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Our Vegaflore is number 1 in Google searches for the mention “ Vegan Probiotics ”!
A good reason to return to the most frequently asked questions on this subject, starting with a few essential notions.
What is a Probiotic or lactic ferment and what are their benefits?
The term Probiotic is increasingly fashionable but very rarely defined.
The World Health Organization (WHO) gives the following definition:
“live micro-organisms which, when ingested in sufficient quantities, exert positive effects on health, beyond traditional nutritional effects”.
In Europe, and in France particularly, the term Probiotic is considered inappropriate and today we speak of intestinal flora, bacteria and lactic ferments : other terms for the same reality.
In summary, these are “good” bacteria or yeasts whose benefits consist of helping to strengthen the balance and action of the beneficial micro-organisms of the intestinal flora. (the intestinal microbiota) .
What is a Prebiotic?
The exact term should be: Prebiotic Substrate since it designates all the nutrients that the intestinal bacteria will use to develop and multiply.
Our food is also a source of energy for bacteria. Indeed, the main dietary prebiotics are plant fibers , one of the good reasons to eat fruits and vegetables!
This helps answer a question also asked: “Why does your Vegaflore supplement combine Probiotics and Prebiotics?” »
It is easy to understand the direct synergy between Probiotic (the “good” bacteria) and Prebiotic (their source of energy) and the benefits of combining them ( we’ll tell you more a little later)
What is the fundamental role of intestinal flora for our health ?
We live in symbiosis with our intestinal flora : the multitude of bacteria (several trillions which constitute the microbiota ) that we host in our intestine have a determining influence, scientifically demonstrated on:
- Digestion and absorption of nutrients
- The immune system that determines our resistance to infectious diseases
- Nervous balance
In practice, this intestinal flora , made up of hundreds of different types of bacteria , can easily be unbalanced , in quantity but also in quality (a poor balance of power between the good bacteria and the others).
Stress, antibiotic treatments, poor diet, etc. are all factors that harm the development of useful bacteria and disrupt the body.
In this case, the symptoms directly perceived are mainly intestinal discomfort (bloating, irregularity of bowel movements, nervousness, etc.).
However, more significant physiological disorders can result from a poor balance of intestinal flora .
Current work also shows direct relationships between weight gain (or even obesity) and intestinal flora.
Rebalancing the intestinal flora is not so easy
We must start with a better diet: it is the best permanent solution, even if the effects of a dietary reorientation are quite slow.
How to do ?
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Increase foods that have a positive role on the intestinal flora : more plants, minimally processed products and products rich in natural ferments (yogurt, sauerkraut, fermented drinks).
Eating a reasonable quantity and engaging in moderate, regular physical activity also have positive effects.
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Reduce foods that are unfavorable to the intestinal flora : mainly less sugars, fewer prepared meals, cold meats, snacks rich in additives and preservatives that are very disruptive for the microbiota.
Limiting antibiotic treatments to what is strictly necessary is also a priority since they will directly impact the intestinal flora.
When and why to take probiotics?
Rebalancing the intestinal flora through diet is long and complicated because the stomach is an almost insurmountable barrier:
The high acidity of gastric digestion only allows a tiny portion of food bacteria (around 1% of those in yogurts, fermented drinks, etc.) to arrive alive in the intestine.
This explains why the effects of these products are long and slow to be felt.
The benefits of probiotics in food supplements : corrective contributions and a faster effect.
Provided that they are of impeccable quality (see the criteria explained below) so that the good strains of bacteria and lactic ferments arrive alive in sufficient numbers in the intestine, Probiotic food supplements allow corrective intakes with a fast action.
“When the intestinal flora is poorly oriented, rebalancing through a balanced diet will be slow because all the bacteria, including the least desired, will be able to take advantage of these nutrients to develop.”
The additional “ Probiotic ” intake with a cocktail of useful bacteria in sufficient numbers will allow this rebalancing much more quickly.
The effects are felt after a few days!
A course of approximately one month will bring noticeable well-being to digestion and transit with better comfort which will also have positive effects on:
- Level of stress and anxiety
- Anti-inflammatory intestinal action (reduction of colon irritability)
How to choose a Probiotic food supplement?
3 important criteria for a rapid effect on your intestinal flora
In order of decreasing importance we offer you the following hierarchy:
No. 1: Protective conditioning
Eliminate tablets (most bacteria do not survive the manufacturing process), powders and “non-gastroprotective” capsules which will open in the stomach, where the flora will be almost entirely destroyed by gastric acid. .
Only use food supplements with gastro-protective capsules , or micro-encapsulated powders.
For Vegaflore we use the Dr Caps© gastro-protective capsule made in Alsace and considered the reference in this field.
No. 2: The quantity of bacteria and the number of strains: yes but...
The number of bacteria present in the product is measured in CFU: Colony Forming Units.
This is often the main element highlighted on the labels of food supplements with a certain inflation in the proposals: 5.10, sometimes 100 billion!!
It's always tempting to think that 'more is better', but this isn't really proven by scientific studies.
It should be kept in mind that the number of bacteria 'injected' into the microbiota is very low for any supplement, whatever it may be.
What really matters is the ability of the bacteria to multiply in the intestine and for this their 'state of form' when opening the capsule counts more than their number.
This state will depend on both the production and storage conditions of the product (including at home: in a dry place and below 15°C), the protection offered by the capsule and its packaging and the initial quality. strains and their freshness at the time of manufacture.
As a practical rule, from 4/5 Billion CFU per dose divided into at least 3 bacterial strains, the intestinal flora can develop and provide its beneficial leverage effect.
In the case of Vegaflore (Pre & Probiotics), we have selected 4 strains ( certified vegan, which is rare ) very present in the human microbiota, with 10 billion CFU in total.
A sufficient quantity to maintain the effectiveness of the product until the end of its shelf life.
No. 3 the association of the Probiotic with a Prebiotic is useful
The minimal quantity of Prebiotic contained in a capsule will never be able to boost all the microorganisms of the intestinal microbiota.
It’s more the role of food.
On the other hand, if the Probiotic bacteria are in direct contact with a nutrient substrate as soon as the capsule is opened, their chances of development are obviously increased!
For Vegaflore, we have chosen a contribution of Fructo Oligo Saccharides (FOS) from plants for this function.
So, remember the 3 important criteria for choosing your supplement:
- The conditioning
- The strains used
- The presence of a Prebiotic
What precautions should be taken with probiotics?
Like all food supplements, probiotics do not replace a balanced and varied diet, particularly rich in plants and fiber in the case that interests us here, as explained previously.
As it is also mentioned, each individual has their own microbiota and which will react in a particular way: it is always possible that in an individual, the effect of the probiotic is slower and weaker. If in doubt, the right attitude is to consult your health practitioner.
How can a probiotic be Vegan?
There is a common mistake which consists of believing that bacteria are part of the animal kingdom, since they are not plant-based. However, there are several categories of non-animal and non-plant living organisms.
Bacteria and lactic ferments, unicellular organisms devoid of a nervous system, are part of this.
On the other hand, Vegan certification requires that these bacteria be cultivated on substrates not derived from animals.
Also, even the lactic acid bacteria of our Vegaflore are multiplied on plant substrates.
If you have any other questions about our Vegaflore supplement, don't hesitate to ask us in the comments!
The Argalys team
Our Essentials which combine Pre & Probiotics:
VEGAFLORE Pre & Probiotics
€20.90 for 60 capsules!
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