Frequently Asked Questions - Health

Some people who have osteoarthritis have experienced a reduction in joint pain, along with improvements in joint mobility when taking ProBiotein. Inflammation is a major component of arthritis. Prebiotics can help keep the gut-associated lymphoid tissue that comprises a major part of your immune system, operating optimally. This may help reduce the inflammatory response by your body to osteoarthritis.

At least two possible preventive factors for cardiovascular disease may be assisted by prebiotics. One is the improvement of your autoimmune system that may reduce the potential for inflammatory response in blood vessels, including those of the heart. The second is the potential of your beneficial probiotic bacteria to reduce leaky gut, by combating pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins. This can help maintain the proper semi-permeability of your gut walls, so toxins and undigested food particles may not penetrate directly into your blood system, where they can trigger inflammatory reactions in blood vessels.

Though these intestinal tract illnesses are varied, a factor that they may share in common is a disproportion of pathogenic bacteria versus beneficial bacteria in your gut. Prebiotics can help good bacteria flourish and bad bacteria decline through competitive exclusion. Prebiotics are fermented in the large intestine, which produces short chain fatty acids, including butyrate, which nourishes the epithelial cells of your GI tract's wall lining. ProBiotein also contains dietary fiber, omega-3 and antioxidants, which physicians often recommend for treating these illnesses.

About .1% to 1% of the U.S. population has celiac disease, which is a difficult autoimmune illness of the small intestine that causes inflammation and a long term destruction of the important villi there. It's triggered by gliaden, a gluten protein found in wheat and barley among other grains. Treatment has always been a lifelong avoidance of gluten. ProBiotein has a gluten level of 332 ppm (1/30 of 1%). But promising research in early 2012 points to the use of the probiotic yeast strain Saccharomyces boulardii in reversing the progression of celiac disease. Prebiotics can support the ongoing health of all beneficial probiotic bacteria, including S. boulardii.

ProBiotein does contain some gluten from its wheat and barley malt, though in fairly low levels (332 ppm or 1/30 of 1%) due to its reduction through hydrolyzation by bacteria during fermentation. Similar to celiac disease, gluten sensitivity is an inflammatory reaction to gluten that affects perhaps 20 million Americans, or up to 6% of the population. While gluten sensitivity doesn't make the same antibodies as celiac disease does, it can cause brain fog, headaches, fatigue and pain. As is true with celiac disease, keeping intestinal prebiotics and probiotics strong may help in the battle against this condition.

Over 70% of your immune system is located in your gut-associated lymphoid tissue, or GALT, in your large intestine. If your immune system is either deficient or hypersensitive, illnesses can result. All three parts of your immune system – physical, innate and adaptive – can perform better when your gut and the probiotic bacteria within it are healthy. Prebiotic fibers are the food that helps your probiotic bacteria thrive, to keep your complete immune system functioning its best.

Many factors contribute to obesity. Intake of calories, types of food eaten and exercise are most important. Genetics, environmental pollutants and other factors play a lesser role. Higher levels of bad bacteria in your gut may free more calories into your bloodstream. That's bad. And bad bacteria can cause a more permeable "leaky" gut, which promotes inflammation throughout your body. Prebiotic fibers help keep your pathogenic bacteria numbers low and your beneficial bacteria high, for help in fighting obesity.

The calcium you eat – mostly from plants and dairy – can only help strengthen your bones if it's absorbed and delivered properly. That's dependent upon your GI tract functioning well. Especially the lining of your intestinal wall. Your body may also use calcium from your bones to buffer the pH of your system if your system's too acidic. Starches and sugars also may contribute to an increased acid load in your body. So may some forms of protein. But plant protein, like that found in ProBiotein, appears to not add to your body's acid load, which can help keep your bones stronger. And as prebiotic fibers are fermented in your gut, they produce short-chain fatty acids, which help increase your absorption of calcium.

Type 2 diabetes is most commonly associated with lifestyle choices about diet and exercise, along with genetics to a lesser degree. Recent research shows the potential of the prebiotic xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) to improve blood sugar and lipids in type 2 diabetics. XOS is found in ProBiotein. While diabetes is a complex disease, supporting with XOS may play a role in helping to control it.