In 2008 a gastroenterologist in Minnesota discovered that he was able to cure one of his patients of a destructive Clostridium difficile infection by transplanting healthy bacteria from her husband’s gut into hers. Clostridium difficile, more commonly known as C. diff, is a bacterial infection that can cause severe diarrhea and inflammation of the colon, but within hours after the beneficial bacteria was transplanted into her colon, the woman’s C. diff infection disappeared—along with her symptoms.

No, it’s not science fiction, just an emerging field of real science that continues to amaze doctors, scientists, and just about everyone in the health care community. And at the heart of it all is something that can’t even be seen with the naked eye—the trillions of microscopic bacteria that have been living in your gut since the day you were born.

The human digestive tract is where more than 70 percent of the body’s natural immune defenses are found. That means it plays a vital role in preserving overall health, and study after study has shown that the good bacteria (called probiotics) can help prevent everything from digestive problems such as irritable bowel and constipation to inflammation-related conditions such as asthma and allergies. Not only that, but the variations between one person’s gut environment and the next can make a big difference when it comes to whether or not they are more prone to certain diseases or conditions throughout life.

While this comes as no surprise to natural health experts—who have been touting the benefits of probiotics and a balanced gut for years—their hope is that it will increase awareness about the benefits of taking a daily probiotic supplement at every age in order to promote lifelong health.

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This year, don’t wait for the first sneeze or sniffle to safeguard your body against seasonal illness. Taking a daily probiotic supplement is something the whole family can do to boost immune defenses naturally and promote better health throughout the year.

You may not realize it, but the majority of your body’s natural immune defenses are in your digestive tract, where friendly bacteria called probiotics work to crowd out harmful organisms and maintain a balanced intestinal environment. But when that balance is upset due to things like stress, travel and even poor eating habits—all of which can be a factor during the holidays—the bad bacteria can flourish, leaving your immune system vulnerable to attack.

Nowadays choosing the right daily probiotic supplement is as simple as reading labels and knowing what to look for. An effective high-potency formula should have at least 6 billion active cultures per serving, with a balanced blend of Bifidobacteria (the most prevalent good bacteria in a healthy large intestine) and Lactobacilli (the most prevalent good bacteria in a healthy small intestine). And because probiotics are important at every age, there are natural formulas for infants and children as well as targeted probiotics for young adults, seniors, and even women-specific formulas that promote vaginal and urinary tract health.

Want to know to more about choosing the right probiotic supplement? Ask ReNew Life!

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