Probiotics are not just found in yoghurt! Probiotics are live bacteria found naturally in the gut, as well as select foods and supplements.
Probiotics come in various strains too. The most common probiotic bacteria are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are the strains mostly found in probiotics available in the market. Other common probiotic strains are Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Bacillus which have also been found to be helpful in different health conditions and ailments.
Research is still uncovering how these strains can help improve gut health and in time to come, we will likely see more products in the market with these strains. In this article we will be looking into the most common strains to help you get a better idea on how to choose the right probiotics, especially if you are just starting to consider adding this supplement to your daily routine.
Which strain of probiotics is best for gut health?
Although different types of probiotics may have different effects, experts agree that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic strains benefit most people. These two probiotic strains are also the most studied.
The Lactobacillus strain produces lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down lactose, or milk sugar. It can also produce lactic acid which helps control the population and growth of bad bacteria. It also serves as muscle fuel and helps to increase the body’s absorption of minerals. This bacteria is found naturally across your body, including:
- Gut
- Mouth
- Urinary tract
- Skin
- Lungs
While the Bifidobacterium strain is found and commonly used in supplements and foods, their most notable benefits include:
- supporting the immune system
- helping in breaking down lactose into nutrients the body can use
- limiting the growth of harmful bacteria in the intestine
Research shows that these two probiotic strains are most commonly associated with helping to reduce cholesterol, promote weight loss, improve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), help to treat and prevent vaginal infections, prevent and reduce diarrhoea, cold and flu symptoms, allergy symptoms, eczema and overall, beneficial for your gut health.
Besides the different strains of probiotic bacteria, probiotic supplements also come in a variety of forms. There are powders, drinks, capsules or pills, lozenges, drops, foods and liquids. Probiotics can be consumed in supplement form or in fermented foods such as kombucha, tempeh, yoghurt and kimchi.
When is the best time to take probiotics?
Timing can also play a part in affecting how probiotics can work best for your body. Some probiotics are recommended to be taken on an empty stomach while others are advised to be taken with or after a meal. A study conducted in 2017 by gastroenterologists at the University of Milan found that a month-long consumption of probiotics resulted in positive changes in the gut microbiome regardless if they were taken with a meal or not.
This goes to show that the most important act when taking probiotics is consistency. Take probiotics at the same time each day, every day to fully experience the benefits of probiotics.
How does Meluka Australia’s Raw Honey Probiotics Concentrate can help to improve your gut health?
Meluka Australia’s Raw Honey Probiotic Concentrate is a good choice for a probiotic supplement because it has 6 beneficial strains, consisting of the 2 discussed in this article. The 6 strains are Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Bifidobacterium lactis and saccharomyces cerevisiae.
It is a 100% natural, bio-active probiotic concentrate created with Meluka Australia’s innovative bio fermentation process, Meluka Pro-Culture Honey™. A unique combination of our raw honey with carefully selected probiotic strains that are bio-fermented to deliver more goodness to your gut.
The journey begins in the hive where Meluka Australia’s raw honey is produced by healthy bees foraging from the nectar of native botanicals in the region, such as Australian tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), jelly bush (Leptospermum), eucalyptus and other seasonal wildflowers that grow in abundance throughout the Northern New South Wales Bungawalbin region, where Meluka Australia’s farms are located. Each season the flavour varies slightly, depending on what’s flowering at the time.
The next stage is the transformation, this is where Meluka Australia’s unique fermentation process takes place, or essentially when the healthy microbes convert the honey’s naturally occurring sugars into their energy. The result is a 100% natural, bioactive concentrate that’s naturally gluten, lactose and alcohol free. Each 15ml serve contains six billion colony-forming units (CFUs), or total bacteria count, measured in NKCA, when compared to a 25 billion pure probiotic.
With Meluka Australia’s Raw Honey Probiotic Concentrate, the road to wellness has never been more easy or delicious.
