Probiotics

Probiotics are the "good Bacteria" that are essential for good gastro-intestinal health! Given that here in Singapore we are in love with food, it is all the more important to ensure that we are getting the right types of probiotics for our diet, our environment and our lifestyles. 

While antibiotics have revolutionized medical treatment and saved millions of lives, they also kill off your gut bacteria. Stress, illness, and certain medications can also destroy your "biome", the healthy eco-sytem in your gut . Hence it is essential to quickly rebuild the colonies of good bacteria as soon as possible. Probiotics supplements are the best way to do that. But a single strain probiotic like “Acidophilus” (eg Yakult) is not sufficient – the more strains or species of good bacteria in your probiotics, the faster you can recover. Here at Vitadeals, we carry the best multi-strain probiotics, which help to restore the right balance of good bacteria, and ensure that you keep this essential organ, the digestive tract, in the top condition.

"I have terrible digestive problems for the past 2 years, ever since I had a bad case of food poisoning. After being on the medication (antibiotics) I was always getting painful cramps caused by bloating and gas. The gas was so bad I found it difficult to go to work sometimes because I share a cubicle with other colleagues. The staff at Vitadeals explained how important it is to have a good probiotics supplement. Once I started taking them, my digestive health improved  quickly, within a week I no longer felt any more bloating and the gas problem has gone. I still take the daily (16 strain) probiotics, just to be on the safe side, and my system is working perfectly now. I really recommend them!”  Eileen T., Woodlands

What are Probiotics for?

Your digestive system cannot function properly without the presence of  “good bacteria” in your large intestine. The good bacteria break down partially-digested food that has comes from your stomach and small intestines, releasing the nutrients which are then absorbed into your bloodstream through the lining of your intestines. Without the right mix of different species of these good bacteria, food would just rot away, producing smelly gas, also known as flatulence or simply “farts”. Buildup of gas causes painful cramps and a very uncomfortable, swollen sensation called bloating . If good bacteria cannot thrive, then “bad bacteria” will begin to dominate. This imbalance is known as “dysbiosis”, and can lead to even bigger  problems such as colitis (inflamed intestines), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcers and even colon cancer.

Furthermore, good bacteria helps to protect the “mucosa”, the mucus lining that protects the surface of the intestinal lining. The intestinal lining prevents bacteria, viruses and parasites from entering the bloodstream.  If they are able to enter the bloodstream, these dangerous microbes cause disease and inflammation of the surrounding tissues. So keeping the mucosa healthy with Probiotics is vitally important to our overall health.

Some species of good bacteria actually produce vitamins such as Vitamin K, Vitamin B-9 (Folate) and B-7 (Biotin) which are essential for the body’s development. People who have lack sufficient gut bacteria (eg after taking a course of antibiotics) can therefore become deficient in those vitamins, and will need to consume vitamin supplements.

Certain species of good bacteria produce natural “antibiotics” that can kill bad bacteria and other micro-organisms, preventing viral and fungal infections, or parasite infestation. This means probiotics are essential to fight bacterial infections in the gut like salmonella, e. coli, heliobacter pylori and 

Having a healthy "biome" also boosts your immune system, and makes you more resistant to colds and flu etc. Scientists have even proven a link between mental health and a healthy gut, making probiotics even more important in these days of stressful living in Singapore!

Many people ask if we sell prebiotics. Firstly, our probiotic products already contain prebiotics included in the capsules. Prebiotics are a form of soluble dietary fiber known as "fructo-oligosaccharides" or simply "FOS" for short. They are types of sugar molecules joined together that can't be digested in the small intestines, but instead pass through to the large intestine, where they are digested by the gut bacteria. Foods that are rich in these type of preobiotics include garlic, asparagus, onions, leeks, unripe bananas and the humble "bangkuang" which is used to make rojak and popiah!