The importance of our microbiome
Our digestive system (gut) is central to supporting our health – it contains more than 70% of the body’s immune system and 10 times more bacteria than we have cells in our whole body, known as the gut microbiome.
The gut microbiome is a highly complex and dynamic community of microorganisms, most of which are bacteria. More than 1,000 different species/strains of bacteria have been identified with enough frequency to be considered a ‘normal’ part of the human microbiome.
The overall relationship of the microbiome to our body is both favourable and beneficial, supporting the function of many aspects of physiology, including immune and digestive function. There are, however, some species and strains that may have negative attributes under certain circumstances, potentially producing toxins and acting as opportunistic pathogens, and one of the primary functions of our favourable bacteria is to help exclude and/or inhibit these pathogenic species from causing harm.
Maintaining a balance of all species of bacteria is key to supporting the health of the microbiome and helping to prevent the overgrowth of the potentially pathogenic bacteria strains. An imbalance of bacteria is known as dysbiosis and can lead to symptoms such as bloating, gas, digestive discomfort, diarrhoea and constipation.
The stresses of our modern lifestyles have been shown to have an impact on a balanced microbiome – including a diet high in sugar and processed food, excessive alcohol intake, lack of or too much exercise, illness and infections (especially food poisoning), and medications (particularly antibiotics).
Conversely, friendly bacteria (both from foods and supplements) have been shown to help support the balance of the favourable strains, particularly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are susceptible to the effects of the above stressors.
Multi-strain high-strength live bacteria
ProVen Probiotics Adult Acidophilus & Bifidus – 25 Billion is a high-strength friendly bacteria supplement for everyday use for adults aged 16+. Supported by a unique body of UK and international clinical research, the Lab4 live bacteria in ProVen For Adults 25 Billion is the most comprehensively studied group of friendly bacteria in the UK.
Each capsule contains 12.5 billion friendly bacteria along with key nutrients to provide additional support for digestion (calcium) and immunity (vitamins C and D, zinc and selenium).
