Most people (and even many members of the mainstream medical community) are catching on to the fact that probiotics help prevent gas, bloating and constipation. 

Several have also given nods to probiotics for their immune supportive properties and their ability to help ease asthma and allergies.

And if you really do your homework and read sources of information outside of the pharmaceutical-funded mainstream media (like my blog!), you might have even heard that probiotics can help with depression for two reasons: 1) Most of your body’s serotonin is produced in your gut and probiotics help keep your gut environment healthy and 2) Probiotics help improve absorption of nutrients like vitamins D and B12 which can also counteract depression!

Well, there are 4 more surprising health benefits of probiotics that go way beyond your gut that I bet you’ve never heard of!

Here they are:

Surprising probiotic benefit #1: Easing rheumatoid arthritis

A 60-day double-blind study of 45 adults with rheumatoid arthritis was conducted where some of the participants supplemented with probiotics (in addition to their pain relievers) and the others were given a placebo.

The probiotic group reported significantly less pain, and also were better able to walk, reach and perform activities of daily living!

This makes sense because rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, and probiotics help support proper immune function.

Surprising probiotic benefit #2: Better dental health

Research has shown that probiotics can improve periodontitis, which is a gum infection that damages the tissue and bones that support your teeth.

In addition, studies show that probiotics can even help prevent cavities!

Now, you may be wondering what your mouth has to do with your gut…

Quite a bit, actually.

Your mouth has a microbiome just like your gut, and when harmful bacteria, viruses and fungi have the “upper hand,” that can lead to a whole slew of problems including the following:

• Plaque on the teeth 
• Bleeding and receding gums
• Mouth ulcers and sores
• Oral candidiasis/thrush 
• Cavities and tooth decay (caries)

Surprising probiotic benefit #3: Preventing diabetes

Insulin resistance has been linked to gut microbiome imbalances.

High levels of harmful bacteria in the gut can trigger a cascade of inflammation and insulin resistance, opening the door for Type 2 diabetes.

However, studies have shown that probiotics can help improve insulin sensitivity and decrease the inflammatory immune response found in diabetes.

In addition, diabetes is a complex condition that involves many factors, including inadequate digestion and poor pancreatic function. Since probiotics help support sound digestion and absorption of nutrients, they fight diabetes in that respect as well.

Surprising probiotic benefit #4: Healthy skin

Probiotics can even help promote healthier skin!

First of all, skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema stem from inflammatory immune responses, and probiotics help counteract those responses.

Plus many skin problems like rashes, dryness, hives and acne are the result of inflammation due to poor digestion, wastes and toxins in your bloodstream and an unhealthy gut microbiome, which probiotics also address.

Make sure you’ve got a strong supply!

The benefits of having a healthy gut microbiome and a well-balanced population of beneficial bacteria continue to grow, so it’s vital to pamper your intestinal tract and help your body to maintain a strong supply of these friendly microbes.

Here are 3 ways to help ensure your gut environment is in tip-top shape: 

1- Do the avoid-dance

Avoid things that are harmful to your intestinal flora including:

• Cigarette smoke
• Unfiltered tap water
• Soda
• Excessive alcohol (especially beer) 
• Antibiotics, acid reducers and birth control pills
• Regularly lacking sleep
• Stress

2- Support the helpful good guys

This involves replenishing your supply of beneficial bacteria, and this is done with a full-spectrum probiotic supplement like Super Shield multi-strain probiotic formula.

Contrary to what you may think, your friendly intestinal inhabitants are not “permanent residents”—they only “vacation” inside of you for about 12 days. So it’s crucial to make sure you consistently help beef up the population of troops in your protective intestinal army.

Super Shield provides a blend of 13 outstanding, well-studied probiotic strains that each have their own “specialty” in terms of how they support your health! 

 

3- Dietary support

Supporting a healthy microbiome balance also includes nourishing your friendly flora with fresh vegetables and fermented foods.

Good choices for fermented foods include sauerkraut, yogurt, kefir (a fermented milk drink that tastes like drinkable yogurt), kimchi (Korean fermented cabbage), fermented pickles, and raw apple cider vinegar that includes “the mother.”

Note that soy-based products like tempeh and miso are also fermented foods, but I choose not to recommend soy because most of the soy grown in the US is now genetically modified.

On the flip side, stay away from sugars, refined carbs (including soda) and processed/fast foods, and minimize your consumption of grains (which turn to sugar upon digestion). All of these foods nourish the harmful microbes and/or stir up inflammation in your gut, which in turn compromises the helpful efforts of your microbiome. 

Support your helpful inhabitants and help them enhance your health in countless ways!

To your health,

Sherry Brescia

IMPORTANT MESSAGE:

As many of you already know, the culturing and manufacturing process for probiotic products has evolved dramatically over the last few decades. 

Long ago, it was important to keep the products at a consistently cold temperature from manufacture to consumption to help avoid any die-off of the bacteria. That is why 15 years ago back in 2009 when we first introduced Super Shield, it was shipped with an ice pack in the package.

But over the last 5-7 years, significant strides have been made in the engineering and packaging of probiotic products so as to maintain the viability of the cultures even during periods of time in which they may lack refrigeration or reach higher temperatures for a time. 

Of course, to help ensure the long-term potency (i.e.: up to the expiration date) and viability of the product, refrigeration upon receipt is suggested, especially after opening the bottle. 

In view of these developments, we at Holistic Blends have made the decision to discontinue the use of ice packs when shipping our probiotic products. Not only are they no longer necessary, but they also contribute to the world’s accumulation of plastic waste which is harmful to our environment. 

Additionally, we have recently been advised by the Postal Service that ice packs in our packages can cause condensation on the outer portion of the package as they melt, and that can lead to smeared address labels and possibly even mold growth on other packages.

We take our products and your loyalty to our company very seriously and are entirely confident that our probiotics are and will continue to be of the utmost quality and supportive of your great health.