The ABC’s of Probiotics: Your Gut is like a Garden

A diverse and robust microbiome is critical to our overall health and immune function.

Since 70% of the immune system resides in the gut, eating a diet high in fiber (vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds) and adding the right probiotics helps support that gut diversity.

In my book, Healthy Kids, Happy Moms, I use a gardening analogy to make the gut microbiome easy to understand. A gardener wants nutrient-rich soil and uses clean water to encourage green, healthy plants to grow and thrive.

A healthy gut microbiome helps us bounce back more quickly after being exposed to a virus or bacteria, just like a healthy plant can withstand an occasional dry spell.

How do we cultivate our healthy gut microbiome “garden”?

The path to good health is so much more than just giving a child (or adult) a single nutrient or probiotic as a supplement.

However, strategic supplementation (plus nutritional changes) is a key aspect in reestablishing normal GI function–this includes proper stomach acid, gut motility (the movement of food from the mouth to the anus), and proper gallbladder and pancreatic function.

The first step toward creating a healthy gut microbiome in my strategic supplement strategy is to add a daily probiotic.

Think of the probiotic plus high-fiber foods (fruits, vegetables, and other plant-based foods) like the fertilizer in your garden.

The ABCs of Probiotics

Keeping with our school theme, let’s break down the ABCs of probiotics–meaning a powerful sequence of different strains of probiotics you can take in a particular order.

We recommend rotating through these probiotics every 2-4 months to continue to expose the gut to new strains of bacteria and to support gut microbiome diversity.

“A” – HKHM Plantadophilus

The HKHM Plantadophilus is best for those just starting out on a probiotic because it is a gentle yet robust, single strain (L. plantarum).

It helps to balance the pH in the gut and has anti-yeast properties without any of the FOS, which can cause bloating in a sensitive gut.

HKHM Plantadophilus is best in class for:

• Digestive health
• Gut barrier function
• Immune response
• Anti-inflammatory
• Best “starter” probiotic

Probiotic Strain & Benefits

• Lactobacillus plantarum: Competes against specific strains of harmful bacteria and helps boost the immune system by activating Th1-mediated immunity.^1,2 (This strain is also found in HKHM Biome Protect.)

“B” – HKHM Biome Protect

If you’ve been taking the HKHM Plantadophilus for a while, it might be time to “graduate” to HKHM Biome Protect.

HKHM Biome Protect is a multi-strain probiotic that is strong yet gentle.

It’s great to use when taking an antibiotic and it does not need to be refrigerated (making it easy to travel with).

HKHM Biome Protect is best in class for:

• Eczema (for infants who are off dairy and/or moms who have a family history of eczema and take it in their third trimester of pregnancy)
• Antibiotic-associated diarrhea
• Managing environmental allergens

Probiotic Strains & Benefits

• Lactobacillus acidophilus: Processes various carbohydrates to produce lactic acid, thereby increasing the absorption and bioavailability of minerals; lactic acid creates an inhospitable condition for bad bacteria to survive.³
• Lactobacillus paracasei: Helps to maintain the balance of microflora in the intestine; produces short-chain fatty acids, which are critical for a healthy intestinal barrier (creating a “healthy gut” vs a “leaky gut”).⁴
• Bifidobacterium bifidum: Counteracts harmful bacteria to help maintain a balanced microflora.⁵
• Bifidobacterium lactis: Promotes a balanced immune response in individuals sensitive to environmental allergens (as found in a placebo-controlled trial).⁶
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus: Shown to positively influence the inflammatory and immune signaling of over 1,700 genes when administered in high doses.¹
• Saccharomyces boulardii: Helps with antibiotic-associated diarrhea; creates a line of defense that helps capture and eliminate harmful bacteria.⁷

“C” – HKHM SporeBiotic

Our “advanced course” of probiotics is the HKHM SporeBiotic, which is another multi-strain probiotic.

It’s a spore-based probiotic that regulates the immune system, helps with digestion and absorption of nutrients, and reduces inflammation. (And similar to HKHM Biome Protect, it also does not need to be refrigerated.)

HKHM SporeBiotic is best in class for:

• Bloating, gas, abdominal pain
• Gastrointestinal issues (IBS, lactose intolerance, leaky gut)
• Preventing and fighting off infections

Probiotic Strains & Benefits

• Bacillus clausii: Prevents and reduces the severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea; restores good gut microflora after infections or antibiotic use; relieves symptoms like bloating, gas, and abdominal discomfort.⁸
• Bacillus coagulans (MTCC5856): May help with the digestion of lactose and reduce symptoms of lactose intolerance; reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).⁹
• Bacillus coagulans (SNZ1969): Enhances immunity by bolstering the body’s natural defenses, which may help reduce infections and also reduces gastrointestinal discomfort such as bloating and constipation.¹⁰
• Bacillus subtilis (HU58): Antimicrobial functions that may help to prevent infections, reduce antibiotic-associated diarrhea, prevent leaky gut, and reduce inflammation.¹¹
• Bacillus subtilis (HS43): Supports the integrity of the gut lining (preventing leaky gut and reducing systemic inflammation).¹²

Probiotics play a significant role in why we get such good results with the kids in our practice who are suffering from recurrent or chronic illnesses such as eczema and asthma.

Skin improvements with one of our young patients afteradding in a probiotic!

The family had made nutritional changes before coming to see us.

If you would like to see if your child is a good fit for our practice, you may schedule a 15-minute information call with our Patient Care Coordinator.

References:

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1. Chytilová M, Mudroňová D, Nemcová R, Gancarčíková S, Buleca V, Koščová J, Tkáčiková L. Anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects of flax-seed oil and Lactobacillus plantarum – Biocenol™ LP96 in gnotobiotic pigs challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Res Vet Sci. 2013 Aug;95(1):103-9. 10.
2. Evard B, Coudeyras S, Dosgilbert A, Charbonnel N, Alamé J, Tridon A, Forestier C. Dose-dependent immunomodulation of human dendritic cells by the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus Lcr35. PLoS ONE. 2011 Apr 18;6(4):e18735.
3. Lipski E. Digestive Wellness. New Canaan (CT): Keats Publishing; 1996. p. 60-61.
4. Barko PC, McMichael MA, Swanson KS, Williams DA. The Gastrointestinal Microbiome: A Review. J Vet Intern Med. 2018 Jan;32(1):9-25. doi: 10.1111/jvim.14875. Epub 2017 Nov 24. PMID: 29171095; PMCID: PMC5787212.
5. Singh A, Hacini-Rachinel F, Gosoniu ML, Bourdeau T, Holvoet S, Doucet-Ladeveze R, Beaumont M, Mercenier A, Nutten S. Immune-modulatory effect of probiotic Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 in individuals suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis to grass pollen: an exploratory, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nut. 2013 Feb;67(2):161-7.
6. Lewis MC, Patel DV, Fowler J, Duncker S, Zuercher AW, Mercenier A, Bailey M. Dietary supplementation with Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 from weaning reduces local immunoglobulin production in lymphoid-associated tissues but increases systemic antibodies in healthy neonates. Br J Nutr. 2013 Oct;110(7):1243-52.
7. Rodrigues AC, Cara DC, Fretez SH, Cunha FQ, Vieira EC, Nicoli JR, Vieira LQ. Saccharomyces boulardii stimulates sIgA production and the phagocytic system of gnotobiotic mice. J Appl Microbiol. 2000 Sep;89(3):404-14.
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9. Gupta AK, Maity C. Efficacy and safety of Bacillus coagulans LBSC in irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, interventional, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study [CONSORT Compliant]. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Jan 22;100(3):e23641. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000023641. PMID: 33545934; PMCID: PMC7837859.
10. Kang S, Park MY, Brooks I, Lee J, Kim SH, Kim JY, Oh B, Kim JW, Kwon O. Spore-forming Bacillus coagulans SNZ 1969 improved intestinal motility and constipation perception mediated by microbial alterations in healthy adults with mild intermittent constipation: A randomized controlled trial. Food Res Int. 2021 Aug;146:110428. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110428. Epub 2021 May 19. PMID: 34119240.
11. Catinean A, Sida A, Silvestru C, Balan GG. Ongoing Treatment with a Spore-Based Probiotic Containing Five Strains of Bacillus Improves Outcomes of Mild COVID-19. Nutrients. 2023 Jan 17;15(3):488. doi: 10.3390/nu15030488. PMID: 36771194; PMCID: PMC9920365.
12. Freedman KE, Hill JL, Wei Y, Vazquez AR, Grubb DS, Trotter RE, Wrigley SD, Johnson SA, Foster MT, Weir TL. Examining the Gastrointestinal and Immunomodulatory Effects of the Novel Probiotic Bacillus subtilis DE111. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Feb 28;22(5):2453. doi: 10.3390/ijms22052453. PMID: 33671071; PMCID: PMC7957723.