Forget everything you’ve been told about the dangers of playing in the mud: it turns out that eating dirt can actually make you healthier.
Balancing your microbiome (the community of beneficial bacteria in your body) with probiotics (good bacteria) is increasingly understood to be a great way of protecting against chronic illness. Studies indicate that that good gut health can also facilitate weight loss and increase your overall sense of well-being.
Traditionally we have consumed “good” bacteria via food and drink: yogurt, fermented vegetables and Kefir drinks. Lately, though, there are a wide range of dietary supplements ranging from traditional powders to chocolates to dirt-infused supplements – and some them are sold at luxury department stores like Barneys New York. [Full disclosure: I’m on the board of Clorox, which owns several probiotic brands sold through drug stores and other mass market channels].
When you’re ready to give it a try, here are 10 luxury probiotics on the market right now. Who knows? One of them might be the path to a healthier tummy – and also a flatter one.
1. Perricone MD Digestion Booster Whole Foods Supplements (60 capsules) $55. Stomach problems can often lead to not only feeling bloated, but looking bloated too. Digestion Booster is formulated with stabilized probiotics and licorice extract; it works to improve digestion by helping break down gluten and milk proteins, and restoring digestive balance for optimal nutrient absorption. The potential result is a trimmer, more comfortable stomach – just in time for beach season.
2. Dr Nigma Talib Healthy Flora (30 capsules) $65. Formulated by London-based Naturopathic Dr. Nigma Talib, Healthy Flora supplements are packed with a blend of probiotics that the brand claims are “guaranteed to improve digestion and overall gut health.” Each capsule contains grape seed extract – an antioxidant that works to revitalize your system from the inside out, with enzymes that break down fats and proteins and B-Complex vitamins to help you stay energized.
3. The Nue Co. Prebiotic + Probiotic Capsules (100g) $85. Jules Miller founded her natural organic brand The Nue Co. after years of dealing with chronic IBS. Designed to withstand the pH of stomach acid so that they are absorbed efficiently, her Prebiotic + Probiotic capsules deliver 15 billion spores per daily dose. They’re boosted with Prebiotic Inulin to aid digestion, stabilize blood sugar levels, and feed the friendly bacteria in your gut. Users claim these capsules not only help to solve their tummy troubles, but that is also helps brighten their skin.
4. Progurt Probiotic (5 Sachet Pack) $99. Progurt is considered to be one of the most powerful probiotic supplements on the market. Ideal for those prone to digestive disorders or tummy problems, this super-strength (and super soothing) formulation offers restoration with beneficial colonization of “good” bacteria. With a unique blend of Human Probiotic Isolates, these sachets are said to effectively re-balance/restore without disturbing the tummy’s natural bacterial balance.
5. RMS Beauty Within Probiotic + Prebiotic Dietary Supplement (60 capsules) $64. Formulated with a blend of prebiotics and probiotics, this dietary supplement supports not just digestive health, but also skin, hair and nail health. They can be used to ease occasional discomfort from gas and bloating and promote the growth of normal microflora. By helping you feel good on the inside, RMS believes the supplements will help you radiate health and wellness outside, too.
6. Moon Juice Probiotics (128 grams) $38. Custom made in small batches, Moon Juice’s Probiotics are a synergistic blend of prebiotics and probiotics designed to nurture intestinal microflora, heal the gut and re-colonize the intestines with organisms that defend against disease, viruses, and yeast. Users claim to have smoother digestion, stronger immunity, increased energy, elevated mood and glowing skin. If that’s not enough, Moon Juice says that their Probiotics decrease sugar cravings, which can facilitate weight loss.
7. Sakara Probiotic Chocolates (30 chocolates) $39. Possibly the most decadent probiotics on our list are Sakara’s Probiotic Chocolates. These tasty little treats contain prebiotic yacon root that nourishes existing gut microbes. Each piece of chocolate contains 10 billion CFU’s and only 1g of coconut sugar, making them an ideal guilt-free dessert.
8. Dr. Axe SBO Probiotic (60 capsules) $40.95. The prize for most unique probiotic on our list is Dr. Axe’s SBO Probiotic. What does SBO mean, you say? Soil Based Organisms. Yep, you read that correctly – they contain dirt. As the name implies, soil-based organisms are bacteria that live in the ground. There, they do for plants more or less what probiotic foods do for humans: break down plant material, produce vitamins, combat pathogens, and so on. In our stomach, SBO’s have the ability to “seed” the digestive tract with bacteria, which go on to thrive and flourish, supporting a balanced microbiome, including digestion and immune support. While these types of probiotics have been popular in Europe for years, they have just started to make their way to the US.
9. WelleCo Super Elixir Greens (300g) $135. Formulated by nutritional doctors using 45 premium whole food ingredients, this is all-in-one daily green superfood powder is designed to provide nourishment from the inside out. Super Elixir is a specialized alkalizing greens supplement with vitamins, minerals and trace elements to assist in overall wellness and vitality. Key ingredients include biovailable alkalizing super greens, Chinese herbs, members of the maitake mushroom family (to help maintain your immune system) and digestive enzymes that are both prebiotic and probiotic for a healthy digestive system.
10. Grown Alchemist Nutrient Absorption (30 Capsules) $110. Grown Alchemist is a skincare company focused on the link between health and beauty. The brand’s coveted nutricosmetics are infused with probiotics, antioxidants and the like to target everything from wrinkles and hair growth to cellular health. Just this spring, the brand launched a targeted beauty supplement composed of organic ingredients. This advanced probiotic nutricosmetic formulation contains lactobacillus and bifidobacteria probiotic species that assist in the digestion and absorption of nutrients to enhance your glow from the inside out.
Which of these would be best for you? We suggest you ask your doctor. There’s ongoing research into the most effective way to balance and improve gut health – but the scientific community seems fairly settled that there are real benefits to be gained for many people. Proceed with as much expert and validated information as possible – and be prepared to embrace the idea that dirty might be the new clean.
