Choosing your probiotics
THERE are many probiotics products in the market that claim to be helpful in relieving constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, bloating and more.
Because there are so many such products out there, sometimes it is hard for consumers to make a decision on which to choose.
To clear the confusion, here are some guidelines in selecting the correct probiotics.
Firstly, consumers need to understand that not all probiotics are the same. They comprise different species, so long-term research needs to be carried out before a conclusion can be made.
When choosing the correct probiotics, consumers should not only concentrate on the probiotics groups – they should also look for the bacterial strain. This determines the clinically documented indications.
The strain is designated by a group of numbers and letters, for example, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v.
In order to select probiotics supplements that are effective in improving health, consumers should equip themselves with basic knowledge on the selection criteria of probiotics supplements.
Firstly, consumers must be certain that the probiotics have been tested in humans and they are shown to exert health benefits.
The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”.
Selection of probiotics supplement must be done carefully to ensure that consumers benefit from the products claimed to be effective towards certain health issues.
Probiotics of the same genus or even species do not necessarily provide the same benefits.
Different strains might have different properties in terms of acid and oxygen tolerance as well as their growth factors.
They would not exert the same health benefits as supported by clinical studies done on a particular strain of probiotics.
Human’s gastric juice and bile acid are designed to destroy bacteria. In order for the probiotics to exert their effect in the human intestine, the tiny creatures have to withstand the high acidity in the stomach.
Besides, the viability of probiotics can best be secured by refrigerating them at 4°C so that the optimal amount of bacteria can be activated in the digestive tract.
Different probiotics need to be administered at different dosage for maximum efficacy. Choose a quality product at the right quantity by examining the colony forming unit (CFU) of the supplements.
Knowing the actual health condition will help in deciding on a suitable probiotics product. Each condition may need a different probiotics strain to improve the treatment effect.
Consumers should select probiotics products with quality packaging and with trusted manufacturers.
Important information about the products such as probiotics strains, CFU, serving size, storage method, corporate contact information and health benefits conferred should be included in the packaging.
Consumers must also make sure that the probiotics are obtained from trusted sources.
Consumers should always choose the strains of probiotics which are supported by clinical studies proven to be able to exert health benefits on human and safe for human consumption.
This article is contributed by BiO-LiFeE Marketing Sdn Bhd. For more details, look out for its advertisement in this StarSpecial.