There are all sorts of supplements on the market and some get more press than others. Probiotics are one of the ones that we hear about a lot.
I have been taking probiotics for the past few years now-not all from the same brand and with the same contents. This is due to my chronic stomach problems that need to be fixed.
Recently, I have begun taking probiotics by a brand called, Align Probiotics. In this post, I wanted to discuss and give my review of them.
First, the what and why of probiotics
Probiotics are types of bacteria that are said to help instead of harm. People who have not paid attention to probiotics might be surprised to hear that there is such a thing as, “good bacteria.”
Antibiotics are given to kill off bad bacteria due to some illnesses. While that can be a beneficial thing, they also end up killing off the good bacteria that we need. This is where probiotics can come in to help.
There are many different strains of probiotics and researchers have found that certain ones may help certain ailments. For example, one of the strains (called lactobacillus acidophilus) is said assist in vaginal health. Other things probiotics show some evidence for treating include IBS, acne, tooth decay, allergies, C.Diff, constipation, UTIs and our immune systems.
Probiotics can be found in different foods (examples include pickles, yogurt, and sauerkraut), supplement form by a variety of brands and in beauty products.
Align Probiotic 24/7 Digestive Support Capsules
Align Probiotic is a supplement brand focused on helping consumers with digestion issues. Their probiotic products come in capsule, chewable, gummy, liquid drop (for infants) and powdered drink form.
Some of the products have different strains of bacteria in them. Their 24/7 Digestive Support supplement option contains a strain called, Bifidobacterium 35624. The brand is said to be the only one on the market that has that particular one in it.
Bifidobacterium 35624 has been studied as being effective for the treatment of IBS and other GI discomforts. The capsules are small and come in blister packs. They are to be taken once per day and do not need to be refrigerated (some other probiotic supplements need to be).
For a box of 63 capsules, the cost is around $40.
My review of the product
I have been suffering from stomach issues for about five years now (I will do another post about that). The issues have occurred multiple times a month. There have been some months where I only have had five good days. The symptoms include intense upper abdominal cramping, bloating and nausea.
Not fun!
I had been taking different probiotic supplements for a couple years prior and they did not seem to help that much. One day in early January, I decided to look up the top-rated probiotics on the market. This was when I came across the Align Probiotics 24/7 Digestive Support.
The positive reviews on this product made me buy it right away. The fact that people were saying that they had a reduction in their own stomach “flare-ups” was really enticing to me.
I began taking them right after they came in the mail knowing that it would probably take a while to make any difference (if it was going to at all).
After starting my “journey” with the new probiotics, I decided to document how my stomach was feeling each day as well as my emotional state and what I had to eat. This was important to me so that I could eventually look back on things to figure out if they are helping me or not.
At the time of making this post, I can honestly say that this product has helped me already. Looking at my documentation, there has been a clear reduction in the amount and severity of “flare-ups” in the past three months. I have only had one and it lasted for two days!
The nausea that I get the day before and the day of my period do not count for this because that is caused by hormones. I do not think probiotics can help hormonal related issues.
In terms of price, these probiotics are not cheap. They are totally worth it to me though and I plan on buying them indefinitely.
Probiotics can be a good choice
There are always going to be conflicting reports on whether supplements are good to take. In my opinion, probiotics show a lot of evidence (both scientific and anecdotal) that they can be beneficial.
If you have gut issues and/or you want to possibly boost your immune system, you might want to try a probiotic supplement. It is important to do your research to find the one that is right for you.
Do any of you guys take probiotics? What has been your experience with them?
Thanks for reading!
Some sources-
https://www.pharmaca.com/projectwellness/snapshot-different-probiotic-species-and-strains/#comments
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/probiotics-what-you-need-to-know
Affiliate Disclaimer: Some of the links on my blog may be affiliate links. This means that I get a commission on the things that you click and purchase.
Medical Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. I am not a substitute for medical advice. I am simply just providing information that I have learned from all of the reading I do. It is best to contact your doctor before adding something to your diet. Your health is your own and I am not responsible for any negative results that come from your choices.
December 2021 update: I go back and forth from this Align to BeeYoutuful’s Tummy Tuneup probiotic product. This still works really well for me. I also added in some of Bulk Supplements’ L-Glutamic Acid which seems to also be helping.
#probiotics #immunesystem #gut #digestion #supplements #alignprobiotics #health
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