What are probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms (bacteria and yeasts) that have beneficial effects on, or inside your body. They’re often described as "good" or "friendly" bacteria.

Trillions of these tiny microorganisms already exist in your body, along with numerous others. By consuming probiotic supplements, you’re increasing the existing populations of friendly microbes.

These invisible heroes help support important bodily functions and your overall health. They also help to crowd out the potentially harmful types of microbes we carry, promoting a balanced microbiota.

Probiotics can improve digestion, enhance nutrient absorption, and support a strong immune system*.

What do probiotics do?

Probiotics increase the population of beneficial microbes (bacteria) that already live within the gut and elsewhere.

Research suggests that probiotics have been shown to:

Support digestive health by producing the specific enzymes needed in the digestion of food and aiding the breakdown of foods substances.

Protect against harmful bacteria Promotes a balanced microbiota by crowding out “bad” strains of bacteria.

Support immune system function by stimulating the body’s natural defences, and by lining the intestines with a protective layer of friendly bacteria.

As two-thirds of the body's immune system is managed in the gut, probiotics are increasingly becoming the focus of vigorous scientific research.

What is Dysbiosis? The impact of a modern lifestyle on gut health

Dysbiosis is an imbalance of the bacteria in your gut and usually occurs due to the impact of modern life.

Under "balanced" conditions, the good bacteria in the gut outnumber the bad ones. However, the effects of a modern lifestyle (stress, antibiotic use, low-fibre diets) mean a ‘balanced’ state is increasingly hard to obtain.

How do probiotics work?

From the minute a probiotic supplement is consumed, an amazing journey takes place.

In supplements, the probiotics are in a dormant state, but as they pass through and inhabit (colonise) your infant's stomach and intestines, the environment—moisture, warmth, and nutrients—helps them ‘wake up’.

In the context of probiotics, colonise means that beneficial bacteria from the probiotic supplement temporarily settle in your baby’s gut and start to grow, forming colonies. Just like planting seeds in a garden, these probiotic bacteria "take root" in the digestive tract, where they can thrive and multiply, supporting a healthy balance of good bacteria.

This process is important because it helps create an environment where "good" bacteria outnumber harmful bacteria, which can improve digestion, boost your immune system, and support a foundation of lifelong health.

Surviving the journey to your gut 

For probiotics to work effectively, they must first survive the stomach’s harsh, acidic environment. All BioGaia probiotics are proven to do just that.

Our L. reuteri bacterium is one of the few probiotics in the world that has been shown to settle and temporarily colonise all areas of the gastrointestinal tract (GI), like the stomach and small intestine. This means they can live and multiply right where they provide the most benefit.

Prebiotics and Probiotics – what's the difference?

Both prebiotics and probiotics support your gut health, but they play different roles.

Prebiotics are commonly fibres that feed the good bacteria in your gut, helping them to grow and thrive. Think of them as food for your beneficial gut bacteria.

Probiotics, on the other hand, are live bacteria that you can consume through supplements. They add more of these good bacteria to your digestive system. Fermented foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut are also source of live active microbes, in much lower amounts.

Understanding probiotic strains

Bacteria are classified by genus, species, and strain. It’s that strain information that is most important. A strain is a specific type of bacteria, in the same way that a Labrador is a specific type of dog.

Different strains of probiotics can have different effects. For example, one strain may help with digestion while another may help to boost the immune system.

Different probiotic companies make probiotics from different strains, but unlike BioGaia, some probiotic brands use strains that don’t have a lot of research behind them or do not all share details of these strains on their product packaging.

Without knowing the strain name, you don't know exactly what you are getting. One lactobacillus supplement is not equal to another lactobacillus supplement. Strain information is what nutritionists, doctors and other healthcare professionals look for when recommending probiotics.

We are extremely proud to use one of the world’s most researched strains in all our products, our patented Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938. We could talk all day about our amazing L. retueri strains!

How to choose the best probiotic for your baby?

Selecting the right probiotic for your bub can be a bit overwhelming with so many options available. Here are some tips to help you make an informed choice:

Identify your needs: Different probiotics can support different health areas, so choose a probiotic that matches your little one’s specific needs.

Check the strain: Look for probiotics that are labelled down to a strain level, and that the strain is well researched (such as L. reuteri DSM 17938).

Backed by science: Check that the strain has been tested in clinical studies on humans (not just in vitro) to verify its effectiveness. If the product contains several different bacterial strains, each strain should be defined and contain the exact clinically relevant dose. The clinical trials performed must also be based on the exact same strain combination and dosage.

CFU Count: CFU stands for Colony Forming Units, indicating the number of live bacteria in each dose. A higher CFU count or ‘multi-strain’ products aren’t necessarily better; it depends on the science.

Expiration Date: Probiotics are living organisms, so they can lose potency over time. Reconsider products that only state CFU “at time of manufacture.” This labelling does not account for the decline of CFU during storage, which can affect the product’s effectiveness. So check the CFU count is ‘at the end of shelf-life', not the date of manufacture.