What Probiotic is Right for You?

Do you or does someone you know suffer from digestive issues? You’re not alone. The licensed nutritionists and dietitians at our sister company, Nutritional Weight & Wellness see clients everyday with these symptoms. Many have endured them for years and even decades. While these symptoms are common, they are not normal and should be taken as a sign to right the digestive system.

What do we mean by digestive system? We’re talking about our intestinal tract which has a shocking amount of bacteria living in it – 75 to 100 TRILLION. Yes, trillion. Some are good bacteria (probiotics) and some are bad bacteria, and when the scales are tipped in favor of good bacteria this equals better overall health. When the right balance of probiotics is achieved your intestinal tract can digest and absorb the nutrients from the food you eat. When you absorb those nutrients, you support your immune system, your brain function, and much more. There’s also a powerful connection between your mood and your intestinal health. Interestingly, most of your feel-good brain chemicals are made in your digestive system.

On the other hand, when the intestinal tract is out of balance, the intestinal wall can be damaged. That leads to cracks in the lining of your intestinal tract which allow undigested food and bacteria from your intestines to escape into your blood stream – creating their own set of health issues.

So how does your intestinal tract get out of balance? Well, have you ever taken antibiotics? Or maybe you drink tap water, were born by C-section, weren’t breastfed, take medication to manage acid reflux, or have stress in your life (and in these times, who doesn’t?)? Even the pesticide residue from non-organic foods affects the balance of the intestinal tract. All of these scenarios wreak havoc on your digestive system, creating a compromised intestinal tract.

Beyond the physical damage to the lining of your intestinal tract, an unbalanced intestinal tract results in many more unwelcome symptoms such as:

• Digestive problems
• Bloating/cramping/pain
• Sugar cravings
• Indigestion or gas
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Brain fog or memory loss
• Mood issues
• Joint or muscle pain
• Weight control issues
• Frequent illnesses and infections
• Breathing issues

So you determined you could be out of balance … now what? From a nutrition perspective, removing inflammatory foods like sugar, refined carbohydrates, and vegetable oils is enormously helpful.  Adding fermented foods with naturally-occurring probiotics like sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt also helps supply more beneficial bacteria. Often, however, clients also need a therapeutic dose of a quality probiotic supplement to heal the intestinal wall, restore balance, and feel better quickly. 

Here’s a quick rundown on our probiotics and how they’re unique. The good news is that all our NutriKey probiotics are 15% off all November long!

Bifido Balance (Capsules) or Bifido Powder

• What it is: A pure strain of bifidobacteria, the most prevalent good bacteria in your intestinal tract, making up (ideally) about 70% of your gut bacteria. That’s why we tend to start people here. Bifido Balance works amazingly well for eliminating those cravings, especially when paired with L-Glutamine.
• Who should use it: 
• Dosage recommendations: 

Biotic 7

• What it is: Six different strains of bacteria and a beneficial yeast that cleans out other pathogens (bad microbes) in the gut so good strains of bacteria can colonize the intestinal tract instead.
• Who should use it: 
• Dosage recommendations: 

Acidophilus (Capsule Form) or Dophilus Powder (Powder Form)

• What it is: This pure strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus works in targeted areas, specifically those that line the stomach, bladder and vaginal tract. For severe symptoms mentioned on this post we recommend the powder over the capsules.
• Who should use it: 
• Dosage recommendations: 

Biotic Duo

• What it is: A 50:50 blend of patented acidophilus and bifidobacteria, two of the most thoroughly studied probiotic strains.
• Who should use it: 
• Dosage recommendations: 

Whew, lots of options to consider! To pick which probiotic is right for you, feel free to contact our friendly and knowledgeable staff at 651-699-3438. They are happy to help!