Rather than using a live strain of probiotics, we use spore based bacteria in our Prebiotic + Probiotic formula. There are a couple of reasons for this - the first is that these spores lie dormant until they’re “activated” in your small intestine. So no false promises of high doses that die in transit (or sitting on shelf for months), plus its room-temperature stable, so no refrigeration necessary.
Once the spores activate in your small intestine, they begin to multiply, creating more and more good bacteria. The strain that we use, Bacillus Coagulans, has been proven to work well for those suffering from IBS. A 2016 double-blind placebo trial found a vast improvement in common IBS symptoms including abdominal pain, gas, constipation, diarrhea and bloating.
Our Prebiotic + Probiotic contains both prebiotics and probiotics which makes it a synbiotic. If you think of probiotic bacteria as a seed, the prebiotic is a fertilizer: It encourages the good bacteria to grow and multiply, giving it the best chance of survival in your gut.
The difference between our probiotic and other strains is that Bacillus Coagulans is naturally protected with a proteinaceous “cocoon” that allows it to withstand the harsh effects of heat, oxygen, ultraviolet rays, and stomach acid. As soon as B. coagulans hits the alkaline environment of the small intestine, the protein shell dissolves and the organism activates. It's worth remembering that most other probiotic strains don't usually make it past your stomach acid.
Additionally, we use a vegan delayed release capsules, which are free from gelatin and plasticizers, these add a further layer of protection against stomach acid without the need for heavily processed “acid-resistant” properties during manufacturing.