{"id":150084,"date":"2020-02-18T02:00:59","date_gmt":"2020-02-18T10:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/?p=150084"},"modified":"2020-08-05T11:02:02","modified_gmt":"2020-08-05T18:02:02","slug":"what-to-know-about-probiotics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/what-to-know-about-probiotics\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Things You Need to Know About Probiotics"},"content":{"rendered":"

The term \u201cprobiotics\u201d might have sounded foreign to you just a few years ago. But, now, you can\u2019t walk through a grocery store or even surf Instagram without seeing a host of products boasting these \u201cgood bacteria\u201d and claims about what they can do for you.<\/p>\n

To cut through the marketing and get down to the facts, we asked Seed<\/span><\/a> (a company that\u2019s disrupting the probiotics industry with science-backed products), and registered dietitian nutritionists <\/span>Caitlin Bealeowner<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Christina Lombardi<\/span><\/a> to give us the lowdown.<\/span><\/p>\n

Probiotics can offer a variety of benefits<\/b>
\n<\/span>According to Seed, \u201cFew may be aware that a healthy gut can have profound effects across the whole body \u2013 strengthening and supporting everything from your immune system to your cardiovascular system.\u201d Probiotics have been studied extensively to support gut health, with benefits including improvements in digestion (think: bloating, regularity, occasional constipation and <\/span>traveler’s diarrhea) as well as systemic effects on the skin, heart, cellular, and metabolic health.<\/span> Seed<\/span><\/a>‘s <\/span>Daily Synbiotic<\/span><\/a> specifically includes probiotic strains that have been studied and found to directly impact the skin<\/span> and alleviate dryness, redness and swelling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Probiotics need to be taken regularly<\/b>
\nSo how often should you ingest probiotics? \u201cSome research suggests you should take before a meal for optimal survival of the bacteria. Some say at night after you are done eating, before bed,\u201d notes Beale. <\/span>Because probiotics are transient (meaning they pass through your digestive system), <\/span>consistency is key for your body to reap all the amazing benefits. Both Beale and Seed note that daily intake is important.<\/span><\/p>\n

Probiotics and prebiotics go hand-in-hand
\n<\/strong>\u201cProbiotics are only half the picture,\u201d offers Seed. \u201cThere are also compounds called prebiotics that can function in different ways.\u201d Some “feed” the good bacteria in your colon. Others, like those included in\u00a0Seed<\/a>\u2019s Daily Synbiotic<\/a>, can be transformed by your gut bacteria into other important compounds for your health. In Seed’s case, the prebiotic sourced from Indian pomegranate becomes urolithin-A, which has benefits for your metabolic health.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not all probiotics are created equal
\n<\/strong>Between the two dietitians, they suggest five key elements of finding the best probiotic for you.<\/span><\/p>\n