Bloating & Digestion

Inside Look: These 8 Ingredients Could Revolutionize Your Health

Inside Look: These 8 Ingredients Could Revolutionize Your Health

At Hyperbiotics, we often say that being a probiotic company is just our cover––our real mission is to empower others with the inspiration, knowledge, and opportunity to experience total-body wellness, starting with their microbial health.

That's why we have a company culture of education. Whether we're writing an in-depth article on the latest findings on the gut microbiome, dropping a few probiotic facts into a customer email, or engaging with our friends and comrades in our social circles, we love being on the forefront of the latest research and keeping our gut-loving community informed.

We do this not only because it's fascinating, but also because there is a paradigm shift happening when it comes to the way practitioners, scientists, and researchers are viewing health; one in which bacteria are taking center stage. And while you can rest easy knowing that we only use the best human-resident strains and ingredients in our formulas, here’s a closer look at just how hard working these ingredients are and why you want them in your life.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Our Quality Ingredients

Lactobacillus

Lactobacillus is a genus of bacteria that contains nearly 200 species, many of which significantly support your health. Whether you take a probiotic or not, you already have a lot of Lactobacillus in or on you––they are a major component of the gut and skin microbiome, and if you're a woman of European descent, they’re also a major player in your vaginal microbiome.1,2

It's really hard to overstate the important role Lactobacillus strains play in your body. They're involved in supporting everything from bone and joint health to breast health. Lactobacillus reuteri helps maintain blood sugar levels already in the normal range; Lactobacillus acidophilus is involved in supporting healthy hormone levels; Lactobacillus plantarum can help support vibrant energy levels; Lactobacillus rhamnosus helps maintain a positive mood...the list goes on and on.3,4,5,6

Our formulas contain some of the most beneficial strains of Lactobacillus, including:

L. plantarum
L. fermentum
L. acidophilus
L. casei
L. rhamnosus
L. reuteri
L. salivarius
L. paracasei
L. gasseri

Bifidobacterium

Like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium is a genus of bacteria with a number of species. It's also a key player in health maintenance, partly due to the way it helps us metabolize lactose and how it works with the enzymes in the gut to support proper digestion. One thing that's really interesting about Bifidobacteria bacteria is how they change in our body over time. Most of us start out with a pretty high concentration of these crucial bacteria: Bifidobacteria make up around 90% of the bacteria in breast-fed infants. But they tend to decline as the years progress, only to swing back up again after we hit 50, just in time for us to enjoy the way they encourage healthy aging.

While this would already be enough to merit Bifido's inclusion, they carry other advantages too: Bifidobacterium longum has been studied to support immune function; Bifidobacterium breve can help keep yeast populations from exceeding healthy levels the body; and Bifidobacterium infantis supports mental clarity!7,8 Plus, it’s pretty difficult to really get enough of it, which is why we made a whole formula with the most well-studied Bifido strains around.

Our formulas include:

B. infantis
B. longum
B. lactis
B. bifidum
B. breve

Streptococcus

You might be a little leery of Streptococcus––after all, we tend to associate it with having to get a throat swab at the doctor's office––but there are several strains of it that are really helpful. In fact, a couple of strains of Strep can even encourage upper respiratory health.

For instance, studies show that Streptococcus salivarius is a key player in the maintenance of ear, nose, and throat health, actually working against Streptococcus pyogenes, a type of bacteria we definitely don't want on board. Strep doesn't stop there though! Streptococcus salivarius also helps support good oral health, and Streptococcus thermophilus helps maintain good digestion and immunity.9,10

Our formulas include:

S. thermophilus
S. salivarius K12
S. salivarius M18

Acacia Fiber

Acacia fiber (also called acadia powder) is one of the star ingredients in our Prebiotic Powder, because is supports both your overall health and the health of your gut microbiome. One of the main reasons why is because it's a prebiotic: an ingredient that breaks down into nourishment for your healthy gut bacteria. While it might not look like much to you, acacia powder is a favorite food for your bacteria, especially Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria.11

Besides the benefits it provides as a prebiotic, acacia powder also helps with healthy weight management by supporting a healthy absorption rate of glucose into your bloodstream, which may help you avoid cravings for unhealthy, sugary snacks. What's more, it supports your body's ability to properly absorb the nutrients from the healthy food you eat, which is in turn associated with everything from sharp mental function to great joint health.

Banaba Leaf Extract

Banaba leaf has been used as a natural support for healthy glucose levels for years, due to a perfect one-two punch of corosolic acid and ellagitannins. The first helps carry the glucose in blood across cell membranes, where it's needed most, while the second has antioxidant properties and helps maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range.12 When your glucose levels are balanced, your energy skyrockets and you just feel better all over.

Kiwifruit Powder

Kiwifruit powder is a powerful source of prebiotic fiber, supporting regularity and the growth of good bacteria in your gut. We particularly like pairing it up with our Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria-rich formulas, since it's been studied for the way it encourages probiotics to set up shop and adhere better to the walls of the small intestine. Plus, kiwifruit powder is also a good source of polyphenols, which support healthy aging and robust immunity, and a substance unique to kiwifruit called actinidin, which helps maintain comfortable digestion.13 Simply put, to support a healthy colon and to experience “business as usual,” kiwifruit powder is one of nature’s best kept secrets!

EpiCor®

When it comes to comprehensive support for your body’s first line of defense, the benefits of EpiCor® cannot be understated. In fact, they should be shouted from the rooftops! Created from Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, EpiCor® is a fermented superfood that encourages good bacteria to adhere to the walls of your gut and produce substances like butyrate, which support gut health, mood regulation, and a strong memory.14

White Kidney Bean Extract

In our modern world of stress and constant carbs, our dietary and lifestyle choices can unknowingly weigh heavily on our gut flora and (by proxy) our waistlines. If you're looking to naturally support healthy weight management, white kidney bean may just become your new BFF. Since it's high in resistant starch, it helps to reduce the digestion of carbohydrates, which in turn can lower the caloric impact they have on your body. It also helps maintain your healthy blood sugar levels already in a normal range, not to mention supporting your metabolism and a healthy, moderate appetite.15

Choose Hyperbiotics for Tailored Probiotic Support

With so many supplement choices, it might be hard to know just what formula is best for your body. After all, our microbiomes are as unique as our fingerprints. For starters, check out some of these simple, daily things you can do to support your gut bacteria

However you choose to support your gut health, know that you're making one of the very best choices you can to support your overall health and well-being––from your head to your toes, a healthy gut can help you feel your natural best!!

References:

1. Yatsunenko, T., Rey, F.E., Manary, M.J., Trehan, I. . . . Gordon, J.I. (2012). Human Gut Microbiome Viewed Across Age and Geography. Nature 486(7402). doi: 10.1038/nature11053

2. Fettweis, J.M., Brooks, J.P., Serrano, M.G., Sheth, N.U . . . Buck, G.A. (2014). Differences in Vaginal Microbiome in African American women versus Women of European ancestry". Microbiology 160(10). doi:10.1099/mic.0.081034-0.

3. Simon, M., Strassburger, K., Nowotny, B., Kolb, H., Nowotny, P., Burkart, V., . . . Roden, M. (2015). Intake of Lactobacillus reuteri Improves Incretin and Insulin Secretion in Glucose-Tolerant Humans: A Proof of Concept. Diabetes Care,38(10), 1827-1834. doi:10.2337/dc14-2690

4. Kato-Kataoka, A., Nishida, K., Takada, M., Kawai, M., Kikuchi-Hayakawa, H., Suda, K., . . . Rokutan, K. (2016). Fermented milk containing Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota preserves the diversity of the gut microbiota and relieves abdominal dysfunction in healthy medical students exposed to academic stress. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 31;82(12) doi:10.1128/aem.04134-15

5. Chen, Y., Wei, L., Chiu, Y., Hsu, Y., Tsai, T., Wang, M., & Huang, C. (2016). Lactobacillus plantarum TWK10 Supplementation Improves Exercise Performance and Increases Muscle Mass in Mice. Nutrients, 8(4), 205. doi:10.3390/nu8040205

6. Liu, W., Chuang, H., Huang, Y., Wu, C., Chou, G., Wang, S., & Tsai, Y. (2016). Alteration of behavior and monoamine levels attributable to Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 in germ-free mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 298, 202-209.

7. Cheikhyoussef, A., Pogori, N., Chen, H., Tian, F., Chen, W., Tang, J., & Zhang, H. (2009). Antimicrobial activity and partial characterization of bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) produced by Bifidobacterium infantis BCRC 14602. Food Control, 20(6), 553-559.

8. Aagaard, K., Ma, J., Antony, K. M., Ganu, R., Petrosino, J., & Versalovic, J. (2014). The Placenta Harbors a Unique Microbiome. Science Translational Medicine, 6(237).

9. Pierro, F. D., Donato, G., Fomia, F., Adami, T., Careddu, D., C., & Albera, R. (2012). Preliminary pediatric clinical evaluation of the oral probiotic Streptococcus salivarius K12 in preventing recurrent pharyngitis and/or tonsillitis caused by Streptococcus pyogenes and recurrent acute otitis media. International Journal of General Medicine, 2012(5), 991-997.

10. Burton, J. P., Drummond, B. K., Chilcott, C. N., Tagg, J. R., Thomson, W. M., Hale, J. D., & Wescombe, P. A. (2013). Influence of the probiotic Streptococcus salivarius strain M18 on indices of dental health in children: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 62(Pt_6), 875-884.

11. Calame, W., Weseler, A. R., Viebke, C., Flynn, C., & Siemensma, A. D. (2008). Gum arabic establishes prebiotic functionality in healthy human volunteers in a dose-dependent manner. British Journal of Nutrition,100(06), 1269. doi:10.1017/s0007114508981447

12. Judy, W. V., Hari, S. P., Stogsdill, W., Judy, J. S., Naguib, Y. M., & Passwater, R. (2003). Antidiabetic activity of a standardized extract (Glucosol™) from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves in Type II diabetics. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 87(1), 115-117.

13. Iwasawa, H., Morita, E., Yui, S., Yamazaki, M. (2011). Anti-oxidant Effects of Kiwi Fruit in Vitro and In Vivo. Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 34(1).

14. Intlekofer, K.A., Berchtold, N.C., Malvaez, M., Carlos, A.J. . . . Cotman, C.W. (2013). Exercise and Sodium Butyrate Transform a Subthreshold Learning Event into Long-term Memory via a Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor-dependent Mechanism. Neuropsychopharmacology 38(10). doi: 10.1038/npp.2013.104

15. Spadafranca, A., Rinelli, S., Riva, A., Morazzoni, P., Magni, P., Bertoli, S., Battezzati, A. (2013). Phaseolus Vulgaris Extract Affects Glycometabolic and Appetite Control in Healthy Human Subjects. British Journal of Nutrition 109(10). doi: 10.1017/S0007114512003741

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Rachel Allen is a writer at Hyperbiotics who's absolutely obsessed with learning about how our bodies work. She's fascinated by the latest research on bacteria and the role they play in health, and loves to help others learn about how probiotics can help the body get back in balance. For more ideas on how you can benefit from the power of probiotics and live healthier days, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. To learn more about how a healthy microbiome can enrich your life, subscribe to our newsletter.