What are Bacillus Coagulans? Understanding This Unique Probiotic

Are you curious about Bacillus coagulans and its potential benefits for gut health? This guide is your one-stop shop! Delve into the world of probiotics and discover what makes Bacillus coagulans unique. Explore its potential to support digestion, immunity, IBS, and allergies (ongoing research). Learn how to choose a high-quality Bacillus coagulans supplement and optimize its effectiveness. 

Remember, gut health goes beyond supplements- discover the power of diet and lifestyle choices. Look towards the future with exciting possibilities in personalized probiotics and ongoing research on Bacillus coagulans. Take control of your gut health and unlock its potential for overall well-being!

Demystifying Probiotics: Understanding the World of Gut Microbiome Support

Our gastrointestinal (GI) tracts are lined with billions of living microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, etc, that all pose a threat or function to our daily living. The gut microbiome is an ecosystem of the bacteria that live within our bodies and is the gatekeeper to foreign bodies that enter our GI tract – think food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, etc. A healthy gut microbiome with a good balance of good vs. harmful gut bacteria is vital to ward off dangerous threats and promote our body’s immune system. Good gut bacteria keep our gut' lining strong and help signal to our immune system if something looks suspicious. Suppose our guts do not contain a healthy balance of good to harmful bacteria. In that case, our bodies may face a higher threat of outside invaders (pathogenic bacteria) that can get into our bodies and wreak havoc.

Probiotics: Friendly Bacteria Lending a Helping Hand

Probiotics are supplemental beneficial bacteria that can go in and replenish our guts if we are low on the good stuff. A lot of the time, you might be recommended a probiotic if you have had a recent bacterial or viral infection (stomach bug), been on antibiotics therapy or other medications that may impact the level of good gut bacteria, or if you have been diagnosed with IBS, functional diarrhea or functional constipation. Research indicates that certain probiotics are more effective for specific health issues, and multiple strains may be beneficial for addressing various conditions. Today, we will focus on a particular bacteria: Bacillus coagulans.

Bacillus Coagulans: A Spotlight on This Unique Probiotic Strain

Bacillus coagulans is a spore-forming probiotic that allows it to multiply and grow along the GI tract; most probiotics are lactic acid bacteria that do not produce spores. Its ability to produce spores will also enable it to go dormant during harsh conditions within the body, like bacterial infection, which could kill the bacterium. It is also able to withstand harsh environments like the GI tract, where there are varying levels of acidity, breakdown of proteins via enzymatic activity, and so on. Certain strains of Bacillus coagulans may also aid in forming digestive enzymes, antimicrobial molecules, and vitamins.

Current research has suggested that Bacillus coagulans help relieve constipation, diarrhea, and stomach pain caused by IBS. Other potential uses for Bacillus coagulans include antibiotic-associated diarrhea, high cholesterol, immune support, irritable bowel disease, c.difficile infections, colitis, dysbiosis, H. pylori infection, gingivitis, allergies, reflux or indigestion. Bacillus coagulans may help with many of these causes due to their ability to survive harsh conditions in the GI tract and successfully multiply throughout. Remember that some of these topics have been studied more extensively than others, and in some cases, the research may still be inconclusive.

Numerous studies have identified the beneficial effects of IBS on reducing diarrhea frequency, improving stool consistency, and reducing abdominal pain/cramping and bloating. More specifically, one study identified a significant improvement in the above-mentioned clinical symptoms of IBS after eight weeks of probiotic supplementation with Bacillus coagulans. Another study utilizing Bacillus coagulans noted similar results where participants utilizing this probiotic experienced significant improvement in bowel satisfaction or complete evacuation of stool after 16 weeks of supplementation.

Finding the Right Bacillus Coagulans Supplement: A Consumer’s Guide

How do you know what probiotic supplement to choose? You want to consider strain, CFU count, and third-party lab testing to ensure the quality, purity, and accuracy of your supplement. Current research has yet to determine the optimal strain or dosage of Bacillus coagulans. However, at least ten different strains have been found to benefit IBS.

CFU count, which means " colony-forming units,” is the dosage of a probiotic in the supplement. Supplements containing Bacillus coagulans have been considered safe in doses of up to 6 billion CFU daily for up to 3 months, and lower doses may be safe for up to a year.

Third-party lab testing is not always available for every manufactured supplement on the market. Because the FDA doesn't regulate supplements like probiotics, it is highly recommended that you consult with your provider to discuss a potential brand to purchase to ensure it is a reputable source. Megasporebiotics, Throne, Solaray, and ProDURA are probiotic supplements containing Bacillus coagulans.

More research is needed in specific populations, so if you are pregnant or nursing, consult your healthcare provider before use. Additionally, if you have allergies, carefully review any supplement's label and ingredients. If you experience adverse side effects, discontinue use and contact your provider immediately.

Beyond Supplements: Supporting Gut Health Through Lifestyle

You don’t have to rely on probiotic supplements to get Bacillus coagulans. You can also find Bacillus coagulans in foods like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha and sauerkraut. You can even find this specific spore-forming probiotic in particular food products like Purely Elizabeth’s Chocolate Sea Salt Granola, Bigelow’s Lemon-Ginger Tea with Probiotics, BettyLou’s Probiotic Bites and Linwoods ground flaxseeds.

To support overall gut health and ensure you’re getting a variety of gut-healthy bacteria in your body, aim to eat a diet that is rich in prebiotic-rich foods to feed your healthy gut bacteria and consume a variety of probiotic-rich foods, too!

Outside of diet and supplements, stress management and sleep hygiene are essential when promoting optimal gut health. Make sure to prioritize getting adequate rest—approximately 7-10 hours of sleep per night—and find ways to decompress from daily stressors; exercise, prayer, and participating in fun hobbies are just a few ideas. Health is a holistic approach, and it is critical to consider many different aspects, like sleep and stress, that can directly impact your gut health.

The Future of Bacillus Coagulans: Ongoing Research and Exciting Possibilities

Outside of IBS research, other small studies suggest its potential to help alleviate disability associated with rheumatoid arthritis through its anti-inflammatory properties. It may help improve allergies due to its ability to enhance immune function. Furthermore, emerging research has suggested it may improve oral health and help combat gingivitis by altering the microbiome of the mouth and gums.  

For more individualized care, you can request a personalized probiotic approach where probiotic recommendations are made for people based on their microbiome profile. This is beneficial for individuals who are seeking root-cause therapy. Giving a tailored approach to probiotics can enhance one's outcome. Talk with your provider today to see if this is an option.

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