The prospect of evaluating every available probiotic, such as Theralac, and trying to figure out which one is best for you probably seems like a challenge right now, doesn't it? With so many options, how can you make a decision? If you've already read our blog on how to select the best probiotic, you're over halfway there! You know why acid proof delivery, prebiotic supplementation, and packaging are all important when selecting a supplement for your family.
But, what do you do when you find two or three high quality probiotic supplements that have different ingredients? How do they compare to each other and what effects can they have? It may seem like a daunting decision. Fortunately for you, in this blog, we are going to break down the differences between our three probiotic supplements, explain the importance of targeted delivery, and teach you how our supplements support digestive and immune health throughout your G.I. tract!
Theralac®
- Helps promote digestive and immune health
- May increase digestive comfort
- Complete intestinal coverage
Theralac is our flagship probiotic supplement and has been our best seller for the last fifteen years. Because it contains both Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria probiotic species, Theralac is our most generally applicable product. Lactobacillus species prefer the small intestinal environment whereas Bifidobacteria prefer to inhabit the colon, meaning Theralac provides support throughout your digestive tract.
All our probiotic species are lactic-acid producing. This is immediately evident with Lactobacillus species because they share the same prefix. However, Bifidobacteria produce lactic acid too! The lactic acid produced by probiotics is similar to the D- lactic acid that builds up in your muscles when you exercise. However, in the intestinal environment, probiotics primarily produce L+ lactic acid which has a host of beneficial effects like creating an environment which promotes the growth of beneficial microorganisms. When synergistic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria strains are combined, they work together to support healthy structure and function throughout your gut.
TruBifido®
- Helps promote digestive comfort and regularity
- Supports immune system
- Colon-specific formula
TruBifido, the newest member of the Master Supplements line, contains the same Bifidobacteria species found in Theralac. However, we wanted a probiotic focused solely on colon wellness. Since Lactobacillus typically do not grow in the large intestine, we designed TruBifido by taking our Theralac recipe and replacing the Lactobacillus with 3 compatible and synergistic strains of Bifidobacteria that help maintain a healthy large intestine.
Additionally, we paired our already powerful acid proof delivery system with delayed release capsules to provide an additional layer of protection while the probiotics are in transit. Once TruBifido's probiotics arrive in the colon alive, they immediately proliferate and begin the process of colonizing the soft lining of your large intestine. Once established, Bifidobacteria support regularity, immune health, and digestive comfort.
TruFlora®
- Helps promote healthy digestion
- Probiotic cleansing action
- Supports immune system
TruFlora stands apart from Theralac and TruBifido because it does not contain any Bifidobacteria. Instead, TruFlora utilizes two strains of Lactobacilli, Bacillus coagulans, and two digestive enzymes, hemicellulase and betaglucanase, to foster a healthy environment within your small intestine.
The three bacterial species in TruFlora produce large quantities of lactic acid leading to a biocleansing of the small intestine. The enzymes aid your body in digesting any residual, undigested waste. Together, the enzymes and probiotics in TruFlora work together to help purge undesireable, non-pathogenic yeast, bacteria, and waste from the small intestine which encourages the growth of beneficial bacteria!
There is one caveat: Lactobacillus plantarum multiplies aggressively and can inhibit the growth of some species of Bifidobacteria. With that in mind, we recommend separating TruFlora from our other probiotic supplements by a minimum of 3 hours.
Using Theralac, TruFlora, and TruBifido Together
As big proponents of probiotic rotation, we believe the more beneficial strains you can deliver to your digestive tract, the more beneficial effects you will see. But, after looking at the limited number of strains in each of our products, you may be wondering, “Well, why don’t you just put 10-15 strains in one capsule instead?”
First, not all strains are compatible. While each of the strains can provide beneficial effects, sometimes strains don’t get along and will inhibit each other’s growth in your digestive tract, thus reducing the potential efficacy of both probiotics. Like we said before, this is most noticeable in our product line with Lactobacillus plantarum and the various species of Bifidobacteria. Secondly, some probiotic bacteria of the same species will compete for the same space. If you include 10 unique species of Lactobacillus and 4 of those strains want to colonize the same region of the small intestine, you reduce their potential efficacy as well.
Rotation works because all probiotics are transient colonizers -- regardless of the probiotic species, what you provide via capsule will depart within 8 weeks of dosing depending on the strain. Similarly, the stool is composed of up to 50% bacterial biomass meaning that space is consistently being made for probiotic and non-probiotic microorganisms to colonize. By rotating probiotics, you can help reinforce the numerous regions of your digestive tract with the beneficial organisms which help you maintain comfort, wellness, and regularity.
We created the 30 day gut reset program to best utilize our products to promote a healthy digestive tract inside throughout and it's as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Start by taking one capsule per day of TruFlora for 10 days. This cleanses the small intestine and creates a beneficial environment for probiotic growth. For the following 10 days, take 1 capsule of TruBifido daily to fortify the colon with large quantities of Bifidobacteria. Once both regions of your G.I. tract have been prepared, take Theralac once daily for the final 10 days to restore the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria throughout your digestive tract.
Save 15% on your first order when you use the coupon code MSI16 at checkout!