Choosing The Supplement With The Most Beneficial Probiotic Formula

Supplements are a good way to get all the vital nutrients your body needs. All too often we don't get these in our regular diet. We've all been there: increasing our physical activity while eating healthier by cutting out the processed junk food, sweets and soda; increasing our intake of fruits and vegetables; eating whole grains; less red meat; but we still feel like we are lacking something in our diet.

We realize we need to take a supplement, but how do we know which kind is best? Here are some things to look for when you choose a supplement:

*A good probiotic formula is important. Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that improve gastrointestinal health. They help reduce harmful bacteria, break down food and absorb nutrients.

*Probiotics help: stimulate immune response, control body weight, reduce risk to food-borne allergens, regenerate healthy bacteria during and after taking antibiotics, digest protein, and absorb nutrients.

*Some studies suggest probiotics fight certain illnesses and diseases including fatigue, acne, Cohn's disease, colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, yeast infections, diarrhea, and osteoporosis.

*Having enough probiotic per serving is very important as well. You need enough to do the job right.

*A supplement with more than four billion colony forming units (CFU) and three strains of probiotics should be enough to cover the entire digestive track.

*A supplement with a proper antioxidant formula is a must. Antioxidants slow the oxidative damage of our bodies. Or in other words it helps slow the aging process.

*Antioxidants find free-radicals and prevent them from harming our bodies. They are believed to help prevent aging and cancer.

*Make sure the supplement has a high oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), a rating established by the U.S. National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health.

A proper probiotic formula and a proper antioxidant formula seems like it would be important for everyone, but it can be especially important to athletes and other active people. Being physically active can cause increased occurrences of gastro-intestinal tract infections, like diarrhea or intestinal cramping. It also increases upper-respiratory tract infections (URTI), and other flu-like symptoms, such as sore throat, runny nose, chest congestion, and sneezing. This is because of the post exercise immunosuppression (PEIS) caused by intense training workouts.

So remember to choose a supplement with a proper probiotic formula with plenty of beneficial bacteria to help prevent upper and lower GI tract cramping and diarrhea. And don't forget about the proper antioxidant formula to help cleanse toxins from the body, while reintroducing vital nutrients back into the system.