Your Gut is your Guardian

Studies have shown that 70-80% of the body’s immune cells live in the gastrointestinal tract¹

The immune system is key to helping the human body stay well and feel good. It therefore corresponds that a simple way to support the immune system is to support gut health.

The human body is home to around 100 trillion bacteria and keeping them in balance is essential to health and wellbeing. With many more microbial cells than human cells it is estimated that for every human cell there are 10 microorganisms. Most of these microorganisms are bacteria and up to 95% live in your gut. With clinical research in the area burgeoning, the gut microbiome has been linked to a wide range of conditions, including anxiety,² diabetes,³ autism,³ and obesity.³

The World Health Organization defines probiotics as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host”⁴ Probiotics can support good gut health, but it is important to note

Not all probiotics are created equal.

For a probiotic to support gut health there needs to be clinical research to support the findings and the more clinical studies supporting these findings the better.

What to look for in food products?

Some products in Australia and New Zealand have begun calling out the word “probiotic” on the packaging label. For a product to call out the words “probiotic” there is the assurance that the product contains these good and beneficial bacteria in the right amounts to support health as this is a requirements to meet consumer law on using the words “probiotic”.

What may not be clear is the benefit, or which probiotic is actually in the product

Here are three extra things to look for:

1. A health benefit or claim on the pack outlining exactly the benefit the probiotic in the product has been associated with. Words like “Supports Immunity”, “Supports Digestion” are examples of notified claims used in Australia.

2. The specific strain of probiotic may be listed. This can be recognized in different ways.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus,
LGG^®

Bifidobacterium,
BB-12^®

Lactobacillus paracasei,
L. CASEI 431^®

3. The amount of probiotic per serving may also be written on pack. It may simply be Billions of Probiotics, or it may be written in the nutritional panel and call out the number of probiotics per serve. Most probiotics require a content of 1 billion cfu per serve to provide a health benefit and this will be based on the evidence found in the clinical studies.

What about Supplements?

It is a personal choice between consuming probiotics through food or through a supplement. Probiotics found in supplements have the same scientific and clinical results behind them as the ones found in food.

If consuming probiotics through a supplement is preferred, look for the specific strain listed on the pack, the health benefit, that will have been registered with the TGA and the quantity per serve.

7 myths & misconceptions about probiotics

A quick guide for choosing the right probiotic products

Gut Health

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References