Choosing a Probiotic
IF that's your thing!!
Wow guys!! Thank you so much for loving my first Q&A last week. I am still playing around with the formatting for Go Sage Yourself BUT do you think I should be doing a little Q&A section at the bottom each week?
I don’t know- keep me posted on that.
ANYWAYS, today I wanted to send some quick advice regarding a question that I have answered a several times over my (almost) six years of being a dietitian: What should I look for when picking out a probiotic?
I want to start out by saying: you can absolutely incorporate pre- and probiotics into your diet via whole foods (in fact, this is how I teach my one-on-one clients to incorporate them). HOWEVER, if you are someone who wants to add in a probiotic supplement, that is totally fine too. As always, please discuss this with your doctor before adding any new supplements into your routine.
If you are going to take the supplement route, here are a few easy things to look for when perusing the probiotic aisle at the grocery store:
Look for a probiotic supplement that has multiple strains of bacteria.
The purpose of incorporating a probiotic is to diversify the bacteria that is in your gut. Ergo, you want to choose a probiotic supplement that has more than one strain. I usually tell people a good rule of thumb is to look for a probiotic supplement with 5-10 strains. The two strains that are the most highly researched are lactobacillus and bifidobacterium so I always recommend keeping an eye out for those when choosing your probiotic.
If you are adding a probiotic in to treat/mitigate a specific symptom, research which strains are typically recommended for that symptom.
Certain strains of bacteria in probiotic supplements work well for different symptoms and not all strains are created equally. For instance, if you are looking to incorporate a probiotic to alleviate bloating (AND YOU HAVE TALKED TO YOUR DOCTOR), research which strains have been proven effective for bloating relief.
THIRD. PARTY. TESTING.
As I dietitian, I always recommend sticking with supplements that are third party tested. This is when an independent organization is able to evaluate a substance to ensure that it meets quality and purity standards. SUPER important when adding supplements into your routine (ESPECIALLY supplements you have had cleared by your doctor :) ).
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Okay guysssss! I hope you found these tips helpful. These are just some easy things to keep in mind if you are going to add in a probiotic supplement. Let me know if you have any questions.
Have the best weekend of your life, maybe tell a friend to subscribe, and as always, LOVE YA!