Monday, July 27, 2009

Travelling Abroad? Don't Get An Upset Tummy

The dreaded tummy upset spoils many holidays, but it can be largely avoided by taking probiotics (preferably starting before you go).

The probiotics help to maintain a coating of friendly bacteria in the intestines to
support natural immunity and digestive health. This means that unfriendly bugs find it difficult to get attached to the intestinal wall and so are more likely to be flushed away.

There are lots of probiotic drinks and supplements out there, but not all of them will work for this very specialised situation.

You need:

  • Probiotic strains that can survive hot conditions and do not need to be refrigerated.
  • Probiotic strains that are particularly good at coating the wall of the intestine.

Our Travel Probiotic Formula contain 4 important probiotic strains that can do just that:

  • Bifidobacterium longum Rosell-175 colonises primarily in the large intestine (or colon). In this region it promotes the production of antibodies, supports the body against toxins and inhibits the development of undesirable bacteria by competitively excluding their attachment to the intestinal wall lining. In addition, a healthy balance of bifidobacteria supports the intestines in assisting transit and optimising a healthy frequency and regularity of bowel movements.
  • Saccharomyces boulardii – a unique probiotic yeast which is sold widely in the US, Scandinavia, Germany & France. S. boulardii has undergone extensive clinical research proving its ability to flush out pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella (responsible for 70% of Traveller’s Diarrhoea) and to have therapeutic benefits against diarrhoea.
  • Lactobacillus rhamnosus Rosell-11 – a natural component of the friendly bacteria in the intestines; the species is one of the most studied in the probiotic world. L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 has been proven to resist bile and gastric acidity over pH 3 – therefore if taken at mealtimes (when pH is around 4), it will pass through the stomach without being damaged. L. rhamnosus Rosell-11 is able to bind strongly to the intestinal cells and helps maintain a strong immune system.
  • Lactobacillus acidophilus Rosell-52 – a natural resident of the intestinal microflora; this strain of friendly bacteria has been well studied.

Directions
As a food supplement For travelling abroad can be given to adults and children (over 3 years) with the following recommendations: take one capsule daily with food (ideally with breakfast), preferably starting 3-5 days before departure, continuing during travel abroad and for a few days upon return or as professionally directed.

For young children (under 8 years) or any patient unable to swallow capsules, the content of the capsules may be mixed with a cold meal or beverage.

Safety
It is not recommended to give probiotics to severely immunosuppressed patients, post cardiac surgery patients, patients with pancreatitis, patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or patients with blood in the stool unless under a doctor’s care.

Buy travel probiotics here.