(Newswire.net — July 21, 2014) Barrington, RI — Most people, by now, are aware of the health benefits of taking a probiotic regardless of whether or not they experience digestive issues. Restoring healthy levels of good bacteria can support nutrient absorption, regularity, increased energy, and boosted immune systems. However, a problem for many vegans is that most probiotic supplements are dairy based or contain animal derivatives. Even more alarming is that some products labeled as vegetarian or vegan may actually contain hidden ingredients not suitable for vegans.
One of the first things to look for in a vegan probiotic supplement is the capsules that they use. Be careful to check and see if they use vegetarian cellulose capsules instead of gelatin capsules. Many gelatin capsules are made with animal derivatives such as cow hooves, beeswax, and more by products of slaughtered animals. Carefully check the ingredients list and make certain the product labeled as not only containing no animal derivatives but also as dairy-free.
Dairy is an inexpensive way for companies to feed and grow the bacterial colonies. The dairy is often removed during processing and there are minimal trace amounts in the final product. To ensure a company does not use this process look for products labeled dairy-free as they will have cultured the products using a different medium. Additionally, some probiotics use casein which is a milk protein and should be avoided by anyone who is vegan or has a dairy intolerance. Another ingredient to check for is magnesium stearate.
Magnesium stearate is an additive that many supplement companies use to prevent the products from sticking to the equipment. It exists in both animal and vegan versions but does not have to be included on supplement labels. More often than not it is sourced from beef but it can be derived from vegetarian sources. Look only for probiotics that are labeled free from magnesium stearate, use vegetable magnesium stearate, or certified organic. One last thing to consider when looking into vegan probiotic supplements is the amount of colony forming units (CFUs) it provides in each serving.
Once people are finally able to find a vegan supplement they are often disappointed to find it provides very few beneficial bacteria. Health experts usually recommend at least five billion CFU’s per daily serving for a healthy individual and that increases for people with digestive issues. Many vegan and dairy-free probiotic supplements do not reach this plateau and deliver significantly less than the recommended amounts.
There are many factors to consider when searching for a vegan probiotic supplement. Clearly, it is very important to carefully look at every ingredient on the nutrition label and even consider some that may not be listed. Finding the right vegan probiotic supplement can be an important addition to a healthy diet and lifestyle. One vegan probiotic supplement that contains twelve billion CFU’s per serving is Daily Pro Blend 12B from OpenDoors Nutrition.
Learn more about it and see their nutrition label by visiting their probiotics webstore on Amazon.
**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Sunfiber is a trademark of Taiyo International, Inc.
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