{"id":14941,"date":"2018-06-19T01:28:53","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T05:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cp3live.wpengine.com\/?p=14941"},"modified":"2018-06-18T11:37:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-18T15:37:15","slug":"buy-best-probiotic-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cleanplates.com\/everyday-cooking\/tips\/buy-best-probiotic-for-you\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy the Best Probiotic for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Beth Lipton<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

Have you ever gone to shop for a probiotic, only to stare at a wall (or fridge full) of bottles, each promising a gazillion powerful strains designed to turn you into a superhero?<\/p>\n

We have, and it\u2019s frustrating, especially since probiotics are so important and not cheap, so we really feel the pressure to make smart choices.<\/p>\n

We tapped experts immersed in the science of probiotics and got their best buying tips, so the next time you head to the health-food store, you can shop with confidence and get your gut in gear.<\/p>\n

Tip 1: Better > More<\/strong>
\nDo you always grab the bottle with the highest \u201cCFU,\u201d figuring more is more, even if you\u2019re not quite sure what CFU means? \u201cCFU stands for \u2018colony forming units,\u2019 and is used to quantify how many bacteria in probiotics are capable of dividing and forming colonies,\u201d says Ara Katz, cofounder and co-CEO of Seed<\/a>. \u201cIn terms of the number of CFUs, more is not necessarily better. The more important questions are: What are the strains? Will they survive the en route to the colon?\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip 2: How do you know what\u2019s better?<\/strong>
\n\u201cFind a probiotic that has been tested by an independent third-party lab for survivability,\u201d suggests Tina Anderson, co-founder of Just Thrive<\/a>. \u201cAnd one that does not need refrigeration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip 3: Wait, what? No refrigeration?<\/strong>
\n\u201cThere\u2019s a myth that in order to be a \u2018good\u2019 probiotic, it needs to be refrigerated. That\u2019s actually a sign of a weak probiotic,\u201d Anderson says. \u201cIf a probiotic needs to be refrigerated, it\u2019s because it is unable to survive room temperature of the store shelf. If a probiotic cannot survive room temperature, then how will it survive the body temperature, which is 98.6\u00baF, and the acidic environment of the stomach? It simply will not.\u201d<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s ok to bypass the fridge when shopping. \u201cSpore probiotics (Bacillus bacteria) are incredibly stable microorganisms. They\u2019re unique because they can withstand baking, boiling, freezing, squeezing, etc., while still retaining their viability,\u201d notes Dr. Nick Bitz, chief scientific officer of youtheory\u00ae<\/em><\/a>. \u201cEven under the harshest conditions, spore probiotics always arrive alive in the digestive tract.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tip 4: Strain yourself<\/strong>
\n\u201cWhen you are looking to buy a probiotic, you need to select one that can support your total gut health. It should have beneficial bacteria that complement each other, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, as well as good yeast that supports the good bacteria while at the same time controlling the bad microbes that can wreak havoc,\u201d says Dr. Mahmoud Ghannoum<\/a>, creator of BIOHM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Tip 5: Get a good supply<\/strong>
\nTo reap the benefits, make probiotics a regular part of your routine. \u201cIt\u2019s important to note that consumed probiotic bacteria create transient colonies,\u201d Katz says. \u201cTaking one probiotic does not create an enduring colony of microbes, which is why regular consumption of probiotics is recommended for optimized health benefits.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hungry for more?<\/p>\n