Women's Biotic Balance: A probiotic specifically for women
By Nutritional Weight & Wellness Staff
November 28, 2023
Our nutritionists are really excited for our sister company, NutriKey, to bring in a new product that will deepen our probiotic options for their clients and we’d like to share some information with you. Introducing Women’s Biotic Balance!
First of all, why might you need a probiotic? Let’s take a look at why you might need extra supplemental support and what makes Women’s Biotic Balance different than other probiotic options.
What Is The Microbiome & Why Does It Matter?
There are many names that refer to the ecosystem in your gut and the microorganisms that live in the human body: microbiome, microbiota, probiotics, good gut bugs, gut bacteria, and intestinal flora just to name a few. Each body site, like the gut, has their own set of microbes that play a critical role in health. For example, the gut, skin, mouth, and nose all have a collection of microbes. And here’s where our new probiotic comes into play: women have a vaginal microbiome too!
When the microbiome of the body is balanced with the right amount of beneficial bacteria, particularly in the gut, we are able to digest and absorb food, keep our intestinal lining intact, support our immune system, protect us from the outside world, have positive brain function, and many other supportive benefits.
What Are The Signs Your Microbiome Needs Help?
Many clients who come to us for nutrition consultations come with a variety of complaints that stem from the bad bacteria out numbering the good bacteria. Are you or someone you love experiencing any of these symptoms?:
- Heartburn
- Gas
- Bloating/cramping/pain
- Indigestion
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Early fullness
- Nausea/vomiting
- IBS
- Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD): Crohn’s, colitis
- Colon cancer
- Diverticulitis
- Brain fog
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Joint or muscle pain
- Autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s (low thyroid function), rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, etc.
- Weight gain
- Frequent illnesses and/or infections
- Asthma
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Frequent yeast infections
Wow! As you can see by this long list, the balance of good to bad bacteria plays a big role in quality of life. The body is made up of a collection of systems. When one system is off (too much bad bacteria in the gut), there’s a cascade of responses in other systems (brain fog or inflammation in the joints, for example).
Can You Get Probiotics Through Food?
Yes! As a food first company, we always recommend looking to our nutrition first to see what we can do to find relief. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, eating the Weight & Wellness Way of real food in balance will help move you in the right direction. Here are few specific steps to consider:
- Avoid sugar – the unhelpful bacteria LOVES sugar. When we partake in sugary foods, or even processed savory foods that turn INTO sugar, we are helping the bad bugs to thrive. Try to swap out things like cookies, breads, bagels, crackers, etc. for more whole food, nutrient dense options (like the ones we’ll recommend in the next tip).
- Aim for more prebiotics – a fancy word for high-fiber foods, prebiotics are the food of choice for our good bacteria. Eating things like fruit (berries, apples, pears), 1 – 3 cups of vegetables at every meal (think kale, spinach, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, etc.), and fiber-rich whole grains (like beans, brown rice, quinoa) will not only keep you satisfied, but will fuel those good microbes. Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber per day, working up to it if you’re on the lower end of the fiber intake spectrum.
- Add in fermented foods – whole milk kefir or yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, fermented veggies (like carrots, beets, asparagus) are all examples of fermented foods, which are rich in probiotics. Adding yogurt to your smoothie or a side of sauerkraut to your eggs are examples of how you can incorporate fermented foods, which will help repopulate or maintain good bacteria.
Of course, sometimes when you’re really suffering from negative symptoms or you can’t seem to incorporate as many fermented foods as you’d like, we can look to supplements to assist our efforts. Let’s look at the benefits of NutriKey’s new Women’s Biotic Balance.
4 Steps For A Healthy Microbiome
Benefits of Women's Biotic Balance
- Holistic health: the specific probiotic strains in NutriKey Women's Biotic Balance not only aim to support a healthy vaginal microbiome, but they also play a pivotal role in gut health. It’s like a two for one.
- Nutrient absorption: NutriKey Women's Biotic Balance may help you be more efficient in absorbing your nutrients, which supports your entire digestive system. This means getting the most out of the healthy foods you already enjoy.
- Immune support: with an active lifestyle, having an immune system operating at its best is non-negotiable. This blend is designed to reinforce your body's defenses, especially beneficial during the demanding school, work, and social schedules many of us have.
How Is This Product Different Than NutriKey Biotic Duo?
NutriKey Women's Biotic Balance is formulated to support vaginal AND gastrointestinal health, with a blend of 9 probiotic species targeted at these areas.
On the other hand, NutriKey Biotic Duo focuses on intestinal health, with Bifidobacterium lactis and Lactobacillus acidophilus being the two main probiotic strains. It helps balance the gut microbiome, which is crucial for digestion, the immune system, and brain chemistry. The acidophilus strain is particularly helpful with helping to relieve acid reflux symptoms.
In essence, while both products aim to support overall health via the gut microbiome, NutriKey Women's Biotic Balance provides more specialized support for women's health, particularly vaginal flora, while Biotic Duo is geared more towards general intestinal health.
Who Do We Recommend This Product For?
Our nutritionists find that this probiotic is especially beneficial for women who have reoccurring vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, and/or bacterial vaginosis as well as providing comprehensive vaginal and gastrointestinal support for women of all ages.
If you are wondering if this might be a good fit for you, our nutritionists and dietitians can help you come up with a comprehensive plan for your unique health concerns and microbiome issues in a nutrition consultation. We also have covered probiotics in many other Dishing Up Nutrition podcasts and articles – check out specifically the article What Probiotic Is Right For You?, which covers several of the other NutriKey probiotics.
Better Quality of Life Is Possible With Probiotics
The good news is there are many tools in your healthy tool box to get your microbiome back on track or to maintain the balance of good and bad bacteria if you’ve done the work to get yourself to a good place. Avoiding sugar as much as possible, emphasizing high-fiber and nutrient dense foods at every meal, adding in a sprinkling of fermented foods, and supplementing with a probiotic are all great places to start. Working with a dietitian or nutritionist can help problem-solve other tricky digestive, vaginal, or other microbiome issues so you can feel your best.
For more information on the microbiome or probiotics, check out these resources:
- Listen: How To Take Probiotics – Ask A Nutritionist
- Read: What Is The Microbiome? What Does It Do and How To Keep It Healthy
- Listen: Prevention For UTIs With Diet
- Take: Gut Reaction: Restore Digestive Health Through Nutrition
*Product statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products nor the product statements are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. No statement is email is intended to imply that supplements can or should be used in place of a drug or medication or that supplements can cure, treat, or prevent disease. Any questions you may have concerning your use of drugs, medications, or supplements should be directed to your healthcare professional.
Sources:
Probiotics and prebiotics: What you should know - Mayo Clinic
