Let’s Talk (Good) Bacteria: The Best Probiotic Strains for Your Gut

Wondering about probiotics and their incredible health benefits? Let’s talk (good) bacteria and get to know the best probiotic strains for a healthy gut.

The mention of bacteria typically brings images of dirt, grime, and illness to your mind, but there is another side to bacteria that you should know about. Your body is home to trillions of microorganisms that are essential to your everyday health and well-being.  

Of the 30 trillion human cells in your body, between 30 and 50 trillion of those are bacterial cells. Your body is basically made of just as much bacteria as human cells. Once you know this, it is easy to understand why bacteria, and the benefits of probiotics, are important to your health.

Meet the Probiotic Protectors

The bacteria ingested as part of certain foods are commonly referred to as probiotics. They are the microorganisms that live within you and are responsible for keeping you healthy, especially in terms of your digestive tract.

These are very different to the pathogenic bacteria that cause disease and illness. These friendly gut floras travel through your digestive system protecting you from pathogens and producing essential vitamins that are required to keep all internal processes running smoothly.  

Many people experience digestive stress and troubles due to depleted levels of these probiotics. Taking antibiotics for an illness can help to remove the dangerous and harmful strains causing you to be ill.  

However, they also kill off the friendly flora in your system. Once these numbers are depleted, the pathogenic strains can take over, causing widespread inflammation and illness.  

Additionally, diet and lifestyle changes have caused our bacterial proportions to change. When your diet is rich in sugar and processed foods, unfriendly yeasts like Candida are given a reinforcing boost and can take over your digestive tract, causing illness and discomfort.

Whether you experience digestive troubles or not, it is highly advised to start a probiotic regimen. The addition of extra bacterial strains to your body will not only reinforce your gut defenses, but it can also provide an overall boost to your health and well-being.

Win-win, right?

So What Exactly Do Probiotics Do?

Probiotics break down indigestible proteins and assist with the absorption of essential nutrients.  These microorganisms also act to protect your gut’s lining from damage and “leaky gut.”  

This unpleasant syndrome allows food particles to leak through the lining into the bloodstream.  This can lead to dangerous autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn’s disease.

Probiotics are also involved in the production of hormones that travel through the body. These compounds can help vital organs, such as your brain, which can have several positive benefits for certain mental health problems.  

Given that 80 percent of our immunity comes from the gut, probiotics have a major role in supporting our immune system. By reducing inflammation we are protected from many serious diseases, and these bacterial allies help to boost the immune system, which can protect us from any potential invaders.

Choosing the Best Probiotic

Given that your digestive system is important to overall immunity and health, maintenance of these probiotic levels are critical. A poorly functioning gut can mean loss of essential nutrients and minerals.

It is also worth remembering that the gut and your brain are in constant “communication,” so the health of your gut is integral to your overall mental and physical well-being. A healthy digestive system can contribute to improved cognitive function, enhanced physical appearance, and reduced feelings of depression and anxiety.

There are numerous strains of probiotics that you can look into taking, each with their own set of particular benefits. When choosing a probiotic, consider any specific conditions in order to accurately match your needs with the benefits each probiotic strain provides.

Of course, it is not necessary to find a probiotic containing every one of the strains listed below. The best probiotics will use particular strains in concert with each other for maximum effect, such as this brand.

The Best Probiotic Strains for Your Gut

There are fifteen probiotic strains currently available that are considered to be the best for your health:

• Bifidobacterium breve: Essential for colon health, especially for individuals who have had to follow a course of antibiotics. Many digestive problems have been associated with low levels of this strain in the digestive tract.
• Bifidobacterium infantis: Supports your digestive system by releasing acid that prevents pathogenic strains from taking hold and has been found to help individuals suffering from constipation.
• Bifidobacterium bifidum: Helps to keep harmful bacteria out of your gut to ease digestion and give your immune system a boost. It also encourages normal, healthy skin development and plays a key role in allergic responses.
• Bifidobacterium lactis: Neutralizes a wheat protein known as gliadin, which is responsible for wheat sensitivity and can damage your intestinal lining, causing leaky gut syndrome.
• Lactobacillus acidophilus: Supports digestion, specifically lactose digestion, and provides support to your immune system.
• Lactobacillus brevis: Helps you from top to bottom, improving both colon and oral health.
• Lactobacillus bulgaricus: Creates natural antibiotics to fight foreign organisms and releases acid that neutralizes toxins to promote intestinal balance.
• Lactobacillus gasseri: Helps balance blood sugar levels, encourages a healthy weight, and supports digestion.
• Lactobacillus casei: Supports smooth digestion, soothes irritated or inflamed bowels, and boosts your immune system.
• Lactobacillus plantarum: Produces L. lysine, which is an amino acid that supports calcium absorption, hormone production, and boosts your immune system.  
• Lactobacillus paracasei: Helps to protect your teeth from cavities, helps to lessen the impact of environmental sensitivities, and helps combat fatigue.
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus: Mostly used to promote healthy gut movements, but also helps with UTIs by triggering antibodies and boosting your immune system.  
• Lactobacillus salivarius: Fights the unwelcome microbes in your mouth and the small intestine. It thrives when provided with prebiotic foods such as bananas, tomatoes, garlic, and barley.
• Streptococcus thermophiles: Promotes healthy tissue in the intestines and discourages nitrates, like those found in spinach and celery, from turning into harmful nitrites. It also breaks down proteins in cheeses, which are known to cause allergies.
• Pediococcus acidilactici: Undigested food can rot in your gut and attract more pathogenic bacteria and yeasts; this probiotic strain helps to stop this from occurring. It additionally protects your gut from potential damage from harmful organisms.

The Many Strains and Many Benefits of Probiotics

While using probiotics for your gut health is always a plus, you can take your nutrition a step further by seeking out specific probiotic strains for whatever particular issue you may be having. Try checking the labels of different products for the various probiotic strains that may be contained therein.

You can also find numerous dietary probiotic supplements designed to provide the specific benefits you’re looking for.

I hope that you’ve learned from and enjoyed reading The Best Probiotic Strains for Your Gut. To find the best probiotic strain and product for you, visit 1MD. This post is brought to you in collaboration with 1MD.