Women’s health also lies in a healthy microbiome
Today, more than ever, we need an effective solution to support a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. If we build the microbiome with quality probiotics, we will contribute to the health of many important functions in the body: digestive health, nutrient absorption, immune functions, gene activity, cell health, normal allergic response, good mood, vaginal health and urinary tract health.
Gut health depends on a proper balance between beneficial and potentially pathogenic bacteria, as well as on the health and integrity of the gut lining.
When the balance in the microbiome is disturbed or the intestinal mucosa becomes compromised, many processes in the body are affected, with the risk of additional health problems. That’s why high-quality probiotics (“good” bacteria) have a profound effect, not only on the gastrointestinal system, but also on our overall health.
Probiotic formulas with many different types of bacterial strains are available today, the most common being Lactobacillus acidophilus. However, not all probiotics are created equal and not all formulas are manufactured correctly to provide optimal benefits.
If properly formulated, some of the main benefits of quality probiotics include:
- Easier digestion of food, especially hard-to-digest food and food to which some people are sensitive
- Better synthesis of B vitamins and better absorption of calcium
- Restoration of microbiome and intestinal microflora
- Improved vaginal health of women
- Strengthening the immune system
Six key factors distinguish good probiotic formulas from bad ones:
- They must contain effective bacterial strains – with proven strains for the microbiome, immune function and digestion
- They must be independently tested to confirm their high potency
- They must have a source of prebiotics as food for improved probiotic effectiveness
- They must remain stable for a long time without cooling
- They must be resistant to stomach acid and bile in order to reach the small intestine undamaged
- They must be free of dairy products , soy, gluten, corn, wheat and all bioengineered ingredients
There are several specific probiotic strains that stand out for their characteristics and should be included in every formula.
One of them, extremely important, is: Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS ® -1.
Outstanding benefits of regular use of DDS ® -1 superstrain:
- It colonizes the intestinal tract in large numbers
- Enables long-term colonization
- It helps to maintain the health of the digestive system
- It survives the harsh acidic environment of the stomach
- It survives the high alkalinity and presence of bile acids of the small intestine
- It produces butyric acid, a substance that helps balance intestinal bacteria
- It supports cell health by stimulating the production of immune factors
- It supports cholesterol levels already within a healthy, normal range
- It produces lactase which potentially helps those who are lactose intolerant
- It produces vitamins B12, folic acid and vitamin B6
- Supports colon health by controlling bile acids
- It supports gut health and helps promote normal bowel movements
Prebiotics : an added bonus that helps beneficial cultures grow and thrive
Prebiotics are non-digestible foods that help beneficial probiotics grow and flourish. They act as a kind of “fertilizer” for the good bacteria in the intestine. Our formula contains beneficial prebiotics in the form of fructooligosaccharides (FOS).
FOS is a favorite food for Lactobacilli and Bifobacterium strains, as they can efficiently ferment and use them for energy. These prebiotics remain in the digestive system to help encourage further growth of beneficial bacteria.
Although fructooligosaccharides are forms of carbohydrates, they contain fewer calories than sugar and do not cause a spike in blood sugar. They are added in very small quantities, so as not to cause indigestion.
DRcaps™ delayed release capsules
dr. Mercola uses patented delayed-release capsules for added protection against stomach acid. The first of their kind, these hard, acid-resistant capsules are made from a plant-based substance that slows the capsule’s disintegration after ingestion.
Cultures of good bacteria are not enough to maintain gut health
For optimal gut health, we need two different types of cultures:
- Cultures that change and restore the mucosa with probiotic spores (SBOs)
- Cultures that, like new seeds, begin to populate the renewed mucous membrane
We can think of our digestion as a garden.
Probiotic spores work in the gut much like a gardener. Like any good gardener, they take care of the composition of the soil and clean the “weeds”, so that the soil (mucous membrane) can accept the “seeds” – cultures of good bacteria.
Spores also provide key “reconditioning” strains of bacteria, which help restore intestinal flora and prepare the “fertile soil” for normal cultures.
They help the microbiome recover from the constant assaults of chlorinated water, drugs, processed foods, refined sugars, EMFs and other pollution.
Spores are useful friends
Ever since humans walked the earth, our ancestors, hunters and gatherers, picked and ate fruits and vegetables from the ground, which were covered with certain aerobic bacteria. These bacteria slowly colonized their digestive tract and thus helped them stay healthy and resistant to diseases.
Modern use of pesticides, washing and sterilizing everything we consume has resulted in these friendly bacteria slowly disappearing from our intestines, leaving us exposed to many pathogens.
Fortunately, today, with the help of high-quality probiotic formulas such as Cultures of Good Bacteria DR. With Mercola, we can compensate for everything that nature has always had for our digestive health and immunity.
What we need to know about spores and cultures of good bacteria
Unlike ordinary cultures, spore -forming bacteria offer four main advantages over non-spore-forming cultures:
- Spores can survive the low pH of the stomach barrier and deliver bacteria to the small intestine (this is not the case for all species of Lactobacillus ).
- Spores are resistant to enzyme degradation as they travel to the small intestine
- Spores are heat stable , so the product can be stored at room temperature without loss of effectiveness
- Certain spores are resistant to antibiotics , which means they can be taken alongside them to protect the microbiome
Spores cannot replace cultures of good bacteria and vice versa, because they perform different functions in the intestines. To truly optimize the health of our microbiome, we need both.
Women have special needs
When it comes to cultures of good bacteria (probiotics), scientists have proven that women have special needs that extend beyond the digestive tract.
Women of all ages need effective probiotic support for:
- Digestive and intestinal health
- Urinary tract health
- Vaginal health
This formula contains 10 beneficial probiotic strains that support all 3 areas of women’s health:
7 cultures that also contain Complete Probiotics Dr. Mercola:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus DDS ® -1
- Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis
- Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum
For the special needs of women’s health, three additional strains of Lactobacillus have been added:
- Lactobacillus paracasei , which can help reduce occasional gastrointestinal upset and support healthy cholesterol levels
- Lactobacillus reuteri, which can colonize in the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts and breast milk
- Lactobacillus gasseri, which supports gut and vaginal health, and studies show it also supports weight loss in overweight people
This Dr. Mercola formula contains a total of seven of the most dominant Lactobacillus strains found in a healthy woman’s uterus.
