The Right Probiotics May Help You Lose Weight

8 years ago | Nutrition

By Joy Stephenson-Laws, JD, Founder

You’ve read it on the sides of yogurt containers, or maybe you’ve heard it from your doctor: probiotics or good bacteria are good for your gut. Now, research suggests that they may also help you maintain a healthy weight.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), “[t]he physiologic functions attributed to gut microbiota [gut flora] have extended to extraintestinal tissues, such as the liver, brain, and adipose tissue, constructing novel connections with obesity and related disorders including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Thus, it has the potential to modulate energy regulation as well as systemic inflammation and should be considered as a biological feature that plays a role in the pathophysiology of obesity.”

In a study comparing the effects of probiotics to a placebo, women who took probiotics for 12 weeks lost more weight compared to those who took the placebo. The study concluded that probiotics may help obese people sustain weight loss.

Another study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, that examined approximately 1,900 adults, suggests that consuming probiotics may reduce body mass index (BMI) and body weight. The biggest reduction was found in the BMI of overweight adults who participated in the study.

And there are many types of probiotic strains. Some may specifically help with weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight.

These strains include:

B. longum and L. acidophilus. May help with combating weight gain. A study published in the journal Obesity followed men who went on a diet high in calories and fat. One group drank milkshakes with a mix of B. longum and L. acidophilus probiotics, and one group had placebo milkshakes. The group who had probiotics in their shakes had lower body mass and fat gain than those who had the placebo. L. acidophilus can be found in the intestines and may also help when digesting lactose, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
L. rhamnosus. May help control unhealthy food cravings. In a study with mice conducted by the NIH, the mice were fed this strain and had reduced levels of the stress-induced corticosterone hormone. High levels of these stress-induced hormones have been associated with weight gain.
B. bifidum. May help the body use B-complex vitamins and vitamin K in the intestines, which help metabolize carbs and proteins, as well as maintain a healthy weight. This probiotic may be also good for treating diarrhea and relieving symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which include constipation, gas, bloating and cramping. As a result of its interaction with vitamin K, it may also help with blood clotting.

There are other studies about weight-beneficial probiotic strains you should have on your radar, and a great way to include them in your daily diet may be through UltraFlora Control by Metagenics.

So What is UltraFlora Control?

It’s a probiotic supplement that helps support body weight regulation with the help of Bifidobacterium lactis (B-420 strain). Your gut has more than 100 trillion individual bacteria in it, which is why it is important to get the right amount and type of probiotics and bacteria to make sure your body is balanced.

The B. lactis probiotic may help the body fight obesity and type 2 diabetes by strengthening a leaky gut, which is a predisposing factor for inflammation-associated diseases, according to research from NIH.

UltraFlora Control is also vegetarian, non-GMO and gluten free. Many probiotics haven’t been clinically shown to support human health, but Metagenics scientifically tests and researches strains so that only beneficial organisms are present in formulas. If you obtain probiotic supplements from your local grocery store shelves, they may not be scientifically tested or contain the recommended amount and type of probiotics that your body needs.

Note too that there are also probiotics to help support gastrointestinal & immune health, feminine health and children’s daily health.

You can get yourself tested to find out the specific type(s) of probiotics your body needs so you can function at your best.

Proactive Health Labs recently joined forces with Metagenics to help make sure that if you are going to supplement, you are doing it with products you can trust. You can visit http://phlabs.metagenics.com/store for products on joint support and pain. Get 20% off your first order and free shipping over $50. A percent of your purchase is a donation to help give everyone access to credible health information.

Enjoy your healthy life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.