1. Introduction
You've probably heard the term probiotics by now. Whether in the supermarket, in an advertisement, at the pharmacy, or perhaps even on cosmetic products at the drugstore. Suddenly, probiotics are everywhere. But what exactly are they? And where did this hype come from? In this blog post, we'll give you a brief introduction to probiotics and then answer the most frequently asked questions about them!
Let's start at the very beginning, with the name: It derives from Latin, and "pro bios" translates as "for life," thus also expressing its function. According to the WHO, the World Health Organization, probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that provide a health benefit when ingested in sufficient quantities.
Four criteria must be met for something to be called a probiotic:
- A demonstrably health-promoting effect for the consumer
- The production of lactic acid and other substances with bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects
- They must survive passage through the stomach during the digestive process and be capable of reproduction in the intestines.
- Proof of genetic stability is required to rule out disease-causing mutations.
In fact, probiotics are not a new scientific invention, but have long been a part of the human diet. The most well-known and widespread are... Lactic acid bacteria. These can be found in dairy products such as kefir and quark, as well as yogurt.
Well-known strains of bacteria in this context are bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The good news for those who don't eat dairy products: lactic acid bacteria are also found in other foods such as pomegranate, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi. Supplements, such as Dailybacs from mybacs, also offer particularly high doses. Each capsule contains a whopping 60 billion CFU, or colony-forming units.
2. What do I actually need probiotics for?
The question is both simple and complex, because taking probiotics can always be beneficial for your body! There are numerous areas where probiotics have been proven to have a positive effect. Through various mechanisms, such as the release of metabolic products into the bloodstream, the microorganisms in our gut influence digestion, the immune system, mental health, and more. metabolism, the Skin appearance and much more.
3. In which case are probiotics taken?
Probiotics have various applications and are beneficial for almost everyone. Humans are exposed daily to a wide range of environmental influences, such as the excessive use of... antibiotics, Smoking, alcohol, sugar, lack of sleep, stress or exposed to an unbalanced diet. All of these can disrupt the microbiome. Through the microbiome, it's possible to influence the entire body and mind using specifically selected probiotic bacterial strains.
Probiotics can also be used to rebuild a weakened gut flora. This is often due to a low diversity of bacteria in the gut. If this is the case, it can lead to bloating, diarrhea, or other digestive problems.Common causes include antibiotic treatment, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases or the widespread Irritable bowel syndrome.
A weakened gut flora often occurs when the body has previously been infected with harmful bacteria and had to fight them off. Unfortunately, this treatment also kills off beneficial bacteria, and their deficiency can then throw the gut flora out of balance. This is also known as dysbiosis. Studies have shown that it can take up to six months for the gut flora to recover after taking antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to be discerning when taking antibiotics. It is advisable to talk to a doctor about taking them and, if necessary, look for alternatives. If antibiotics are unavoidable, it is worthwhile to focus on restoring your gut flora and learning how to bring it back into balance. Taking probiotics can help with this, as they introduce beneficial bacteria that colonize the intestinal lining, multiply, and restore balance to the gut flora.
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can also be a reason why taking probiotics may be recommended. IBD is classified according to the intensity of inflammation and treated accordingly. Acute IBD flare-ups are usually treated with medications that aim to suppress inflammation in the short term. The main goal in treating IBD patients is to enable them to live as symptom-free a life as possible.
Recent studies show that administering probiotics can also reduce the symptoms of these diseases. This refers to therapeutic approaches that attempt to influence the composition of the intestinal mucosa through microbiological corrections.
4. When are probiotics taken?
Regardless of your individual circumstances, it's almost always recommended to take your probiotics on an empty stomach in the morning. This is because your digestive tract is still empty in the morning due to the lack of food intake during the night, and the production and secretion of stomach and bile acids are still low. This makes it somewhat easier for the bacteria to pass through your gastrointestinal tract. However, since good resistance to stomach and bile acids is a quality indicator for high-quality probiotic bacterial strains, and in the Dailybacs® Only such bacterial strains can be used; Dailybacs® It can also be taken at another time without any problems.
5. How much probiotic should I take?
Since everyone is different, the appropriate dose of probiotics varies from person to person and also depends on the specific bacterial strain. One disadvantage of consuming fermented foods is that the exact number and dosage of the individual bacterial strains cannot be tracked. However, an "overdose" of fermented foods is very rare. Taking dietary supplements has the advantage that the dosage can be precisely controlled. It is particularly important that the dosage of each strain is chosen as it was used in clinical studies to ensure that the positive effect is replicable.
6. How should probiotics be stored?
It always depends entirely on the product in which the probiotics are contained.If you consume your probiotic cultures in the form of drinks, for example, you should make sure never to break the cold chain. Probiotics in powder form that can be stored at room temperature are therefore more practical. Dailybacs, for instance, come as capsules in an opaque glass jar. This protects the bacteria from oxidation, light, and pressure, for example, when you pack them in your toiletry bag for a trip – so easy!
7. What should be considered when buying and taking probiotics?
If you are pregnant, suffer from a specific illness, or have any concerns, always consult your doctor to discuss taking probiotics. Otherwise, probiotics are available without a prescription and can be purchased at your own discretion. However, when buying probiotics, you should always ensure you are purchasing high-quality bacterial strains, specifically those for which clinical studies have been conducted and efficacy has been proven. Many white-label products do not meet these criteria. Bacterial strains are classified as follows: resident and transient Bacterial strains. The resident strains can gradually colonize your gut when you take the supplement and will thus remain there long-term. The transient strains, however, are excreted after passing through the gastrointestinal tract. Both types of bacteria are very important for a stable microbiome. The mechanism of action of the transient bacterial strains explains why long-term intake is recommended to achieve a lasting positive effect. You will usually notice the first positive effects after just a few days. Often, a positive change in digestion and bowel movements is the first to be observed. After weeks or months, you might already feel your gut sending positive signals to the brain, with increased energy and mood. Within six months, you can also experience positive effects on your immune system, skin, and other bodily systems. This is because 80% of the immune response takes place in the gut, and the microbiome plays a crucial role here. Microbial diversity is also beneficial for the cardiovascular system and metabolism. 8. How long should I take probiotics?
Once you feel inner strength and vitality, it will also radiate outwards, and if your gut is healthy, then you will feel good too!
