BioGaia Probiotic - Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis
Considered the world's best on the market - over 200 studies available - links provided soon
BioGaia Probiotic chewable tablets 30ct

What are probiotics?
Probiotics are defined as microorganisms that exert health benefits when taken in specific quantities. Most probiotic organisms are members of the Lactobacillus family, which are constituents of the normal intestinal flora in humans from an early age.

Before a bacterial strain can be regarded as a true probiotic, it must be reported in scientific literature and:

• There must be clear evidence of its health-enhancing properties
• It must be able to "colonize" the gastrointestinal tract, so it plays a governing role in the balance of microbes
• It must act like a "natural" antibiotic, inhibiting disease-causing microorganisms
• It must be safe to consume
• It must be amenable to commercial-level production
• It must not negatively affect other beneficial micro-organisms in the gut

Probiotic bacteria are an ever-present companion to man, either naturally inhabiting the mouth or the gut or being consumed in traditional food products worldwide. It is impossible to say when their benefits to humans were first “discovered”. However, we know that they have been used to preserve food such as salami, cheese, soy sauce and sauerkraut for hundreds, if not thousands of years.

In the early 20th century, research efforts into probiotics concentrated on the lactobacilli found in milk products such as Lactobacillus casei (the first probiotic strain isolated by the Japanese) and its western equivalent, Lactobacillus acidophilus. About twenty years ago, probiotics were given a scientific definition and work began to identify the characteristics of individual probiotic strains. Research has intensified since then and we now have scientific proof of the concrete health benefits of probiotics on immunity, gut and oral health.

What is Reuteri®?

Reuteri is a lactic acid bacterium, categorized as a probiotic thanks to the positive effect it has on human health

Where does it come from?
The commercial strain of Reuteri for human use called Lactobacillus reuteri Protectis or ATCC 55730, was isolated from the breast milk of a woman living in the Peruvian Andes – someone living in perfect harmony with nature.

What does it do?
Reuteri helps maintain a healthy balance of microflora in the intestine that hinders harmful microorganisms from multiplying. It therefore has a natural health-promoting role – it is scientifically proven to help protect us from ‘bad’ bacteria, to strengthen our immunity. Another strain L. reuteri Prodentis is used to balance the microflora in the oral cavity there by curing bleeding gums and reducing the amount of plaque on the teeth.

Why is Reuteri so special?
The fact that Reuteri occurs naturally in humans makes it a truly human probiotic. It is one of very few species of lactobacilli that is uniquely adapted to reside in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of man. Most species have their natural living environment outside the human body and are therefore just temporary residents derived from food.

Is it safe?
Safety studies into Reuteri have been conducted in healthy newborns, small children, adults and immuno-deficient adults over the past decade. In all these studies, Reuteri has proven free from side effects, even when given in doses widely exceeding the levels normally contained in Reuteri products. Almost one billion daily doses of Reuteri have been consumed all over the world since 1996, without any reported side effects.

Probiotic health benefits

To be healthy, everyone needs to have a balance of healthy microflora in his or her digestive tract. It is a little known fact that about 80% of our immune system is located in the tissues in and around the digestive tract. There, the 400-500 different kinds of microorganisms that constitute our normal flora defend us against harmful bacteria, preventing them from multiplying and causing disease.

In a perfect world, nobody would ever need to take probiotics. We would receive our first doses during birth and from our mothers’ milk, eat naturally fermented food products prepared slowly in traditional ways and live the “natural” life. Then perhaps we could afford to take our intestinal balance for granted!

However, living in a fast-paced industrialised world, the human intestine gets bombarded daily by allergens, chemicals and potentially harmful bacteria through our food and drink. In addition, sickness, certain kinds of medicine, changes in eating habits or plain old stress can upset the balance of our intestinal flora and give harmful bacteria an opportunity to thrive.

For this reason, probiotics play a fundamental role in human health and disease prevention. By taking probiotics, we can restore the body’s natural balance, boost our health and maintain our well being.

To date, research has shown positive health benefits of Reuteri in three main areas:

Gut health
Reuteri® combats harmful bacteria and improves gut health Extensive, well-controlled clinical studies show that Reuteri not only protects people from gastrointestinal infections but can also speed up recovery after an infection.

Immunity
Reuteri® boosts the immune system and reduces risk of common infections. In two recent studies on day care children and adults, L. reuteri Protectis showed convincing results on reducing the risk of acquiring common infections. Effects on the immune system involve the ability of Reuteri to recruit the so-called CD4 + T-cells, and these help stimulate the immune response, which is the body’s first line of defense against disease.

Oral health
Reuteri® improves oral health and reduces risk of dental cavities
Gum disease and tooth decay can both be dramatically reduced by the regular use of L. reuteri Prodentis.(chewing gum and lozenges available soon)

more information available soon!