You’ll find probiotics in Vega One® All-in-One Shake, Vega Sport® Protein, and Vega® Gut Health Protein Smoothie (found exclusively at Costco USA). Before we dive into more of the fine details about the probiotics you’ll find in our products, let’s talk about probiotics in general.
There are different sources and types/strains of probiotics
The most recent definition of probiotics is live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit to you.1
Probiotics can be consumed as supplements and foods, including fermented foods like sauerkraut, pickles, some cheeses, kimchi, wine, tempeh, miso and tamari.
There are many different types (or strains) of probiotics on the market.
No matter what strain or type of probiotic you are consuming, the most common unit of measurement for probiotics is colony-forming units (CFU). This is how many of the probiotics are viable, and able to divide and grow into colonies (a good thing!). Most research on probiotics is done on 1 to 20 billion CFUs2
Probiotics Have Health Benefits
However, more research needs to be done on how they actually work. Probiotics can help by supporting the healthy bacteria in your gut, if taken in adequate amounts. Preliminary research suggests they can help support your gastrointestinal tract.3
Choosing the Right Probiotic for You
When choosing the right probiotic for you, consider why you need it and how you will faithfully consume it. Researchers have found that the benefits of probiotics are very diversified, with each strain providing unique health benefits. No probiotic is beneficial if it’s simply going to sit in your medicine cabinet, pantry or fridge. When choosing a probiotic, consider the reason you’re taking it and work with a healthcare provider to find one that has been specifically studied and identified to help, and will fit in your lifestyle.
Probiotics in Vega® Products: Bacillus Coagulans
Bacillus coagulans is a dairy-free, spore-forming probiotic. You’ll find bacillus coagulans in:
- 1 billion CFU in a serving of Vega One® All-in-One Shake
- 1 billion CFU in a serving of Vega Sport® Protein
- 2 billion CFU in a serving of Vega® Gut Health Protein Smoothie
What is a Spore-Forming Probiotic?
Spore-forming probiotics, like bacillus coagulans, are strains that have the ability to form hard shells around the bacteria and protect them from harsh, environmental factors like hot temperatures and acidic environments.
Benefits of Bacillus Coagulans: Survives and Thrives in Harsh Environmental Conditions
Bacillus coagulans survives the varying changes in temperature during transportation, and storage (like sitting on your pantry shelf), and the acidic environment of the stomach, allowing them to enter and flourish in in your gut.
Enjoy any of our probiotic infused powders in your daily routine.
References:
[1] Hill C, et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2014;11:506-514. (published online 10 June 2014). http://www.nature.com/nrgastro/journal/v11/n8/pdf/nrgastro.2014.66.pdf
[2] . 2American Academy of Family Physicians. (2008). Probiotics. Accessed on 2/26/16 from: http://www.aafp.org/afp/2008/1101/p1073.html[/annotation]
[3] Parvez, S. [2006] Probiotics and their fermented food products are beneficial for health. Journal of Applied Microbiolgy. 100[6]: 1171-1185.Hill C, et al. The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics consensus statement on the scope and appropriate use of the term probiotic. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2014;11:506-514. (published online 10 June 2014). http://www.nature.com/nrgastro/journal/v11/n8/pdf/nrgastro.2014.66.pdf
