Gut health is one of the most talked about areas in health, but also one of the most misunderstood.
There is a tendency to think more is better. More strains, higher CFU counts, more complexity. From working in this space, that is not always helpful.
Everyone’s gut is different. Some people are dealing with low diversity, others with overgrowth. Adding large amounts of multiple strains without understanding what is going on can sometimes make symptoms worse.
We wanted to simplify it.
What we wanted to change
A lot of probiotics on the market include:
- 10 to 20 different strains
- Very high CFU counts
- Little consideration for whether the bacteria actually survive digestion
One of the biggest issues is survival.
Most bacteria do not make it through the digestive tract. They are exposed to stomach acid, digestive enzymes and bile, which can destroy a large proportion before they even reach the gut.
That is why you often see products with 20 to 30 billion CFU. They are accounting for loss along the way, hoping that enough survives to have an effect.
We wanted to approach this differently.
What is in it and why it matters
Lactospore® (spore forming bacteria)
We used a spore forming strain, which is much more resilient. (1)
These bacteria form a protective outer layer, allowing them to survive:
- Stomach acid
- Digestive enzymes
- The journey through the gut
We used Lactospore®, a clinically studied strain with multiple RCTs behind it. (2)
What is interesting here is dosing.
Research shows improvements in digestive symptoms at around 3 million CFU, because the bacteria actually survives and reaches the gut. (3)
With 10 million CFU, we know there is a strong chance it is:
- Reaching the gut
- Germinating
- Actually doing its job
Rather than being lost before it gets there.
Kiwi fibre (Livaux® golden kiwi)
We paired this with a simple, effective fibre source.
Kiwi fibre has been studied for its role in:
- Supporting regular bowel movements
- Improving stool consistency
- Supporting overall gut function
The dose used is equivalent to around 2 kiwis per day, which is where the research sits. (4)
It works as a gentle prebiotic, feeding beneficial bacteria without being overly harsh or irritating, which can happen with some fibres. (5)
Zinc (including zinc carnosine)
Zinc plays a key role in gut health, particularly in:
- Supporting the gut lining
- Reducing intestinal permeability
- Supporting repair and regeneration
Zinc carnosine in particular has been studied for its role in maintaining the integrity of the gut lining. (6)
Calcium
Included at a supportive level, calcium also plays a role in digestive function and can help with normal muscle contractions in the gut. (7)
Ginger extract
Ginger supports digestion more broadly, particularly:
- Gastric emptying
- Reducing bloating
- Supporting overall digestive comfort
Ginger has been shown to be safe and effective inclusion for supporting gut health. (8)
How we approached the formulation
We formulated this thinking about multiple aspects of gut health:
- Supporting beneficial bacteria
- Feeding the microbiome
- Supporting the gut lining
- Supporting digestion itself
At the same time, we kept it simple.
Guts are sensitive. Overloading with too many strains or aggressive ingredients does not work for everyone. We wanted something that most people could tolerate and benefit from.
Does it actually make a difference
95 percent of people noticed an improvement in their digestion after just 4 weeks of using Rheal’s Pre + Probiotic.
That includes things like:
- Bloating
- Regularity
- Overall digestive comfort
The bigger picture
Gut health is highly individual.
What works for one person may not work for another. That is why keeping things simple and effective can often be more useful than adding complexity.
This sits alongside:
- Diet
- Stress
- Sleep
- Lifestyle
When those are supported, the gut tends to respond much better. Pre + Probiotic was designed to work along side lifestyle habits.
References:
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0963996921005755#s0055
- https://lactospore.com/about-lactospore/bacillus-coagulans.
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7837859/#sec7
- https://livaux.com/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0882401020307105?via%3Dihub
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1856764/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1033933/full#h3
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4818021/#sec8
