I'm an ocasional IBS sufferer with lots of wind... I used to buy the very expensive multi-strain probiotics from G*C. My friend asked me to try this, and despite my skepticism, not only are they as effective as the G*C ones, I find they are even better. No smelly farts. No bloating. No constipation or diaorrhea. And these are like one fifth of the price. I'm sold! Can't believe how much money I wasted in the past. Doh!" ~product review by Frankie Ng, Singapore
FYI
Your gut depends on active colonies of good bacteria in the stomach and intestines to digest food. There are many different species of bacteria in your system, each of which help digest diffrent types of food eg carbohydrates, proteins, oils etc. The most well known of these is Lactobacillus Acidophilus, which many of us will know from drinks such as Yakult. However, the more varieties of species of digestive bacteria there are in your system, the stronger your body's "eco-system" will become.
Good bacteria are essential in your gut. Healthy colonies of good bacteria in your small intestine break your food down quickly and release the nutrients from it. These nutrients are then absorbed into your bloodstream through the surface of your intestines. If you have insufficient numbers of the good bacteria, the food will "ferment" in your gut, causing a build up of smelly gas, and creating a bloated feeling and painful cramps as a result. This undigested food and by-products irritate and inflame the intestines, a phenomenon known as IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
Antiobiotics have the unfortunate side effect of killing of many of the good bacteria in your gut. Alcohol and other medications also have a similar effect. So probiotics are essential to help rebuild the depleted colonies of good bacteria.
While many popular supplements provide only two species of bifidobacteria, Dr. Langer's formula delivers five. And while others have only one strain of lactobacillus, Ultimate 16 Strain Probiotic features ten, including Lactobacillus reuteri, which was recently added to improve the formula because of the unique protective abilities it offers for colon health and immune system function. In total, Swanson's unique formula has 16 species of essential bacteria.
To ensure the good bacteria have the best environment in which to multiply, the formula also includes the prebiotic FOS (Fructo-oligosaccharides) and ConcenTrace® trace minerals, which you won't find in any off the shelf product. Prebiotics and trace minerals are important because most of us are lacking them in our diets, but they're absolutely vital to the enzymatic processes necessary for healthy digestion and the maintenance of beneficial bacteria. ConcenTrace® contains over 70 different trace elements that are essential for a healthy gastro intestinal system, but not easily available from our normal diet.
What is a CFU? It stands for "colony forming units", a convenient way of measuing the potential number of live good bacteria in the capsule.Some brands claim very high numbers, but remember, its about quality and viability, not quantity. If the conditions are right, bacteria reproduce every twenty minutes. A million bacteria will become a billion in just four hours!
Don't be fooled by mass market products that over promise and under deliver—products that also cost much more than they should. With this state of the art formula you'll feel the difference in as little as a week. It's the ultimate probiotic at a truly affordable price.
