Do you Need Probiotics for Travel?
Traveling is the perfect remedy for the age of distraction, for our minds become present as we wander. But no one wants to travel long and far just to see the inside of a bathroom. 30 to 40 % of the population have functional bowel problems at some point, and travelling is a time when digestive problems are more likely. Having a Flora probiotic for travelling is a smart idea since probiotics may help with regularity and digestive comfort and well as overall health. Luckily the right probiotic can protect against traveler’s diarrhea.
What is Traveler’s Diarrhea?
Traveler’s diarrhea is the most common travel sickness or illness amongst travelers. Traveler’s diarrhea is the onset of a bad case of loose stool within 10 days of arriving in an area with lower levels of public hygiene or water cleanliness than one’s body is accustomed to, whether that be a foreign country or a cruise ship. Using a probiotic can help with diarrhea. In fact, there are proven strains of probiotics good for traveler’s diarrhea. Saccharomyces boulardii (which is sometimes called Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii or even Saccharomyces cerevisiae ssp. boulardii) is a probiotic strain proven for diarrhea and known to help specifically with traveler’s diarrhea. Flora’s Travel Care Probiotic features a proven single strain of Saccharomyces boulardii.
How to Use Probiotics to Prevent Traveler’s Diarrhea
Saccharomyces boulardii has been extensively studied and has demonstrated efficacy in preventing and treating various gastrointestinal issues commonly encountered while traveling. These include traveler's diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and infectious diarrhea. Numerous clinical trials have shown that supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii can significantly reduce the risk and duration of these types of diarrheas. To use it preventatively, get and start on Travel Care probiotic before you leave on vacation. Because it is a potent fungal probiotic, 5 billion cells (1 capsule) is a typical daily dose, with 10 billion only needed in acute cases.
The Right Probiotic for Travel
Do you need shelf stable probiotics for travel? It is a good idea since other types will die off faster in the heat or when they are not in the fridge. Flora’s Travel Care Probiotic featuring Saccharomyces boulardii is completely shelf stable and unaffected by temperature. Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic offers several other advantages that make it a top choice, supported by scientific research. One such advantage of Saccharomyces boulardii is its ability to limit damage from bad bacteria and microbes and strengthen the gut barrier function.
Travel Probiotic Short-term Benefits
Since you are more likely to eat out, eat things you are less familiar with, less adapted to, and in areas where the food handling norms could be very different than you are used to when travelling, food poisoning becomes much more likely. We know now that experiences provide more enduring happiness than things, and we don’t want to miss out on food tourism. But there are some experiences that we can all live without. At least 60% of all diarrheal IBS cases are linked to food poisoning. Since almost nothing can ruin a vacation or an experience of a new location more quickly than food poisoning, a targeted and protective probiotic before and during a trip is a no-brainer. The effectiveness of Saccharomyces boulardii in preventing traveler's diarrhea is attributed primarily to its ability to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and viruses in the gut, in part because it produces compounds like caprylic acid and lactic acid, which create an unfavorable environment for harmful microorganisms, thereby reducing the risk of infection.
Travel Probiotic Long-term Benefits
Saccharomyces boulardii enhances the production of proteins that maintain the integrity of the gut barrier, helping to reduce inflammation and support a healthy gut. The gut barrier acts as a protective layer, preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream. When the gut barrier is compromised, it can lead to increased inflammation and susceptibility to infections.
Food Poisoning can Ruin more than your Travel Plans
In addition to reducing the numbers of pathogens, Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to reduce the damaging toxins they make. When traveling, changes in environment and exposure to new pathogens can put stress on the immune system. Is not uncommon that debilitating, lifelong IBS or diseases such as Crohn’s or Ulcerative Colitis can follow exposure to food poisoning bacteria due to damaged gut nerves and migrating motor complexes, and malfunctioning interstitial cells of Cajal. That’s because food-borne bacteria release a toxin that mimics a critical gut protein. When your immune system fights back with an antibody, it can lead to autoimmune inflammation. Saccharomyces boulardii has been shown to have immunomodulatory effects, meaning it may help regulate the body and the immune system respond in a healthier way.
An Essential for Life’s Journey
Flora’s Travel Care Probiotic is an exceptional probiotic for people who have the travel bug but don’t want to get sick from travel bugs. It can be useful on summer vacation and for maintaining gut health over the long term as well. The benefits of Saccharomyces boulardii are grounded in scientific research and have been demonstrated through numerous clinical trials. By preventing and treating diarrhea, promoting a balanced gut microbiota, strengthening the gut barrier, and modulating the immune system, Saccharomyces boulardii offers a comprehensive approach to supporting digestive wellness, particularly during travel.
Dana Green Remedios is a triple-board certified Registered Holistic Nutritionist, transformational coach, Flora Product Specialist and healthy living spokesperson. She is a passionate educator who assists people to break through blocks to better mind, mood and menopause mastery. Her work has appeared on Well&Good, MindBodyGreen, Wellness on Purpose, and elsewhere, and hundreds of thousands of people have sought out her answers to nutrition questions on Quora.
