Frequently Asked Questions

Probiotics are good bacteria that are essential to overall health including digestive balance and supporting immune health*. The World Health Organization has defined probiotics as, “live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”
 

Digestive balance is key to overall health and wellbeing. That said, there are many things that can negatively impact the balance of good bacteria in your intestinal tract, including stress, travel, diet and age, just to name a few. That’s why it’s important to replenish and fortify your digestive system on a regular basis through a healthy diet, exercise and a probiotic supplement such as Fortify™*.
 

Probiotics are transient ‘guests’ within our digestive tract. Therefore it’s a great idea to make probiotics a part of your daily routine to help maintain digestive balance and support immune health*.

Some people may experience an increase in flatus due to the higher amounts of probiotic bacteria in the digestive system. However, this should subside within a few days as your body adapts to the increase in probiotic bacteria. If you experience issues for more than a week, reduce the amount of probiotic you take.
 

By definition, probiotics are live microorganisms. As such, moisture, as well as the acidic environment of the stomach, can be detrimental to probiotics. That’s why the strains selected for all Fortify™ probiotic products undergo a unique stabilization process to ensure best-in-class stability and survivability from stomach acid. In addition, the probiotics in Fortify™ are encapsulated in a delayed-release capsule that helps protect the active cultures from moisture and resists stomach acid better than standard capsules to help deliver probiotics to the intestine.
 

Probiotics are comprised of three unique and important parts – the genus, species and strain. When evaluating a probiotic supplement, it’s important to consider the strain(s) used since health benefits are unique to the strain(s), not the genus or species.
 

Not all probiotics are created equal. In fact, there are a number of things to consider when choosing a probiotic supplement. Quality probiotic products should:

 

• Clearly denote minimum potency per serving
• Guarantee potency through shelf life or expiration date, not just at time of manufacture
• Contain stable probiotic strains that are resistant to stomach acid
• Include strain designations

CFU is an acronym used on the labels of most probiotic containing products. It refers to "colony forming unit" and is a measurement used by microbiologists to denote the amount of active cultures, or good bacteria, found in a probiotic product.
 

We all know the main purpose of the digestive system is to breakdown and digest food so nutrients can be absorbed. However, considering approximately 70% of the body’s immune system is located in the digestive tract, the digestive system is key in supporting the body’s natural defenses by helping protect against unwanted visitors.
 

Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Drink plenty of water
Exercise regularly
Get sufficient sleep
Reduce stress
Take a probiotic supplement like Fortify™
 

Some probiotics require refrigeration; however, Fortify™ probiotics are formulated with strains that undergo a unique stabilization process to ensure best-in-class stability. When stored in a dry place, not in direct sunlight at or below 73° F / 23° C, Fortify™ is designed to maintain potency through the expiration date noted on the bottom of the carton.
 

If pregnant or nursing be sure to talk to your healthcare professional regarding your dietary decisions.

Fortify Age 50+ has a higher amount of bifidobacteria to help replenish bifidobacteria levels that can decline with age.  Fortify Age 50+ also has a few different probiotic strains when compared to Fortify Daily.

Bifidobacteria is a type, or genus, of probiotic bacteria that is predominately found in the large intestine, or colon, where it supports overall digestive health.