Not every probiotic contains the same ingredients. If you're specifically looking for a multi-strain probiotic, we take a look at one of them here. Many of us believe that bacteria are simply harmful organisms whose sole purpose is to spread disease and cause destruction. There are, however, some “good” and “helpful” bacteria living in your gut which are vital to maintaining your health. You can take probiotics to help replenish these “good” bacteria in your gut to keep your body performing optimally.Did you know that the word 'probiotic' comes from Latin and means "for life"? Good bacteria are vital for human life to thrive. A multi-strain probiotic is one which contains a variety of different bacteria. This, in turn, means that the supplement is far more effective. It combines various “helpful” bacteria which perform different tasks in the quest to keep your gut healthy. What Makes A Good Multi-Strain Probiotic? When you’re looking for a great multi-strain probiotic, you should consider the following:It's important to look at how many different strains they contain as well as which specific types these are. Some strains perform completely different tasks. The top products will have complimentary strains that perform a myriad of different tasks. The methods of evaluating probiotics are controversial and many still believe these products can be judged by the number of colony-forming units (CFUs). Many experts do, however, agree that it's the combination of different complimentary strains that actually results in a brilliant probiotic.The reason for this is because different strains are good at different tasks. For example, L. acidophilus is a strain of the Lactobacillus species and is extremely helpful in the digestion of dairy products as well as nutrient absorption. B. longum performs the completely unrelated but important task of maintaining the intestinal wall and feeding off parasites and toxins. L. fermentum neutralizes many of the byproducts of digestion in an effort to maintain a healthy level of bacteria in the gut. B. bifidum breaks down complex carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, while L. rhamnosus, also known as the “travel probiotic”, helps with the prevention of traveler’s diarrhoea. Therefore, the combination of these different strains can make for a very powerful supplement. This makes it capable of protecting and maintaining the gut against various threats.The number of colony-forming units (CFUs) is still important and, in general, the higher, the better. Top performing probiotic supplements now have around 4 to 5 billion CFUs per capsule or pearl. Storage The way in which the probiotic is stored and delivered is also very important. Bacterias are alive. They're living organisms and need to stay that way in order to perform their functions. The container they are kept in needs to keep these organisms alive throughout distribution and on store shelves. You should look for an offer with a sealed, opaque bottle or container which keeps light, heat, and moisture out and therefore ensures the bacteria survive.The actual probiotic delivery system is also important. This is the way in which the bacteria actually get to your gut. Probiotics may come in pill, capsule or pearl form. It's vital that the casing around the bacteria can protect them from your stomach acid. A very popular way of doing this is by using time-controlled or time-released capsules and pearls. This ensures that the capsule wall maintains its integrity for a predetermined time, allowing all the bacteria to bypass the stomach safely, before being released into the intestine.Expiration dates are also important in comparing alternative multi-strain probiotics. These are now required by law, making them a scientific and objective way of comparing different products. The reason these dates are important is that they inform users how long the bacteria will remain alive and potent. Dead bacteria won’t do anyone any good. A believable expiration date is a company’s promise to the consumer. It shows that the company is performing the required tests and actually cares about the results that their customers will receive. Bio-Kult Advanced Probiotic Multi-Strain Formula Bio-Kult is an advanced multi strain probiotic. It's gluten-free and contains 14 different strains. It's suitable for both adults and children. This supplement includes 120 capsules as standard, however, you can also select a version with 60 or 180 capsules. Check The Best Price Here Pros And Cons Let’s see how this product stacks up against our criteria. First off, it contains multiple different strains. These include the previously mentioned strains of L. acidophilus, B. long, B. bifid and L. rhamnose, as well as 10 others. In terms of CFUs, each capsule contains two billion microorganisms. This is high, but not as high as some competing products. Some competing products such as Garden of Life Probiotic Supplement for Men have as many as 50 billion CFUs/capsule. As we discussed, for many, this is no longer the deciding factor. Also, a very high CFU/capsule can have certain adverse effects such as fatigue. The product also comes in an opaque bottle, packaged inside a cardboard box. This is good for keeping the bacteria alive and well in transport and storage. The actual capsules go through a freeze-drying process which protects them from stomach acid and allows them to reach your intestinal tract. All bottles have clear expiration dates, meaning they're conducting the correct tests and paying attention to these issues in an effort to make sure that all the strains survive. Wrap-up Bio-Kult is a very good multi strain probiotic. It comprises a large variety of different strains of bacteria, affording users a multitude of advantages. Due to the lower CFU count, it's actually very suited to individuals just starting out with probiotics and will have very few adverse effects and lots of positive ones!
