Dear Health Conscious Reader,
Have you seen the ads for these new yogurts and drinks that promise to “regulate your digestive tract?” Giant food companies are spending millions to convince you to buy them. But, I haven’t found any – so far – I’d endorse.
ConsumerLabs.com tested a variety of probiotic products in 2003 and 2006. More than a third flunked the tests. Most failed because they contained “too few live bacteria to be effective.”1
The term “probiotic” comes to us from the Greek words meaning “for” and “life.” Probiotics are live “good bacteria” cultures that help the body fend off all types of chronic diseases.
But anything that is living can die. And that’s exactly what happens to a lot of the bacteria in most probiotic products. Processing, heat and time all kill off good bacteria in these products.
Plus, probiotic bacteria won’t do you any good unless they make it to your gut. And that’s tougher than it may sound. Imagine if you had to swim across an ocean of battery acid. That’s the challenge bacteria face in your stomach. And even if they make it through your stomach, they have to survive the bile salts in your upper intestine.
You probably won’t be surprised when I tell you that only a fraction of the bacteria you eat usually make it to your gut alive.
You see, not all bacteria are created equal. While acidophilus (Lactobacillus acidophilus) is the best known probiotic, it’s not necessarily the best performer. Based on the studies I’ve seen, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) offers far more health benefits. But the food industry uses LGG far less often than acidophilus.
So before you rush out and buy expensive yogurt products, here are a few simple ways to increase the good bacteria in your gut.
Like other living things, bacteria thrive when the conditions are right. Help the good bacteria in your gut flourish by following a few simple tips:
- Stay hydrated. This helps the good bacteria establish themselves.2
- Avoid sugars and starches. They’re “bad” bacteria’s favorite meal.
- Eat more foods that contain inulin – a type of fiber good bacteria eat. Garlic, onions, leeks, artichokes and chicory root (often used as a coffee substitute) are good sources of inulin.
- Eat organic fruits and vegetables. And don’t wash them too thoroughly. Our ancestors got lots of good bacteria from the organic foods they ate.
- If you need additional good bacteria, choose an organic yogurt or kefir product with as little added sugar as possible, preferably none at all.
Plus, my staff and I here at the Wellness Research Foundation have uncovered a promising new twist in probiotics. A lab in Europe has been quietly breeding new strains of good bacteria. These bacteria are highly resistant to both stomach acid and bile salts.
My research shows that just one capsule can deliver 35 billion healthy bacteria cells to your gut, including the highly effective LGG strain. That’s practically an army of bad-bacteria fighting troops.
Try my new probiotic formula risk-free now.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD
- Bernard et al. “L-carnitine supplementation and physical exercise restore age-associated decline…” 2008. The Journals of Gerontolology A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. 63(10):1027-33.
- Hooshmand et al. “Dietary L-carnitine supplementation improves bone mineral density by suppressing bone turnover in aged ovariectomized rats.” 2008. Phytomedicine. 15(8):595-601.