Probiotics & Products to Support the Intestinal Flora
A healthy intestinal flora plays an important role in overall well-being. Billions of microorganisms live in the human gut and support essential functions such as digestion, nutrient absorption, and the immune system. When this delicate balance is disturbed, it can be helpful to support the gut microbiome with probiotics.
What Are Probiotics and What Are They Used For?
Probiotics are living microorganisms – usually specific bacterial strains or yeasts – which, when consumed in adequate amounts, may have beneficial effects on the intestinal flora. They are commonly used to stabilize or rebuild the natural balance of gut bacteria.
Typical situations in which probiotics may be used include:
- after antibiotic therapy, as antibiotics can also reduce beneficial gut bacteria
- for digestive complaints such as diarrhea or bloating
- to support the intestinal flora after gastrointestinal infections
- during travel or dietary changes
By supplying selected probiotic cultures, the natural balance of the gut microbiota can be supported.
Typical Ingredients in Probiotics
Probiotic products usually contain selected microorganisms whose properties have been well studied. Commonly used cultures include:
- Lactobacillus strains (e.g. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus)
- Bifidobacterium strains (e.g. Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum)
- Escherichia coli Nissle 1917
- Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast
Well-known pharmacy products include Mutaflor® (containing Escherichia coli Nissle 1917) and Perenterol® (containing the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii), which are used to support and stabilize the intestinal flora.
Many products also contain so-called prebiotics such as inulin, oligofructose, or fructooligosaccharides (FOS). These substances serve as nutrients for beneficial gut bacteria and can help promote their growth.
Live Cultures vs. Dried Cultures – What Is the Difference?
Probiotics can be produced in different forms.
Probiotics with live cultures
These products contain active, living microorganisms. To maintain their stability and effectiveness, some of these cultures must be stored under refrigerated conditions.
Probiotics with dried or freeze-dried cultures
In these products, the microorganisms are preserved through special processes. The cultures remain inactive until they reach the intestine, where they become active again. This makes such products generally more stable and easier to store.
Shipping Information for Refrigerated Probiotics
Some probiotics with live, refrigeration-required cultures must be transported under controlled temperature conditions. To ensure the quality and effectiveness of these sensitive products, shipping is carried out exclusively via express delivery.
The express shipping costs are:
- €25 for all EU countries
- €18 for deliveries to the Netherlands
This ensures that temperature-sensitive probiotic products arrive quickly and under optimal conditions.
