A variety of probiotic supplements are available to health-conscious consumers, but active probiotic beadlets may offer certain advantages over conventional delivery mechanisms. While all probiotic supplements have potential to offer significant health benefits on a number of levels, probiotic beadlets employ a delivery system that allows beneficial organisms to land where they are most needed.
About Probiotics
While probiotic supplements are fairly new to the world of nutritional medicine, the use of fermented foods for better health has a long and varied history. According to the Handbook of Fermented Functional Foods (CRC Press 2008) yogurt has been used to promote health and longevity for as long as 10,000 years. With that kind of history, it might be safe to assume that this particular health product is more than just a passing fad.
Health Benefits
Gut flora makes up a significant portion of the immune system, so it is no surprise that many disorders associated with immune reactions have been indicated as potential targets for probiotic therapy.
In The Handbook of Prebiotics and Probiotics (Wiley-Interscience 2008) the authors list the following ailments as potentially treatable using friendly bacteria:
- Inflammatory bowel diseasehttp://love2publish.lovetoknow.com/title/75752/edit
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Peptic Ulcers
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Antibiotic associated diarrhea
- Asthma
- Hay Fever
- Eczema
- Food Intolerances
- Urinary tract infections
- Kidney stones
- Oral infection
- Dental Caries
It may seem like a comprehensive list, but researchers are learning more about interactions between the flora of the intestines and other bodily systems every day. Research has indicated that such unlikely conditions as rheumatoid arthritis and chronic fatigue syndrome could potentially be treated using active probiotic supplements.
Why Choose Active Probiotic Beadlets
Most probiotic supplements are available in the form of pills, powders, or whole foods. The company Forever Living Products has recently introduced a new delivery system aimed at protecting the friendly bacteria on its way to your gut. Probiotic bacteria could be damaged by the harsh conditions of the stomach and large intestine, rendering at least part of the population inactive before they even reachtheir destination.
Sold as Forever Active Probiotics, these beadlets are designed to shield the organisms as they travel through your digestive system, releasing them only when they finally reach the large intestine. In this way, the beneficial effects of the bacteria reach their intended destination where they can do your body the most good.
Another benefit to the beadlet delivery system is that the product is stable at room temperature. Most probiotic supplements need to be kept refrigerated to maintain viability. The patented beadlets protect the bacteria in the package just as they do in your system, making travel and storage easier than other supplement forms.
Organisms in the Beadlet
As different bacteria perform different functions within the gut, it is helpful to have more than one type of bacteria in your probiotic supplement. For example, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Lactobacillus acidophilus is the preferred bacterium for treating vaginal yeast infections, while some species of Biffidobacterium are more talented at treating certain types of diarrhea. Forever Active beadlets contain the following probiotic organisms:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus bulgaricus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
Using Probiotic Beadlets
Currently, active probiotic beadlets are only available through Forever Living Products. This is a multi-level marketing company from which products are only available directly from the company or through an independent distributor.
To hasten the progress through the digestive system, probiotics are best taken on an empty stomach or at least two hours after eating. The recommended dosage for Forever Active is one beadlet daily.
Taking a probiotic supplement is good preventive medicine for everybody. Whether you are looking to treat a specific ailment or simply want to feel better and get the full benefits of the food you eat, a probiotic supplement along with your daily vitamins is an investment in your health.
