Are all probiotics created equal? We find out in today’s episode with returning guest, Tina Andersen. Formerly an attorney working in the pharmaceutical field for 15 years, Tina found herself becoming more and more disillusioned with the pharmaceutical industry. After seeing the overprescribing of medications, the terrible side effects people were experiencing, and the amount of money being made keeping people sick, Tina realized she had to make a change. At the same time, she found herself living an increasingly holistic lifestyle. She and her husband, Billy were avoiding antibiotics for both themselves and their three children, eliminating over-the-counter medications, living an active lifestyle, and eating more whole, real foods. Tina realized that the old adage was true, “All disease begins in the gut.” Every time we eat or drink or expose ourselves to chemicals, toxins and hormones, we are either feeding disease or fighting it! With her newfound knowledge, Tina went on a mission to help others heal their guts holistically and choose probiotics over pharmaceuticals.   She learned quickly that in order to rebalance your gut, you need to take a daily probiotic that actually works, meaning the friendly bacteria (probiotics) win out the every day battle over the bad bacteria - AND actually stay alive once it hits your gut, (not just in the fridge.) What Tina discovered was that the majority of probiotics on the market simply aren’t working, they are not natural, and they are not alive. Tina and Billy worked closely with Dr. Simon Cutting, a world-renowned probiotic expert at London University Royal Holloway, to gain access to the most widely studied and used probiotic strains in the world. That's when Just Thrive Probiotic & Antioxidant was born!   Think of your gut like a garden. When you add Just Thrive® Probiotic, you’re enabling your gut to bloom into a beautiful garden of good, healthy bacteria! These probiotic strains go in like little gardeners, removing the weeds (bad bacteria and pathogens) and actively manage the soil by fertilizing it with potent and necessary antioxidants. In the end, you have a beautiful, healthy garden of gut health that makes the rest of your body happy, from the inside out.   Tune in to learn:  [5:25] The importance of gut health and the roles of good and bad bacteria   [12:08] The truth about hand sanitizer   [19:10] Eating soil?! Find out how spore-based probiotics can significantly enhance your immune system!   [24:20] Antioxidants, probiotics, prebiotics… What are they and how do they help our gut health? How much do we actually need every day?   [30:37] The probiotic that WORKS: Why is Thrive Health so different and what makes spore-based probiotic so important   [32:40] OMG! How spore-based probiotics saved a marriage!   [37:10] Your little fluffy ones are vulnerable too! Learn how to heal your pets’ gut from the inside out!   [40:26]  Tina’s other gut-supporting products, such as IgG (Immunoglobulin G) and Gut 4-tify   [45:05] Promoting people and brands that make a difference in the world   Go to www.JustThriveHealth.com to get to know Tina and her innovative health products. Follow her on Instagram @JustThriveHealth.   Quotables: “We have got to start not being so fearful or stressed out in order to protect our gut microbiome and therefore, protect our immune system.” – Tina Andersen   “To be a good probiotic it needs to be alive. The thing is, it doesn’t need to be alive in the refrigerator or at the health food store. It needs to be alive when it’s in your intestines.” – Tina Andersen   “It’s hard to find any disease that’s not associated with an imbalanced gut. And so, people may go to the product because they have gas or are bloated. But the side effects may include more energy, better weight management, better mood...” – Tina Andersen   “We will only bring products that are missing and needed in the market.” – Tina Andersen   Thank you to our sponsors!