It seems like every week a new company crops up with a probiotic that promises perfect gut health. While we think supplements have their time and place, not all are created equal. Due to factors that diminish our good microbes, supplementation can be beneficial. Let’s look at the different types of probiotics that we recommend, the benefits, and how combining colonics with probiotics makes for a powerful gut-healing protocol.

First Things First, What is a Probiotic? 

It’s a live bacteria—we have good, bad, and neutral bacteria in our gut, which is important to keep in balance. 

What is a Probiotic Strain?

It determines the specific health benefits of the probiotic. Think of the probiotic as an apple, and the strains are each type, such as Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith, each offering different taste profiles, thus offering different benefits.

3 Main Types of Probiotics

• Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium blends
  • Live microorganisms that don’t colonize your body, meaning they work by scrubbing unwanted microorganisms in the gut
  • Most well-researched blends 
  • 100 species of Lactobacillus 
  • Over 30 species of Bifidobacterium
• Saccharomyces boulardii
  • A beneficial yeast that is not part of our gut, it has the ability to correct many digestive imbalances
  • Good for people with Candida overgrowth
• Soil-based probiotics (also known as spore-forming)
  • This is the only type of probiotic that can colonize the gut 
  • Found in soil and water
  • Replaces any missing bacteria in our bodies since our soil is depleted and we don’t play in the dirt anymore

While Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium do not colonize the gut, they do act like worker bees for the gut, fighting off the bad bugs. Lactobacillus species move around the whole digestive system and Bifidobacterium species mostly stay in the large intestine (our favorite!).

What are the Benefits?

Probiotics can help with many conditions, such as:

• autoimmune diseases
• constipation
• Candida and yeast infections
• chronic diarrhea
• parasites
• bloating
• inflammation
• stress
• overall gut imbalance

Which Probiotic is Right for You?

It’s best to find a good formula that includes all of the above types. The more species, the easier you can overcome your condition. Make sure you look for a probiotic that:

• labels all species
• lists the colony-forming units (CFUs)
• has a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification
• is free of common allergens

Here are a few of our favorite probiotics. You will need to set up a Fullscript account to see the products and order them directly.

What are Other Ways I can Nurture my Microbiome?

Fermented Foods: Getting your probiotics from fermented food, such as homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha, is still the best medicine. But if you have a chronic condition or overall gut issues, it’s helpful to add a quality probiotic supplement. Fermented foods just don’t have enough CFUs. Remember, your gut is like a garden—you need to feed it with beneficial microorganisms and, of course, high-quality foods. Our bodies are bombarded with processed foods, too much sugar, poor water and air quality, and an overuse of antibiotics. Tend to your garden!

Colonics: It’s hard to tend your garden if your digestive tract isn’t flowing properly. Did you know that the colon is home to 70% of our immune system? A strong immune system would have a dominance of healthy bacteria taking up 80% of the general population, with a small 20% of bad bacteria kept under control.

Clients often ask us if a colonic will wipe out the good microorganisms living in the gut. The answer is no. A cleansed colon makes it much easier for the body to populate friendly bacteria. It actually takes less than 36 hours after a colonic to restore normal bacterial populations. We also offer probiotic additives to help bring the good bacteria straight to the colon. Book an appointment with one of our experienced colon hydrotherapists who can help you improve your gut health today!

In Health,

The Move Colonics Team