What’s in a Name? How to Decode Probiotic Strains
Raise your hand if you’ve read the label of a probiotic bottle and been thoroughly confused by the multi-syllabic, hard-to-pronounce, vowels-upon-vowels list of probiotic strains.
Well, you’re not alone. That’s why we’re sharing exactly what goes into Routine’s unique probiotic formula so you can understand what’s in the bottle and what you’re putting into your body. We’re big believers in empowering you to understand your own health needs without requiring a PhD in biology to do so.
When it comes to probiotics, what’s on the nutrition label is taxonomy, the scientific approach to naming and classifying organisms. Probiotics are identified by three monikers: a genus, species, and an alphanumeric strain. For example, Lactobacillus (genus) rhamnosus (species) HN001 (strain). That three-step formula works similarly across nature, too. Think dog = Canis (genus) lupus (species) golden retriever (breed) or cat = Felis (genus) catus (species) Siamese (breed).
One of the most important parts of the three-word name is the strain because each holds potential for a unique health benefit, like regulating digestion. We’re all about transparency, which is why we want you to know exactly what’s in Routine’s clean, complete formulation:
- Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 to improve digestion
- Bifidobacterium lactis BL-04 to boost immunity
- Bifidobacterium lactis B-420 to help manage a healthy weight
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-14 to protect vaginal health
We pored over scientific journals to choose these specific strains, ensuring that they have the extensive studies to back up the benefits. You can read more about our research (and read the studies yourself!) here.