Probiotics and immunity
Over the decades I have harped on endlessly about the importance of a good gut microflora. The positive effect on gut health, mental health, immunity, learning disorders, inflammatory diseases etc.
Let’s revisit the importance of probiotics and the immune system. Certain species of probiotics are specific to immune function.
A combination of Lactobacillus (L) rhamnosus, L. plantarum, and L. paracasei has been shown to enhance healthy immune system function and to reduce the duration and severity of colds. Also, of course these species maintain healthy gastrointestinal immune function and support beneficial intestinal bacterial adherence.
Lactobacillus plantarum (HEAL 9) and Lactobacillus paracasei (8700:2) stimulate the immune system. This probiotic combination has been shown in multiple clinical trials to induce specific (acquired) immunity, thereby helping to reduce the duration and symptom severity of the common cold.
This combination, in a randomised, parallel, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study supplemented 272 subjects with either 500 million each of (HEAL 9) and (8700:2) or a placebo for 12 weeks.
Those who were taking this exlusive probiotic combination experienced a 28% reduction in the duration of their cold and a reduction in total symptom score by 24%.