Shelf-stable probiotics, antibiotics & healthy digestive support

Probiotic literally means 'for life'. Probiotics are living micro-organisms that benefit your health and wellbeing by maintaining balanced, healthy intestinal flora. Scientifically screened shelf-stable probiotics have come a long way with the arrival of superior stabilisation technology, offering advantages over refrigerated probiotics. Contrary to popular belief, there are a few specific probiotic strains that are resistant to antibiotics, so you can take them while on antibiotics to help maintain digestive balance and offset any side effects.

How do probiotics work?

Probiotics help to re-establish friendly intestinal flora and prevent the overgrowth of unhealthy intestinal flora. Probiotics prevent overgrowth by unhealthy intestinal flora in a number of ways by:

• competing for nutrients
• production of anti-toxins
• increased immune surveillance
• Increased mucous production

Probiotics also help to maintain the integrity of your intestinal tract, reducing the risk of unwanted particles entering into your bloodstream, and moderate intestinal inflammation and allergies. Around 80% of your immune system sits in your digestive tract, also known as gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Probiotics interact with GALT to defend your body against unfriendly microbes such as bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi by interacting directly with your immune system.

Shelf-stable probiotics for greater convenience

Specialised stabilisation technology now allows greater stability for certain probiotics so that they can be stored on the shelf, so there is no need for refrigeration. When you combine stabilisation technology with nitrogen flushing and an induction seal on an amber bottle, it reduces oxygen exposure, so further increases the stability of the probiotic. Shelf-stable probiotics offer confidence and greater convenience if you want to pop them into your briefcase or handbag or take them travelling on your holiday. 

Probiotics vs Antibiotics

Many people still believe that you can’t take probiotics while on antibiotics. Not so in a lot of cases. There are a number of shelf-stable probiotic strains that show resistance to antibiotics:

• Bifidobacterium lactis (Bl-04) 50% Immune support and plays a key role in the anti-inflammatory response, reducing intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel conditions. Clinically shown to significantly reduce the risk of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI’s) in healthy, physically active adults.

• Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14) 50% Powerful anti-allergy support and prevents overgrowth of unhealthy intestinal flora including viruses and reduces oxalic acid build-up, implicated in joint pain and kidney stones.

• Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp-115) 77% Immune support with anti-allergy and anti-infection properties plus prevents overgrowth of unhealthy intestinal flora.

• Saccharomyces boulardii (SB) 100% Prevents overgrowth of unhealthy intestinal bacteria and yeasts, such as candida, whilst encouraging healthy intestinal flora to colonise and multiply.

Taking these probiotics while on antibiotics can help maintain healthy digestive balance and offset some of the side effects of taking antibiotics such as diarrhoea and thrush.

What makes a good shelf-stable probiotic?

1. Specialised stabilisation technology, nitrogen flushing, induction seals and an amber bottle for maximum product stability.
2. Scientifically screened probiotic strains studied for their individual shelf-stable properties.
3. Resistance to a number of antibiotics allowing you to take probiotics in conjunction with certain antibiotics.
4. Demonstrated ability to survive stomach acid and bile to reach the intestines intact where they can colonise and flourish.
5. Proven adherence to the intestinal wall to prevent overgrowth of unhealthy intestinal flora.
6. Additional CFU (colony forming units) or ‘overage’ at point of manufacture to ensure label strength potency at expiry date.

Mr Vitamins recommends

Herbs of Gold Probiotic + SB Learn more about Herbs of Gold Probiotic + SB