New Probiotic for Good Health

• Probiotic products (meaning “for life” ) category of the nutrition industry is very prominent.
• One of the newer forms of probiotic bacteria that is available is called Bacillus Coagulans.
• Bacillus Coagulans is a weapon in the arsenal for fighting high cholesterol and heart disease.

The Probiotic (meaning “for life”) category of the nutrition industry is very prominent. You can’t watch TV for too long without seeing an ad touting a specific yogurt or drink that provides health-enhancing lactobacillus. Many of these products deliver a small but effective dose of these beneficial bacteria, aimed at improving immunity and digestion. While this is all good, the limitations on getting healthy bacteria through this means are twofold. One, along with the dosage being small, the type of bacteria in yogurt is limited to one of a couple different kinds such as acidophilus and bulgaricus. Two, many of these products have sugar added to them, which tends to counteract the health benefits of the lactobacillus bacteria. There are many different strains of probiotic bacteria that all possess differing qualities, and it is wise to have a good combination of these is the diet, either through food or supplementation.

One of the newer forms of healthy bacteria that is available is termed “Bacillus Coagulans”. It is well researched and offers several benefits for good health. For intestinal disorders, it helps alleviate constipation, colitis, diarrhea, and dyspepsia (gut problems). It has also shown an ability to help combat lactose intolerance and other digestive disturbances. Interestingly, Bacillus Coagulans seems to be able to convert cholesterol into coprostanol, which is a form of cholesterol that is less readily absorbed by the body. This makes it a weapon in the arsenal for fighting high cholesterol and heart disease. Like most healthy bacteria, Coagulans also stimulates immune response.

Many forms of beneficial bacteria, such as acidophilus, are not very stable at room temperature. This means they have a tendency to break down, or lose their potency, if not kept cold. In supplement form, these types of products lose potency continuously as they age sitting on a store shelf. What’s worse, a large portion of ingested beneficial bacteria is destroyed by stomach acid before it can get to the area where it is needed, the small and large intestine. On the other hand, Bacillus Coagulans has been tested and shown to have a strong stability. After 3 years at room temperature, at least 90% of the active culture remains viable. And, it is highly resistant to stomach acid allowing the needed bacteria to reach the lower GI tract.

While it is safe to say that Bacillus Coagulans can offer many positive benefits for health, it is important to remember that it is only one of several different strains of healthy bacteria that are needed by the body. It is always preferable to ingest through food or supplement, a balanced blend of complementary strains of good bacteria. It is also vital to get a healthy daily dose of both insoluble and soluble fibers to keep the intestinal tract normal and free of toxins.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.