Trust your gut? Definitely. Research shows that your gut and all its good-for-you microbes (bacteria, fungi, etc.) play an essential role in your overall health, from digestion and metabolism to your central nervous system and brain function. That’s why nourishing it with the highest quality probiotics is key to a healthier, more vibrant you.
Goodbye, GI issues—hello, regularity
What happens in the bathroom can tell you a lot about your health. Maybe your gut transit time—how long it takes food to make its way through your digestive tract after all the chewing, breaking down via enzymes, and nutrient absorption—is normal. Or maybe you struggle with diarrhea or constipation. Gas and bloat? Not fun either.
Probiotics can be an integral tool to get your GI tract back on track (and keep it that way). How exactly? By increasing good bacteria, stimulating the digestive hormone cholecystokinin, and breaking down bile salts to help with excretion and toxin elimination1. In other words, it helps keep things moving.
For Routine, we picked one of the most highly studied strains to address the gut. Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 has been shown to improve overall gut health, help naturally regulate your digestive system, and nix those uncomfortable symptoms. For instance, a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled study of adult men and women found that those who took B. lactis HN019 for 2 weeks had a shorter gut transit time and significantly reduced GI symptoms, like constipation, irregular bowel movements, and flatulence. But it’s not just about discomfort; GI symptoms and longer gut transit times have been associated with gallstones, breast and bowel cancers, and other illnesses1.
Even in low doses, B. lactis HN019 makes a difference. In a 4-week study of elderly adults, those who took the lowest levels of the probiotic strain still saw an increase in good gut microflora, specifically bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, and enterococci2. Like we say, bacteria can sometimes be your best friend.
1 Waller PA, Gopal PK, Leyer GJ, et al. Dose-response effect of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on whole gut transit time and functional gastrointestinal symptoms in adults. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2011;46(9):1057-64. doi:10.3109/00365521.2011.584895
2 Ahmed M, Prasad J, Gill H, Stevenson L, Gopal P. Impact of consumption of different levels of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 on the intestinal microflora of elderly human subjects. J Nutr Health Aging. 2007;11(1):26-31.