Choosing a high-quality probiotic supplement by a renowned brand and establishing a consistent routine for taking probiotics are the two most important factors to make your investment in probiotics a worthy one.
Why do we need Probiotic Supplements:
Probiotics are live bacteria that help promote gut health. Emerging research shows the correlation between the bacteria in the gut, also known as the microbiome, and overall health.
Gut health is essential, not only for managing digestive disorders like occasional diarrhea and constipation, but also for strengthening the immune system and providing mood support.
A few Benefits of taking Probiotic Supplements (in addition to getting them from food):
You can get probiotics from fermented foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, and kimchi—or you can get them from supplements. Supplements often supply more diversity and potency of bacteria than foods. For example, many probiotic supplements contain multiple different bacteria strains and as many as 40 billion colony forming units, or CFUs, which is the number of viable bacteria in the product. Yogurt, on the other hand, may contain just one or two different strains and about 6 billion CFUs.
How to choose a probiotic that works for you:
The effectiveness of the probiotic supplements has to do with how well they will survive in the digestive tract. Survivability in the harsh environment of the digestive tract is essential to capturing the benefits of probiotics and influences when you should take them. There are a few factors that may affect probiotic survivability and determine when you should take them:Â
 The Acidity of the Stomach:
The stomach naturally contains hydrochloric acid or HCl, which helps break down food after you eat. While this acid is crucial for digestion, it can interfere with probiotics and kill these    beneficial bacteria. Some research shows that up to 60% of probiotic bacteria may be killed in the stomach’s acidic environment before reaching the intestines and exerting their health benefits.
Since acid levels are highest after eating, some research suggests that taking probiotics on an empty stomach may help ensure that they survive the harsh stomach environment to colonize the gut. One study found that probiotic supplements taken 30 minutes before a meal or at the start of a meal resulted in better survivability of the bacteria than those taken 30 minutes after a meal.
The Types Of Bacteria In The Supplement:
Some research has shown that the Lactobacillus species of bacteria are resistant to acidic environments, and other species have also demonstrated varying levels of protection in the stomach. These probiotic supplements may be taken with or without food while providing the same benefits.
How The Supplement was Manufactured:
Some supplements are enteric-coated, which provides a barrier between the bacteria and the harsh stomach environment. Others are packaged in acid-resistant or delayed-release capsules, which also helps with bacterial survival rates. These acid-resistant supplements can be taken with or without food, without affecting the bacteria’s usability in the digestive tract.
NutraMission Probiotic 40 Billion CFU with Prebiotics features an innovative Maktrek delayed-release bypass technology, ensuring the optimal absorption of the above ingredients by the body. This is a patented and delivery system that makes sure beneficial probiotics are not destroyed by acids in the gut like other probiotics supplements.
MAK Trek Bypass process uses a natural marine polysaccharides derived from brown seaweed. This process creates a protective layer around the capsule keeping the probiotics usable while it is in the stomach.
Last but not least important factor to consider when choosing the right probiotic for you is quality. Dietary supplements are not regulated by the FDA, which means that what is claimed to be on a label may not actually be what is in their product. For this reason, it’s essential to select a probiotic from a trustworthy and well-researched brand  that utilizes Third-Party Testing For Purity And Potency.