They promise to reduce bloating, improve your digestion, and boost your energy. With such an overwhelming volume of information, it's completely normal that thousands of people want to start taking care of their gut health but feel lost, not knowing which one to choose.
If you've ever bought a supplement at random expecting a digestive miracle that never arrived, you've fallen into the trap of generic probiotics. Today, through science, we explain why this happens and how biotechnology has changed the game.
The myth of the "universal probiotic"
To understand where the flaw lies, we must first be clear about what probiotics actually do. In essence, they are live microorganisms (bacteria or yeasts) that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Their job is to repopulate, balance, and strengthen our gut ecosystem.
The problem is that the industry has led us to believe there is a magic formula that works for everyone. Many patients come to the clinic asking which are the best probiotics on the market, looking for the brand with the most billions of CFUs (Colony-Forming Units) or the one their favourite influencer takes.
The harsh reality: Your microbiome is as unique as your fingerprint. Taking a bacterial strain generically, without knowing if you really need it, is like blindly throwing fertiliser on a garden. It could be completely useless because you already have enough of those bacteria, or worse still, it could be counterproductive, causing a greater imbalance and worsening symptoms like bloating and wind.
The scientific solution: DNA sequencing and precision probiotics
This is where the revolutionary concept of personalised probiotics, or "precision probiotics", comes in. Instead of bombarding your gut with generic bacteria (like the classic Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium found in most supplements), the key is to sequence the DNA of your microorganisms to discover exactly which strains you are lacking.
Imagine that your digestive issues stem from a specific deficiency of Clostridium butyricum, an essential bacterium that produces butyrate (a key fatty acid for reducing inflammation in the gut wall). No matter how many generic probiotics you take, if they don't contain that specific strain your body is crying out for, you won't solve the root of the problem.
Vivabioma's Ultra test: Your roadmap
To achieve this level of clinical precision, you need the right tools. Vivabioma's Ultra test not only analyses your digestion and potential pathogens, but it also uses ultra-high-resolution Shotgun Metagenomics technology alongside Artificial Intelligence to offer you an exact x-ray of your ecosystem.
When should you take probiotics?
Another big question that often arises is when to take probiotics. The ideal time to take them is:
- After an accurate analysis: Once a microbiome test (such as Vivabioma Ultra) has identified your specific deficiencies.
- Following the use of antibiotics: If you have recently taken antibiotics, you should wait at least 3 months after finishing the treatment before collecting your sample to ensure the results reflect your true profile and are not altered.
- Alongside a change in habits: A probiotic, no matter how precise, needs "food" to survive in your gut. This food consists of prebiotics (specific fibres) that you will need to incorporate into your personalised diet.
There is no such thing as the perfect universal probiotic; there are only the perfect probiotics for you. Listen to your body, analyse your insides using cutting-edge science, and give your gut exactly what it needs to thrive.