So why do we need to take probiotics now versus before? You probably grew up without taking probiotics and survived just fine, right? The difference is these days everything you eat and touch has likely been sanitized and treated to ensure you don’t consume bad bacteria that can make you sick. The problem is that this also gets rid of the good environmental bacteria responsible for a healthy and balanced gut.

A soil-based or environmental probiotic supplement is designed to restore these missing bacteria to your gut. The problem is most probiotic supplements can’t survive the harsh acidic environment of the stomach. Environmental supplements like Bacillus Subtilis, Bacillus Coagulans, Pediococcus Acidilactici, and Saccharomyces Boulardii --have been proven to not only survive through our guts but also aid with things like digestion, immunity, and even skin health.

This article offers 6 potential health benefits for environmental probiotics you should consider for better health. 

1. Potent Immune System Builder 

Environmental probiotics, including the soil-based Bacillus probiotic, play a major role in our immune system. That’s because 70% of our immune system is in our gut. After taking a prescribed antibiotic you are more susceptible to colds and viruses, that’s because an antibiotic’s function is to kill all bacteria.

Your antibiotic may have successfully eradicated the virus, but you’ve also eradicated the good bacteria responsible for fighting colds and flu. One way to help bolster your immunity, especially after a round of antibiotics, is to replenish your gut’s good bacteria.

It’s been found that regularly taking a high-quality probiotic with Bacillus strains reduces the severity, duration, and frequency of colds and flu, especially for those with weak immune systems. (1,2) At the first symptom of a cold or flu be sure to take environmental probiotics coupled with some additional zinc to kick your sickness to the curb.

 “I used to get bronchitis literally every winter, but all the sudden 3 years ago, I stopped getting it. The only thing I changed was taking a probiotic daily. I don’t think I will ever go back.”- Phil, Utah

2. Resolve Digestive Issues and Gastrointestinal Symptoms

Did you know that 1 out of 10 Americans experience irritable bowel syndrome, with symptoms such as frequent gas, digestive discomfort, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation? Countless others suffer from irritable bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 

In a recent study, it was found that over 50% of healthy college students had severe leaky gut. The amazing thing is that recent clinical tests showed that only 30 days of probiotic supplementation with Bacillus strains can effectively fix the gut lining without any other changes to diet or lifestyle. It would only take 30 days of bacillus supplementation to help 50% of college students!

There are just too many health issues associated with the gut (3) to go through in a quick article, but a bacillus based environmental probiotic supplement can treat or prevent many gut-related issues (4).

The Bacillus strains of probiotics are specifically critical to reconditioning the gut because other probiotics, like Lactobacillus, don’t survive the digestive tract to reseed and colonize the gut. A dead probiotic is not a probiotic!

3. Improve Nutrient Absorption and Energy

 If eating certain foods causes you fatigue or bloating, it could be due to poor digestion caused by an imbalanced gut.

Your gut microbes are actually responsible for producing the enzymes that breakdown your food (5). Without the right good bacteria, food is not broken down and the particles are not absorbed to be used for energy, leaving you feeling tired and worn down.

Environmental probiotic supplements containing Bacillus Subtillis and Bacillus Coagulan ensure that enzyme-producing species are reintroduced to the gut and that meals are fully digested, absorbed, and ready for use.

“These probiotics changed my life. I tried nearly everything, and nothing worked. I had allergies to eggs for almost 4 years, and just the slightest exposure would leave my eyes red and puffy. I had to avoid anything that might have an egg in it – everything from cookies and cakes, to things like veggie burgers and pasta dishes – eggs seem to be in everything! After wasting over $3,000 trying to find solutions, I was hesitant to try “one more thing”. I had a friend that insisted that these probiotics helped with her gluten sensitivity, and I figured I would give them a try. I’m so glad I did! After taking them daily for a few months I decided to eat some food s that would normally make me react. Nothing happened! I couldn’t believe it! I finally got brave enough to try eggs for the first time in 4 years. NO REACTION. I was beyond thrilled!! These probiotics have been LIFESAVING and I have told every single person I can think of that they need to use these! I’m a customer for life!”- Melissa

4. Healing the gut and weight loss

Ghrelin is the hunger hormone in our bodies that is responsible for stimulating our appetites. High ghrelin levels may encourage you to keep eating even if you’re full!

Your gut plays a major role in your ghrelin levels. It has been clinically shown that the Bacillus Subtillis and Bacillus Coagulan probiotics can drop ghrelin levels by up to 50% in 30 days.  Keeping these levels in check will help you to reduce unnecessary food intake. Your gut health should be a central part of any weight loss plan! 

Your gut also contains critical compounds that affect your metabolism. Many of these enzymes and bioactive molecules are created by bacteria. 

One of the keys to fat burning is butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that is produced in the large intestine by good bacteria. That means your gut health is directly responsible for the production of this fat-burning acid! Bacillus spores have been shown to not only produce butyrate but also increases the population of other butyrate-producing bacteria. Gut model studies indicate that Bacillus strains increase butyrate production by over 50%.

5. Improve Mental Health 

Researchers estimate that 90% of serotonin, the happy neurotransmitter, originates from the gastrointestinal tract.

In addition, gut microbes also produce dopamine and GABA, which are related to feelings of pleasure and calmness. When gut bacteria is out of balance it can cause brain fog, depression, mood swings, and anxiety (7).

Probiotics can help address the root of the problem. They replace bad bacteria with good bacteria and restore balance to your gut. They also naturally increase serotonin production to further improve your mental health. 

6. Reduce Acne and Eczema

According to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., the global skincare market is projected to reach $177 billion by 2024. Many researchers speculate that these special creams and serums don’t focus on the underlying cause of most skin conditions. 

Inflammation of the gut can manifest itself in the form of itchy, scaly skin, and acne which may be prone to premature aging (8). A balanced and healthy microbiome reduces inflammation and naturally promotes clearer, more radiant skin.

By treating an imbalanced gut, you may be solving the root cause of bad skin health instead of just covering it up. So consider swapping out those expensive creams for a probiotic that can heal your skin from the inside out.  

So how to choose the right probiotic?

1. Make sure it contains Bacillus Strains
2. DNA verified by 3rd party lab to be living - many probiotics are dead on the shelf and don’t work
3. 3rd party lab-tested to actually reach the large intestine (this is where the probiotics need to reach to truly benefit you.) 

We specifically formulated our probiotic to do all the above and more so you can reap all the benefits!

Silver Fern Brand’s probiotic

1. 100% Guaranteed to Survive 
2. Contains Only Clinically Proven Environmental Bacteria (such as the Bacillus strain)
3. Probiotic + Prebiotic (food for the probiotics to flourish) so they work most effectively
4. Satisfaction Guarantee or money back!
5. Made in the USA

References 

1. Yan F, Polk DB. Probiotics and immune health. Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2011;27(6):496–501. doi:10.1097/MOG.0b013e32834baa4d
2. King S, Glanville J, Sanders ME, Fitzgerald A, Varley D. Effectiveness of probiotics on the duration of illness in healthy children and adults who develop common acute respiratory infectious conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Nutr. 2014;112(1):41–54. doi:10.1017/S0007114514000075
3. Zhang, et al. Effects of probiotic type, dose and treatment duration on irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed by Rome III criteria: a meta-analysis. BMC Gastroenterology. 2016;62.
4. Verna EC, Lucak S. Use of probiotics in gastrointestinal disorders: what to recommend?. Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2010;3(5):307–319. doi:10.1177/1756283X10373814
5. Krajmalnik-Brown R, Ilhan ZE, Kang DW, DiBaise JK. Effects of gut microbes on nutrient absorption and energy regulation. Nutr Clin Pract. 2012;27(2):201–214. doi:10.1177/0884533611436116
6. Kobyliak N, Conte C, Cammarota G, et al. Probiotics in prevention and treatment of obesity: a critical view. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2016;13:14. Published 2016 Feb 20. doi:10.1186/s12986-016-0067-0
7. Clapp M, Aurora N, Herrera L, Bhatia M, Wilen E, Wakefield S. Gut microbiota's effect on mental health: The gut-brain axis. Clin Pract. 2017;7(4):987. Published 2017 Sep 15. doi:10.4081/cp.2017.987
8. Lolou V, Panayiotidis M. Functional Role of Probiotics and Prebiotics on Skin Health and Disease. MDPI Fermentation. 2019;5(2):41.