(Newswire.net — August 1, 2014) — Probiotic supplements are everywhere and they all promise to solve a person’s gastrointestinal health or some other ailment. While a lot of studies have proven that probiotics can help a person with gas, bloating, constipation, or other intestinal discomfort if a person hasn’t carefully checked their supplement’s label they may not be fully benefiting from it. The FDA regulates dietary supplements only for their safety and not for their efficacy. As a result, some supplements on the marketplace can be misleading with their labeled ingredients and health claims. People may want to look more closely at their supplement labels before purchasing, or continuing to take one, for the following common misrepresentations.
One of the most frequent and confusing labeling practices on the marketplace is regarding the CFU (Colony Forming Units) count of probiotic strains. Some companies are listing the amount of viable bacteria at time of manufacturing, while others list the expected delivered amount. People receive zero benefit from probiotic supplements if the bacteria arrives dead and the CFU counts listed should be for the viable amount of probiotics at the time of expiration. Consumers should check the company’s website to see if they submit their products for independent testing from a third party laboratory. Top-quality companies test their probiotics at many stages, both internally and via independent labs. Also, a product label should include an expiration date to let buyers know how long the probiotics are viable for. Furthermore, there are more ingredients in a probiotic supplement than just the good bacterial strains.
Most supplement companies add fillers and anti-adherents into their capsules for no other reason then to speed up the manufacturing process. One of the most common ingredients added is magnesium stearate which is used as a lubricant to prevent tablet and capsule contents from sticking to the machinery during production. This ingredient alone may cause possible harm to the intestines and even prevent the proper absorption of nutrients. Although it is generally considered safe for human consumptions it is something consumers should be aware is in a product they are ingesting. Look for probiotic labels that state the product is magnesium stearate free or there is a good chance it isn’t. There are a few other things consumers should be aware of before purchasing a probiotic supplement also.
First, surprisingly probiotic strains or other label literature is misspelled more often than a person would imagine. This does not mean that the product is of low quality but it would raise concerns about the company’s attention to detail and lower a buyer’s confidence in them. Secondly, be wary of probiotics with aggressive claims. Probiotic supplements are not allowed to make claims to prevent, treat, or cure any disease or condition. However, a quality probiotic supplement may be able to help a person replenish their body’s good bacteria and support their digestive and immune health.
In conclusion, labels are expected to meet the FDA standard of being truthful and not misleading but they are not regulated vigorously so some misbranded products exist. Consumers who don’t do their homework with probiotics might not get what they want or what they are paying for. People should shop based on quality rather than price alone or they may find out they are just wasting their money. As a reminder, consumers can also help enhance the life of any probiotic supplement they purchase by protecting their supply from heat, moisture, and air.
People interested in supporting their digestive issues may be able to get the recommended ten billion CFUs from food alone. However, if a person sees minimal or no improvement they most likely would benefit from adding a probiotic supplement to their diet. Many experts recommend that people use them for a minimum of two weeks to reap the full benefits. One magnesium stearate free, lab strain tested, and quality probiotic supplement is OpenDoors Nutrition’s Daily Pro Blend 12B.
Watch this informative video on probiotic supplements to see how they work to benefit health and digestion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBxvvuAN6ok
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any products listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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