1. Introduction
You have probably heard the term probiotics by now. Whether in the supermarket, in an advertisement, at the pharmacy, or maybe even on cosmetic products at the drugstore. Suddenly, probiotics are everywhere. But what exactly are they? And where does this hype come from? In this blog post, we want to give you a brief introduction to probiotics and then answer the most frequently asked questions about them!
Let’s start at the very beginning, with the name: It derives from Latin, where “pro bios” translates to “for life,” which also reflects their function. According to the WHO, the World Health Organization, probiotics are defined as live microorganisms that provide a health benefit when consumed in adequate amounts.
Four criteria must be met for something to be called a probiotic:
- A proven health-promoting effect for the consumer
- The production of lactic acid and other substances with bacteriostatic or bactericidal effects
- They must survive the passage through the stomach during digestion and be able to multiply in the intestines
- There must be evidence of genetic stability to exclude disease-causing mutations
In fact, probiotics are not a new invention of science but have long been part of human nutrition. Particularly well-known and widespread are the lactic acid bacteria. These are found in dairy products like kefir, quark, and yogurt.
Famous bacterial strains include bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. Good news for those who don’t consume dairy products: lactic acid bacteria are also present in other foods such as pomegranate, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi. Supplements can also provide a particularly high dosage, such as the Dailybacs from mybacs. Each capsule contains a full 30 billion CFU, or colony-forming units.
2. What do I actually need probiotics for?
The question is both simple and complex because taking probiotics can always do something good for your body! There are many different areas where probiotics have been proven to have a positive effect. Through various mechanisms, such as the release of metabolic products into the bloodstream, the microorganisms in our gut affect digestion, the immune system, the psyche, the metabolism, the skin condition, and much more.
3. In which cases are probiotics taken?
Probiotics have different areas of application and are helpful for almost everyone. Humans are exposed daily to various environmental influences such as excessive use of antibiotics, smoking, alcohol, sugar, lack of sleep, stress, or an unbalanced diet. All of these can disrupt the balance of the microbiome. Through the microbiome, targeted probiotic bacterial strains can influence the entire body and psyche.
Probiotics can also be used to rebuild a weakened gut flora. This is often due to a low diversity of bacteria in the gut. If this is the case, it can lead to bloating, diarrhea, or other digestive problems. Common causes include antibiotic treatment, chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, or the widespread irritable bowel syndrome.
A weakened gut flora often occurs when the body has previously been infected by harmful bacteria and had to fight them off. Unfortunately, this treatment also kills the good bacteria, whose absence can throw the gut flora out of balance. This is also called dysbacteriosis. Studies have shown that it can take up to six months for the gut flora to recover after antibiotic use. Therefore, it is important to handle antibiotic intake carefully. It is advisable to discuss the use of antibiotics with a doctor and, if necessary, look for alternatives. If antibiotics are unavoidable, it makes sense to focus on restoring your gut flora and learn how to bring it back into balance. Taking probiotics can help here, as gut bacteria are ingested that then settle in the intestinal mucosa, multiply, and restore the gut flora balance.
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) can also be a reason why probiotic intake is recommended. IBD is classified according to the intensity of inflammation and treated accordingly. During acute IBD flare-ups, medication is usually used to suppress inflammation temporarily. The main goal in treating IBD patients is to enable them to live as symptom-free as possible.
Recent studies show that probiotic administration can also reduce the symptoms of these diseases. This relates to therapeutic approaches that attempt to influence the composition of the intestinal mucosa through microbiological corrections.
4. When should probiotics be taken?
Regardless of your situation, it is almost always recommended to take your probiotics in the morning on an empty stomach. This is because your digestive tract is still empty from the overnight fasting, and the production and secretion of stomach and bile acids are still low. This makes the passage through your gastrointestinal tract easier for the bacteria. However, since good resistance to stomach and bile acids is a quality feature of high-quality probiotic strains, and only such strains are used in Dailybacs®, the Dailybacs® can also be taken at other times without any problems.
5. How much probiotics should I take?
Since every person is individual, the appropriate dose of probiotics varies from person to person and also depends on the specific bacterial strain. A disadvantage of consuming fermented foods is that the exact number and dosage of individual bacterial strains cannot be tracked. However, an “overdose” of fermented foods is very rare. The advantage of taking supplements is that the dosage can be precisely controlled. It is especially important that the dosage of each strain is chosen as it was used in clinical studies to make the positive effect reproducible.
6. How should probiotics be stored?
This always depends on the product containing the probiotics. For example, if you consume your bacterial cultures in the form of drinks, you should make sure never to break the cold chain. Probiotics in powder form that can be stored at room temperature are more practical. For example, Dailybacs are stored as capsules in an opaque glass jar. This protects the bacteria from oxidation, light, and pressure, for example, when you pack them in your laundry bag for a trip—very convenient!
7. What should be considered when buying and taking probiotics?
If you are pregnant, suffer from a specific illness, or generally have concerns, always consult your doctor to discuss taking probiotics. Otherwise, probiotics are not prescription-only and can be purchased at your own discretion. Basically, when buying, you should definitely make sure to purchase high-quality bacterial strains and ensure that these strains have already been studied clinically and proven effective. Many white-label products use neither of these.
8. How long should I take probiotics?
Bacterial strains are distinguished between resident and transient strains. Resident strains can gradually settle in your gut during intake and remain there long-term. Transient strains, however, are excreted after passing through the gastrointestinal tract. Both types of bacteria are very important for a stable microbiome. The mechanism of action of transient strains explains why long-term intake is recommended to achieve a sustainable positive effect. The first positive effects are usually noticed after just a few days. Often, a positive change in digestion and stool is the first sign. After weeks to months, you might already feel your gut sending positive signals to your brain, increasing your energy and mood. Within half a year, positive effects on the immune system, skin, and your body systems can occur. Since 80% of immune defense takes place in the gut, the microbiome plays a crucial role here. A diverse microbiome also benefits the cardiovascular system and metabolism.
When you feel inner strength and vitality, it shines outwardly, and when your gut is well, you feel well too!
