At the mention of bacteria your mind most likely flips a negative switch. A borderline horrific scene of a disgusting bathroom may pop instantly into your brain, or you might feel the need to wash your hands. As much as we try to escape bacteria—we never will. In fact, our bodies themselves are made up of good and bad bacteria. However, problems occur when the bad bacteria outweighs the good. This is when custom probiotics step in.

Probiotics literally mean, “for life.”

What Are Probiotics?

There is a lot of confusion surrounding probiotics. From what they are and why we need them to dosage and the best time to take probiotics.

Probiotics are made up of “good” bacteria. They are living microorganisms that when consumed through a supplement or yogurt and other fermented foods can provide many health benefits. A custom probiotic has been thoughtfully and scientifically formulated with different strains combined, different potencies, and unique solutions to give you the best probiotic for what you need.

Studies increasingly show that the balance or imbalance of bacteria in your digestive system is linked to your overall health. We all get stressed. We all get sick, and then we take antibiotics. Many of us also travel. When we do these things, our body’s healthy bacteria balance can be interrupted, and that’s when health issues can arise.

Quality probiotics help by promoting a healthy balance of gut bacteria. More and more people are purchasing clinically formulated probiotics to address their needs.

Health Benefits of Clinical Grade Probiotics

Not all bacteria in your body have negative effects. According to Harvard Medical School, certain bacteria in your gut can prevent and treat many common diseases. Keeping these “good” bacteria in balance is vital.

The right balance of good and bad bacteria in your digestive system can boost your immunity, help digest food, and may even have anti-cancer and other chronic disease fighting effects. Let’s look at the evidence.

Digestive Problems

Quality probiotics are most known for their positive effects in addressing digestive problems. Clinical grade probiotics like MindZymes’ High Potency product can help reduce diarrhea, especially infectious diarrhea.

Clinical Grade Probiotics replenish the good bacteria in your digestive system which have been depleted by diarrhea. High Potency Probiotics have also helped other gastrointestinal issues like traveler’s diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Yeast Imbalances and Urinary Health

Taking a quality probiotic can also keep your urinary system working correctly. By encouraging the growth of good bacteria that crowd out unwanted yeast, clinical grade probiotics dramatically lower the likelihood of having yeast overgrowth. Maintaining balanced, good bacteria can also help to prevent urinary tract issues before they even begin.

Immune Support

If you get sick often, clinical grade probiotics may give you the immune boost you’ve been looking for. One study published in 2012 in the British Journal of Nutrition found that certain probiotic strains boost immune response. According to the Cleveland Clinic, quality probiotics strengthen your immune system by enriching and replenishing helpful bacteria.

Psychobiotics and the Gut-Brain Axis

Surprisingly, research has shown that the balance of good bacteria in your gut affects your brain. Some refer to this as the gut-brain axis or psychobiotics. Bacteria balance plays a role in regulating hormones. In addition to oxytocin, your beneficial bacteria also manage your levels of serotonin (the “happy hormone), and cortisol (which is associated with high-stress levels). They also affect GABA, an important neurotransmitter that determines how your body responds to stress. When you support your good bacteria with clinical grade probiotics, it can help your system to maintain a healthy balance.

Other Uses

People who have learned the dosage that works best for them (and the best time of day to take their probiotics) have found incredible success using clinical grade probiotics to help treat many other problems — including obesity, oral health, heart conditions, and even infertility. Quality probiotics have also been found to help alleviate skin conditions like eczema and may prevent colon cancer.

How to Choose the Best Clinical Grade Probiotic

When choosing a quality probiotic supplement, it’s important to know that different strains serve different needs. There are many kinds of bacteria used in probiotics. The two most common are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. Clinical grade probiotics may contain a few strains or many strains, and the number of live organisms can contain between 1 billion to more than 40 billion.

Lactobacilli live in our digestive, urinary and genital systems and are found in some fermented foods. Bifidobacteria usually live in the intestines as lactic acid bacteria and are also found in fermented foods.

A good brand like MindZymes will specify the number of live organisms and list the exact strains used in their formula. A quality probiotic can cost anywhere from $25-$60.

A few essential strains to look for in your probiotics are:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus—This vital strain supports nutrient absorption and helps with the digestion of dairy foods.

• Bifidobacterium longum— It is particularly active as a scavenger of toxins.

• Bifidobacterium bifidum—This strain is critical for the healthy digestion of dairy products. It is especially important as you grow older and your natural ability to digest dairy declines.

A few things to look for in a quality probiotic are:

• It is important to check the expiration dates to ensure the bacteria are still alive, so they are readily able to reach your colon.

• You should look for a product with at least four strains. Multiple strains offer benefits specific to each strain and improve the ability of bacteria to colonize your digestive tract.

• Look for “CFUs” (colony forming units) above 10 billion. Anything less isn’t an ideal potency.

Probiotic ingredients to avoid (especially if you are vegan):

• Magnesium Stearate – look for “vegetable magnesium stearate.”

• Casein = milk protein

• Capsules made with gelatin = horse, cow, sheep hoof remnants

• Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis, Beeswax = bee related

• Lac Resin/Shellac = bug juice

• Cholecalciferol = animal-based vitamin D

• Vitamin A – from fish or animal livers

A quality vegan clinical grade probiotic like MindZymes’ high potency probiotic would never contain these ingredients.

The Best Way to Benefit from Quality Probiotics

The best time to start taking clinical grade probiotics is now.

Research has been done to find exactly the best time to take probiotics. According to one study, “bacterial survival was best when provided within 30 minutes before or simultaneously with a meal or beverage that contained some fat content.”

 Of course, the importance of correct dosage cannot be overemphasized. 50 billion organisms seem to work in preventing antibiotic-associated diarrhea and countless other health concerns.

You should make sure to keep your probiotics away from moisture and heat which can kill off some of the microbes. You should always store supplements in a cool, dark place but refrigeration is best.

MindZymes is a company committed to probiotic-based solutions that promote wellness. Quality of life is at the core of everything we do. We offer quality high potency custom probiotics, validated by gold-standard clinical trials to ensure you benefit in every possible way.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.