Probiotics are a big buzzword among the health-conscious crowd. People often think of probiotics in connection with yogurt or kombucha, or home remedies like apple cider vinegar.
So, what are probiotics? And why are they important?
Gut health impacts your whole body, all the way from your skin to the inside of your mouth. That’s because there are trillions of bacteria, or probiotics, in your gut that help support your digestive health and immunity, equipping you with a thriving microbiome (the community of microorganisms in your gut).
But, occasional stress, pollution, inadequate sleep and poor diet choices can all have a negative impact on the number of good bacteria in your gut. This imbalance can potentially throw off your microbiome’s balance, negatively impacting your digestion and overall well-being.
Your Immunity
Up to 70 percent of your immunity starts in your gut, which is critical to supporting your natural defenses and the well-being of the entire body, said Kristin Morris, Ph.D., a senior research scientist at Nutrilite.
“The walls of your intestines are part of your gut’s natural mucosal barrier, which supports your body’s immune system. You want those filled with good bacteria—not bad,” Morris said.
For those looking for a natural way to help their digestive problems, eating fermented foods can be a way to populate the gut with good bacteria. However, incorporating those foods into your diet on a consistent basis still might not be enough good bacteria, as these foods don’t contain as many probiotics as you might think. That’s why many people turn to probiotic supplements. And while they offer convenience, you’ll want to do your research because not all supplements are the same.
Nutrilite™ Balance Within™ Probiotic is a dietary supplement that with continuous daily use helps provide your body with probiotics at clinically supported levels for gut and immune health. The probiotic strains in the formula are backed by more than 100 third-party scientific and technical publications, including human clinical trials.
The importance of probiotics
Balance Within™ provides five strains of healthy probiotic bacteria, including clinically supported levels of the hero strains Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis HN019 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, two of the most well researched probiotic strains targeting digestive and immune support.
The probiotic also includes three additional strains – Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14, Lactobacillus paracasei Lpc-37 and Bifidobacterium animalis ssp. lactis BL-04 – to reinforce and support the benefits being driven by the hero strains.
“What is particularly exciting about these five strains is that they are naturally acid and bile tolerant, meaning the strains can survive the harsh journey through the stomach to the intestines, where the good bacteria play an extremely important role in your microbiome,” Morris said.
Beneficial bacteria
Balance Within™ also features what Nutrilite scientists colloquially call “stick-to-the-gut technology,” which allows the beneficial bacteria to adhere to the intestinal walls, filling valuable spaces with good bacteria.
As a result, the bacteria not only pass safely through the stomach but also sticks to the walls of the intestine, enriching the gut microbial ecosystem and maintaining a predominance of good bacteria, Morris explains.
Packaged as grab-and-go sticks, Balance Within™ can be pulled out anytime to sprinkle onto your tongue, cold beverage or food for a daily dose of probiotics. It offers a simple and convenient way to care for your gut health every day.
