and safe, dealing with all those conditions that can disturb intestinal balance.
Prodotti consigliati: Ecoflor plus boulardii, Ecoflor plus boulardii junior, Ecoflor plus boulardii flaconcini, Ecoflor plus boulardii capsule, Ecoflor baby.
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