Health conscious people, especially those with occasional digestive disturbances, are hearing more and more about probiotics these days. Words like “good bacteria”, lactobacillus and acidophilus and have made their way into everyday language.

Today, specific positive health effects continue to be investigated and documented, including pronounced probiotic benefits for those with digestive tract problems. Probiotic researchers and alternative health experts strongly suggest high quality, high dose probiotic supplements may:

But even the well informed may be surprised to learn that our bodies are made up of ninety percent bacteria cells, and only ten percent human cells! Different strains of bacteria are everywhere from our skin to our gut, and play a major role in our physical well-being, especially the digestive process. Over 1000 species of bacteria have been identified in the human digestive tract alone. There are more bacteria cells in the human intestines than the total number of cells in the human body!

PROBIOTICS: THE HISTORY

In the early 1900s, Russian scientist, professor and Nobel laureate Elie Metchnikoff noted the longevity and good digestion of rural European populations with a diet high in milk products fermented with lactic acid bacteria. He theo-rized that you could modify the gut flora (microscopic organisms that live within our digestive tract, primarily bacteria) by introducing “good bacteria” to overcome other less desirable microorganisms.

Werner Kollath, a German physician with an interest in scientific nutritional health research, coined the term “probiotics” in 1953, calling them “active substances that are essential for a healthy development of life.” The World Health Organization now defines probiotics as live microorganisms that provide a health benefit to the “host” when taken in adequate amounts.

Probiotic research began in earnest in the U.S. In the early 1900s, where certain strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus were found to be very active when implanted in the human digestive tract, effectively relieving constipation.
Source: Rettger, L.F., W.N. Levy, L. Weinstein, and J.E. Weiss. 1935. Lactobacillus acidophilus and its therapeutic application. Yale University Press, New Haven

Years of research have established many benefits of probiotics. Bacteria are identified by genus species strains (for example Lactobacillus  acidolphilus DDS-1. The benefits of probiotics vary according to the strain, and not all bacterial strains provide health benefits and improve digestion.

• Relieve occasional constipation
• Help reduce gas
• Help produce digestive enzymes, peptides, amino acids and B vitamins in the body to the digestive process
• Help recover the proper balance of gut bacteria and avoid digestive disturbances
  

Probiotics not only improve human digestion, including children and infants (especially those born by Caesarian section) – but pets experience the benefits of probiotics too.

FREEDOM TO ENJOY

Each and every Natren product is backed by a long family tradition of expertise in yogurt and probiotic products. Natren's probiotic supplement super-strains and formulations have undergone three decades of independent laboratory culturing and testing; resulting in some of the strongest, most targeted strains of bacteria for digestion problems available.

Natren uses only lactic acid probiotic strains that have been safely used in supplements and foods in the U.S. for decades.

Occasional digestive disturbances can now be dealt with using a simple, safe, natural probiotic product.

Do your research on the best Natren probiotic supplement for your digestive health (or contact one of Natren’s Personal Health Consultants to do it for you), and celebrate your freedom from digestive disorders this July 4th.

Help your family learn to enjoy eating foods again with Natren probiotic products. Happy 4th of July!