About Probiotics

We share our bodies with 100,000 billion bacteria and the majority of these are contained in the digestive tract. These live bacteria break down fibre and are also involved in how our bodies use nutrients. A healthy level of good bacteria is generally agreed to be beneficial to sound health, but should the balance of good and bad be upset there can be potentially adverse effects on the body. Research has suggested that if the diet is supplemented with the same type of bacteria that is typically present in the gut, then the ‘good bacteria’ is more likely to have a positive effect in redressing the balance between good and bad. Lactobacillus acidophilus strain probiotic supplements have been found to be very active in the human digestive tract.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is so special about our probiotics?

Our probiotics contain high potency, human strain organisms, shown in scientific studies to be stable, effective at populating the gut and acid resistant.

It is important that a probiotic only contains bacteria proven to work together. Products with multiple types of bacteria may contain non human origin bacteria with an unproven or even negative safety record. We only use well researched strains.

Are probiotics proven to be safe?

We have proven safety studies including ones with pregnant women and their babies.

Will the probiotic be effective?

Our probiotics are held in the highest regard by professionals, typically the harshest critics.

How many organisms are needed in a probiotic?

Higher dose probiotics are more effective with less than 10 billion bacteria are few and far between. Our high potency probiotics are at least 20-30 billion per dose. We offer proven formulations providing 29-130 billion organisms in a variety of types of product.

What is F.O.S and why it is necessary?

F.O.S (fructoolgiosaccharide) is a prebiotic that feeds beneficial bacteria and has been shown to actively inhibit the overgrowth of pathogens such as candida. Our probiotics always contain F.O.S. as this greatly increase their effectiveness.

Are our probiotic supplements dairy-free?

We only use G.O.S. (Galactooligosaccharieds) derived fr4om milk in Baby BioFlora. G.O.S. is a prebiotic that is naturally present in breast milk.

Can I give probiotics to my child?

Probiotics are beneficial for some adults and children alike. We recommend lower dose probiotics for children such as Baby Infantis Powder or Baby BioFlora, which are suitable from birth to around one year old, or Strawberry or Banana Bioacidophilus which is for general everyday use.

Can I take probiotics during pregnancy?

Our probiotics are suitable for use during pregnancy. In face AnteNatal BioFlora is possibly the only probiotic with a clinical trial demonstrating its safety for mother and baby.

Can I take probiotics whilst taking a course of antibiotics?

It is beneficial to take probiotics during and after a course of antibiotics to support the good bacterial when it has been compromised. We do recommend that they are taken 2-3 hours away from eachother to avoid any interaction.

Should I take probiotics whilst travelling abroad?

Topping up with probiotics may help when you are exposed to different bacteria in food and water abroad and as long as our probiotics are consumerd within a month or two they will maintain their high potency when not refrigerated.

What is the best time to take my probiotic?

Our probiotics have been specially selected because of their excellent resistance to stomach acid. However we recommend they are taken with food to be at their most effective.

Are probiotics stable?

Probiotic bacteria are living things and sensitive to heat, light and moisture. We use a freeze drying process to preserve the bacteria which are then quickly reactivated in the body. Probiotics which are not freeze dried like those in liquid form can be less stable and more prone to deterioration.

Why do our probiotics need to be kept in the fridge?

Our probiotics are high potency and guaranteed to the end of their shelf life as long as they are refrigerated. Our probiotics can survive well for a few months out of the fridge but once opened they should be refrigerated for longer term storage.

Are probiotics safe?

Lactobaciluus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria are found in large numbers in a healthy gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria are non-pathogenic and have never been implicated in causing any infection. In fact they are known to actively promote the health of the gastrointestinal system. The organisms in our probiotics are human strain with a completely safe history of use.

Are there any side effects from taking probiotics?

Those who are sensitive to dietary changes or have never taken probiotics before may find that they suffer from a small amount of wind, bloating or loose stools during the first days of probiotic supplementation. These symptoms will usually settle down after a few days and are actually a sign that the product is working. If the symptoms persist, we recommend reducing the dose and then gradually increasing it over time.

What Different Types of Probiotics are Available?

There are various different strains of probiotics. Some of the most common strains include:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus: found in our Acidophilus powder, BioAcidophilus and BioAcidophilus Forte, amongst others
• Bifidobacterium bifidum: available in our Bifidobacterium Bifidum and BioAcidophilus supplements
• Bifidobacterium lactis: found in our Bifidobacterium Bifidum, BioAcidophilus and Baby BioFlora supplements

Click here to view our Probiotics range