Finding Effective Vegan Probiotics Supplements

By Lelia Hall


The importance of beneficial bacteria in the gut has become widely known as new studies confirm what ancient cultures knew about the value of fermented and cultured foods. However, most easily obtained foods and nutritional products in America are dairy-based. For those who avoid foods of animal origin, vegan probiotics supplements may be the answer.

The national Institutes of Health in the United States has recently begun an in-depth study of the different microbes found in the human intestinal tract. Many different kinds of bacterium have been identified, both beneficial and harmful. Bacterium like Faecalibacterium prausnitzii have been discovered, isolated, studied, and found to have significant benefits to the host.

Most of these organisms are found in the large intestine, where most of digestion occurs. Some beneficial microbes keep the lining of this organ strong, which prevents leakage of undigested food into the bloodstream. 'Leaky gut syndrome' is a major cause of allergic reactions to foods. Beneficial microbes boost the immune system by suppressing harmful organisms, such as yeasts, that cause health problems. The 'good guys' also produce by-products that reduce inflammation, the underlying cause of many ailments.

The nutritional world has long recognized the value of fermented and cultured foods, which are traditional foods in many cultures. Americans today love yogurt and kefir, but many commercial products include unhealthy things like high fructose corn syrup and sugar, which encourage the growth of yeasts at the expense of beneficial bacteria.

Acidophilus and Lactobacillus, two strains of bacterium familiar to many because they are found in conventional yogurt, are only two of many beneficial bacterium under investigation. Yogurt and kefir, of course, are off-limits to vegans. Lactobacillus can be found in vegetable foods like kimchi or green superfoods (spirulina, chorella, blue-green algae). This good microbe is also present in kombucha, the popular fermented tea.

Fermented soy foods are exceptionally rich in beneficial organisms, and these Asian foods are familiar to most vegans. Tempeh, Tamari and shoyu sauces, and the soup base called miso are valuable additions to the diet. The Asian diet also included pickled foods, as do other cultures. Sauerkraut is familiar to most of us.

Vegans don't consume foods derived from animals and prefer products that are free from any contact with animal foods, down to the colors and flavorings used in preparation. Home-made dishes are, of course, the easiest to control. However, it's now possible to find products made in dedicated facilities, where no animal foods are ever processed. This prevents cross-contamination.

People who know the value of eating right may still be too busy to cook at home or take food with them everywhere they go. This busyness also can translate into stress and a lack of physical exercise, both of which are bad for intestinal flora. For this reason, taking a probiotics supplement made specially for vegans makes a lot of sense. This is also a way to get high concentrations of one or more strains of bacteria found to promote health.




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