What Are Probiotics?

As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), probiotics are live microorganisms, which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.

Probiotics include beneficial bacteria that live in our digestive tract. They can help support digestive health by maintaining a healthy balance in our digestive tract.

Sustenex® contains the probiotic BC30 that can help establish a healthy balance of bacteria in our GI tract.

Learn more about Sustenex® Probiotics >>

Why Does Your Digestive System Need Probiotics?

From the day you were born your digestive tract has been introduced to a steady stream of bacteria - some helpful, some not so nice. Many factors (see list below) can disturb your intestinal balance and decrease the level of probiotic, or "beneficial bacteria."

Daily use of a probiotic supplement, like Sustenex®, can help you maintain digestive health. Learn more >>

One way to maintain intestinal balance is to replenish your intestinal tract with a daily regimen of a probiotic supplement, such as Sustenex®, that can support beneficial bacteria levels.* Possible factors that can disrupt your digestive balance:

• Poor diet | Today's poor eating habits can disturb digestive balance. Here are a few tips: limit fats and sweets, add fiber, drink at least 64 oz of fluids daily and eat slowly.
• Age | As you age, your levels of healthy bacteria (probiotics) decrease which can disrupt digestive balance.
• Changes in Diet | If you make changes in your diet and the food you eat, do it gradually to give your body time to adjust.
• Travel | Traveling increases stress and exposes you to different bacteria, most often in water, that can increase your chances of digestive imbalance.
• Stress | Digestive health can be improved by reducing stress.

Because there are multiple factors affecting your digestive and immune health, and because your intestinal bacteria is in a constant battle, your need Sustenex® - your daily probiotic for digestive and immune fitness. Sustenex® contains the probiotic, BC30 (Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086). This probiotic is Gram-positive spore-forming bacteria.

What Does Gram-positive Mean?

The Danish bacteriologist J.M.C. Gram (1853-1938) created a method called Gram staining which categorizes bacteria based on their colorization after staining. Bacteria which take the blue color after staining are Gram-positive bacteria. Bacteria which take the red color after staining are Gram-negative bacteria.

This difference in color which appears after staining and examining bacteria under the microscope can help determine the appropriate treatment prescribed by a physician. The term gram negative or gram-positive refers to the staining procedure used to determine the cell wall composition of unknown bacteria. It does not refer to the electrical charge of the bacteria.

Food sources for probiotics

Although the benefits of probiotics are most widely available through probiotic supplements, there are also food sources for probiotics.

Here's a partial list:

• Yogurt and kefir
• Cheese
• Other dairy products including acidophilus milk and buttermilk
• Nondairy fermented foods including sauerkraut, kimchi, tempeh and soy sauce

Some common probiotics found in food include Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidus and Saccharomyces boulardii yeast.

For a discussion on probiotic yogurt, please see our probiotic yogurt page.