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Probiotics for Men

Probiotics for Men's Health
What strains of probiotics have been proven to be good for men?
According to doctor K.T. Park, who is a gastroenterologist at Stanford University School of medicine, the
strength an evidence is not sufficient for healthy individuals, without any medical problems or digestive
issues to start investing in daily probiotics. This is because most supplements provide only a particular
strain while your body needs and houses hundreds of them. In order to find the right strain of probiotic
for your gut is a bit a jargon/ crapshoot.

If you take the uncoated capsule of the probiotic, chances are that your acid is likely to kill quite a
number of them before they are able to do the intended function. “Unless it is encapsulated and
designed for delayed release, the average probiotic won’t survive long in your body”, note Dr. Burton,
who is the deputy director of Canadian Center for Human Micro biome and Probiotics. Supportive study
shows that only about 10 to 25% of uncoated strains survive once swallowed.

In order to aid the gut, microorganisms must be alive when consumed. However, many found in
probiotic supplements have been reported dead. Consumer Lab reports that roughly half of the
organisms initially put in a product are dead by the time they find themselves into the store shelves.
Science based research points out that naturally occurring probiotics are of great benefit for your
microbiome. You should however ensure that you consume them in whole foods- yoghurts, sauerkraut,
kimchi, which are loaded with billions of colony forming units.

Instead of expensive supplements, spend that money on plant based diet that includes fermented foods.
That will give your gut bacteria enough fiber to create a healthy biome” further advises Dr. Park.
Similarly, look out for refrigerated bottles of lactobacillus and biffidobacterium containing at least 20
billion organisms per pill, refrigerate the pills and take them with meals. 1
How do they aid in weight loss?
It has been shown that certain probiotics have the ability to inhibit the absorption of fat in the diet and
then increase amount of it that is excreted in feces. In other words, they help you harvest fewer calories
from foods in the diet that you take. The bacteria in the family of lactobacillus have been found to have
this functionality.

There are similarly other ways that probiotics can help fight obesity and then in return help to cut down
your weight to some extent. The ways include the following:
 They release GLP-1: they may help to release the satiety i.e. appetite reducing hormone.
Increased levels of this hormones can help you burn more calories.
 Similarly, they help increase levels of ANGPTL4; which is a protein that may to a great extent
lead to decreased fat storage
With regards to obesity, probiotics can also improve gut health and in return reduce systemic
inflammation and protect against obesity and other diseases. This is because from evidence, it has been
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http://www.mensjournal.com/health-fitness/articles/the-truth-about-probiotics-w437786
shown that obesity leads to inflammation in the brain. The probiotics therefore reduce the number of
calories that you take in as well as affecting the hormones and proteins related to appetite and fat
storage.

In some other studies, eating yoghurt with Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus amillovorus has
been shown to reduce body fat by about 3 to 4 percent in a period of about 6 weeks. The bottom-line is
that some specific strains of probiotics have been shown to weight gain and belly fat. Lactobacillus
gasseri appears to be the most effective of all the strains.

A study published in the "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in June 2010 found that drinking about
7 ounces per day of fermented milk containing a type of probiotic called Lactobacillus gasseri may help
with weight loss and decreasing abdominal fat. On the other hand, another study, published in the
"British Journal of Nutrition" in April 2014, found that supplements of another probiotic, Lactobacillus
rhamnosus, appear to help obese women lose weight and body fat when combined with a reduced-
calorie diet. The women receiving the supplements lost about twice as much weight over the two-year
study period as women who followed the same diet without taking the supplements. 2

How helpful are they for men over 50?

Probiotics are known to boost and keep your bones strong. Men loose bone mass after 50 years. You
may benefit from supplemental calcium and probiotics in diet. Some study published in the Journal of
Cellular Physiology found a connection between probiotic supplement and increased bone density in
male mice. Researchers have also come to a conclusion that probiotics may help to treat osteoporosis in
the future, apart from just aiding in digestive health.

Some research done in the recent past has shown that around age 60, there is a significant drop in the
number of bacteria in your gut. According to Dr. Sandra McFarlane, who is from the microbiology and
gut biology group at the University of Dundee, people over 60 typically have about 1,000-fold less
"friendly" bacteria in their guts compared to younger adults, and increased levels of disease-causing
microbes , making them more susceptible to gastrointestinal infections and bowel conditions like
Inflammatory bowel disease.

As you age, your cellular immunity in addition also declines. These are the white cells that are absolutely
critical to your ability to fight infection and life-threatening diseases such as cancer. A nine-week long
New Zealand study of seniors between the ages of 63 and 84 found that consumption of the probiotic
strain known as Biffidobacterium lactis resulted in increases in both the number and disease-fighting
capacity of white cells. In fact, the greatest improvement was seen in seniors with the worst immune
system responses prior to the study.

Recent research shows micro-flora in seniors living in long-term care facilities is less diverse, and
significantly correlates with measures of frailty, co-morbidity, markers of inflammation and other factors
that contribute to aging and death. According to the researchers, seniors may need certain dietary
supplements to improve their microbial health
2
http://www.livestrong.com/article/535031-does-taking-probiotics-help-to-reduce-weight/
On the other hand, people over 60 can have as much as 1,000-fold less "friendly" bacteria in their guts
compared to younger adults, and increased levels of disease-causing microbes. The best way to ensure
optimal gut flora is to regularly consume traditionally fermented or cultured foods and avoid sugar and
processed foods.3
Do they help male yeast infection?
Truly, they are very beneficial when it comes to helping out in yeast infections. You can take them in the
form of foods or supplements. Yeast overgrowths may appear in or even outside the mouth on areas
like the mouth, vagina or even under flaps of the skin. They may present symptoms like vaginal
discharge, pus, odor, diarrhea and white tongue or even white spots on the mouth.

The remedy of probiotics for yeast infection can be done using the stepwise approach. The first step is
to take the probiotics as or in foods. Probiotic foods may include yoghurt, cheese, buttermilk, and
sauerkraut and soy milk. Some of the food companies include friendly bacteria in their products like
nutrition bars, cereals and fruit juices. Always buy foods that contain active cultures.

The second step, consume pre-biotic. They may not contain healthy bacteria, but they help probiotic
foods to work. Some of the pre-biotic foods include honey, barley, flax, legumes, wheat and bananas.
According to Mayo Clinic, taking 2 to 3 grams of pre-biotic foods a day, although there are not any
specific guidelines established for daily intake of pre-biotic.

The next step is to take the probiotic foods in the form of capsules, tablets available as over the counter
medications. The recommendation of Maryland Medical Center or UMMC is that taking probiotics
capsule or tablets can have around 1 to 2 billion live cultures each day until the yeast infection clears up.

Further to that, you can take probiotics in powder form. Ensure that you combine ¼ tea spoon of
probiotic powder and 8 ounces of water in a glass. Afterwards, stir and mix then use a mouthwash for
thrush, an oral yeast infection.

Probiotics may cause some side effects that include diarrhea and gas. The symptoms are however likely
to clear up with continuous use. People with weak immune systems might not be able to tolerate
probiotics well. Ensure that you always talk to your doctor before the use of any probiotic. This is
because a yeast infection could be an indication of a more serious and deadly condition.

Always avoid consumption of sugary foods while on probiotics, at least until your yeast infection has
completely cleared up. The reason behind this is that yeast feed on sugar and therefore more sugar
could mean more overgrowth.4

Choosing the Best Probiotics for Men

 What should you consider when buying or selecting?
According to WebMD, each supplement with probiotics has its own benefits and so, the best thing to
always do is to talk with your doctor first. All the same, you should consider the following things in order
to make the best decision in terms of the best probiotic for you:
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http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/08/01/probiotics-for-optimal-gut-flora.aspx
4
http://www.livestrong.com/article/367038-how-to-treat-yeast-infections-with-probiotics/
The first thing to do is to read what is indicated on the label. If you have bought a yoghurt or a dairy
product, it important that you make sure it contains live cultures. Not all yoghurts and dairy products
have active and live cultures. The FDA regulates the manufacture and processing of these products. T is
however regulated as foods and not medications. The firms that do the manufacturing are therefore
responsible for ensuring that the labeling is in tandem with the guidelines of FDA. The things below
should be indicated on the label for you to approve the authenticity of a particular probiotic:
 The genus, species and strain of the probiotic e.g. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG
 The number of organisms that will be alive by the use by date
 The dose
 The company name and contact information
The brands differ from one to the other but the above appear across all the authentic and quality
assured products. If any of the information is missing, then it would be god that you check up more
information from the company’s website.

The second thing to do is to choose a known and reliable brand. Some companies might have made
probiotics and sold for some time. This therefore gives you confidence about the reliability of their
products. Those who have made for some time are likely to have their products tested and verified over
and over.

Apart from that, check whether the probiotic is vegan friendly. This might be based on personal
preference but it is a good consideration to have it factored in. many supplements of probiotic
supplements are coated in gelatin capsules. It is good to go for the ones coated in vegetarian capsules.

In addition, you could also check whether the probiotic has some pre-biotics in it. The cultures in
probiotics will also need an environment that enables them to thrive. The pre-biotics therefore provide
thee live cultures with an environment for growth and thriving of the live cultures. 5

The other factor to put into consideration is the product delivery system and packaging. It is important
because it will not matter which product you select if its delivery system does not work. Delivery system
refers to the way in which the product is created and how the form enables the bacteria to remain alive
and healthy while still on the shelves, and to reach the areas of the body where they will be most
effective. The purchase of a supplement that contains many dead bacteria or bacteria that will die in the
presence of stomach acid is a waste of money.

The indication of an expiration date on the package is also key. The indication of an expiration date on
thee probiotic is an indicator, promise and commitment by the manufacturer that the product will
remain with live and active and potent bacteria until the indicated date. If you are not able to trace the
indication of an expiry date on the probiotic, then raise concerns because you are likely to buy a poison
rather than an intended beneficial product.

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http://www.drdavidwilliams.com/how-to-choose-the-best-probiotic-supplement/
Finally, always check whether there is money back guarantee. This is because, companies that have
great trust in their products, are likely to stand by them.
Top rated probiotic Supplements for men
The following table gives a summary6
Probiotic Brief Description of key Ingredients CFU Price
Name/Brand key/features/Strength ( colony range
s etc. forming
units)

1. Optimal It is an easy way to get  Sodium 20mg 2 billions $ 17.99

Solutions the digestive and  Lactobacillus to $
Controlle intestinal support that plantarum 19.29
d Delivery you require. The  Lactobacillus
regular enteric coating acidophilus
protects the probiotics  Lactobacillus
from stomach acid. It fermentum
works different from  Lactobacillus
enteric coating but rhamnosus
delivers the probiotics  Bifidobacterium
continuously. longum
 Vegetable cellulose
 Pectin
 Sodium carbonate
 Milk ingredients
2. Garden of The statistics about this  Lactobacillus 50 billion $ 32.42l
life raw product are amazing. It acidophilus
probiotic has a huge CFU count  Bifidobacteria
colon care with many strains of
about 33 types of
bacteria. It promotes
regular healthy and
comfortable
movements. Also
maintains a healthy
balance of the
beneficial bacteria in
the colon.
3. Mega It comes with pre-  Bifidobacterium lactis 20 billions $ 45.19
food flora biotics like beet,  Lactobacillus
burdock and dandelion acidophilus
root, farm fresh ginger,  Lactobacillus casei
turmeric and  Lactobacillus
cranberry. It supports plantarum
intestinal health, bowel  Lactobacillus
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http://www.reviews.com/probiotic-supplement/
 regularity and rhamnosus
immunity.  Lactobacillus
salivarius
 Lactobacillus
salivarius
 Lactobacillus gasseri

4. Custom It is a multi-strain of  L. acidophilus 260 billion $ 115

probiotic Acidophilus and bifidus  L. rhamnosus
powder dietary supplement. it  L. salivarius
is favored for people  L. casei
with the GAPS diet  L. plantarum
 L. lactis B. breve
 B. infantis
 B.bifidum
 B. lactis
 B. longum

5. Ultimate They are enteric coated  L. acidophilus 30 billion $ 18

Flora to be easy to on the  L. rhamnosus
Extra care stomach. It has no  B. bifidus
probiotics yeast, wheat, corn or  B. lactis
salt, binders, filters or
artificial ingredients
6. VSL#3 They are transported in  Lactobacillus 450 billion $ 55.78
temperature controlled acidophilus
packages to preserve  Bifidobacteria
the potency
7. Multi- Contains many types  L. salivarius 10 billion $ 23.99
strain different species of  L. casei
probiotic probiotic bacteria. It  L. plantarum
helps to restore the  L. lactis B. breve
natural diversity of  B. infantis
your gut
8. Mega- It is delivered together 20 billion $ 45.19
Flora with prebiotics that
probiotics help to nourish the
probiotics. It is packed
with fresh farm
products and therefore
can be trusted with the
gut.
9. Bio- Kult It is gluten free. The  Contains 14 strains of 15 billion $ 37.27
Advanced beneficial bacteria are probiotics
probiotic protected during the  May contain soy and
 freeze drying process milk
and this means that
they are safe from the
harsh acid of the
stomach.

10. Garden of It includes the clinically  Lactobacillus 100 billion $ 35.25-

life studied replenish blend acidophilus $37
probiotic making your ultimate  Bifidobacteria
contemporary
probiotic to achieve
balance thus helping to
repopulate your
gastrointestinal tract
with good bacteria.
Possible Probiotics Side Effects in Kids