Is your gut making you sick?

As you read this, approximately 38 trillion microbes are working around the clock within your gut – foraging for food, jostling with each other for survival and reproducing. This is your microbiome, the vibrant ecosystem of bacteria, yeasts and fungi that work synergistically to boost your immune health.

 In fact, a whopping 70% of the immune system is located in the gut! What’s more fascinating is the impact of modern life on this abundant ecosystem. For example, factors like stress, illness, antibiotics and processed foods can reduce the amount of ‘good microbes’, and allow ‘bad’ microbes to prosper. The imbalance that follows can not only interrupt your digestive function, creating uncomfortable symptoms like bloating, diarrhoea, constipation or abdominal pain, but also reduce your capacity to fight pathogens . This in turn can lead to recurring colds, flus and infections – and nobody wants that! However, help is at hand…

Call in the probiotics!

If you are struggling with immune issues, probiotics can help restore immune balance. Specific strains enhance the immune system during times of recurrent infection by stimulating the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT).1 Probiotics can regulate both innate and adaptive immunity  by modulating the function of B and T lymphocytes, dendritic cells and macrophages.

The right dog for the job

Expecting just any probiotic formulation to address a specific health concern is like expecting a stray dog to herd sheep. Although the stray is a dog, not knowing its breed or skills makes putting it in charge a risky move.

Probiotics are the same. When you’ve got a specific health outcome in mind, using any general probiotic is less likely to lead to the results you’re looking for. This is because different probiotic strains have specific strengths or actions in the body.

Therefore, it’s important to choose strains that can produce the effect you want, just as you’d specifically choose a Border Collie, and not a random stray, to herd your sheep. This way you can ensure you are getting the best immune boosting outcomes.

Arm yourself against infections

Specifically, Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL9, Lactobacillus paracasei 8700:2 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LGG®) are three unique probiotic strains with immune stimulating properties.

For instance, in a 2021 randomised, placebo controlled trial, 500 million colony forming units per day (CFU/d) each of L. paracasei 8700:2 and L. plantarum HEAL9 reduced the rate of recurring colds by 30% after 12 weeks. In children, LGG® lowered the incidence of middle ear infections, upper respiratory tract infections and use of antibiotics.2

So, how do these strains provide immune benefits? L. paracasei 8700:2 has been shown to induce innate immune functions, including increasing phagocytosis and levels of natural killer cells, which may account for its benefits in preventing colds and flu.3 To top it off, L. plantarum HEAL9 actively secretes antimicrobial substances that inhibit the growth of certain organisms, producing a more beneficial microbial balance in your gut.4

In short, these three probiotic strains are indicated for you if you have:

·         Immune insufficiency;

·         Chronic recurrent infections;

·         Post viral immune depletion;

·         Those that work in ‘high risk’ settings such as childcare, hospitals and aged care;

·         Or just people who can’t afford to let infections slow them down!  

It’s also really important to address the problems that may be causing the gut imbalance in the first place……… stress, diet and antibiotics.

·         References

·         1 Isolauri E, Sütas Y, Kankaanpää P, Arvilommi H, Salminen S. Probiotics: effects on immunity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;73(2 Suppl):444S-450S. doi:10.1093/ajcn/73.2.444s

·         2 Liu S, Hu P, Du X, Zhou T, Pei X. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG supplementation for preventing respiratory infections in children: a meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled trials. Indian Pediatr. 2013;50(4):377-381. doi:10.1007/s13312-013-0123-z

·         3 Rask C, Adlerberth I, Berggren A, Ahrén IL, Wold AE. Differential effect on cell-mediated immunity in human volunteers after intake of different lactobacilli. Clin Exp Immunol. 2013;172(2):321-332. doi:10.1111/cei.12055

·         4 Goldin BR, Gorbach SL, Saxelin M, Barakat S, Gualtieri L, Salminen S. Survival of Lactobacillus species (strain GG) in human gastrointestinal tract. Dig Dis Sci. 1992;37(1):121-128. doi:10.1007/BF01308354