Which Probiotics are Good for High Cholesterol?
By Dr. Kevin Passero
By now you probably are well aware of the important role probiotics play in human health. The human body is home to a vast number of beneficial bacteria, primarily in the gut. It's estimated that the gut microbiome contains about 100 trillion microorganisms. This means that there are roughly ten times more microbial cells in the body than there are human cells!
However, studies show that beneficial microbes are rapidly being depleted from our bodies, and with devastating consequences. Factors like antibiotic overuse, modern farming practices that damage natural ecosystems and deplete soil nutrients, and diets high in ultra-processed, refined foods are destroying the microbial balance needed to maintain health.
While common digestive issues like bloating, gas and indigestion can all stem from an imbalance of your gut microbiome, gut health issues can also lead to increased inflammation, impaired immune function, mood swings, fatigue and serious cardiovascular issues.
Managing high cholesterol and triglyceride levels is important to cardiovascular wellness, and emerging research suggests that certain specific strains of probiotics could play a significant role in lowering cholesterol levels and supporting heart health.
Health Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when consumed in adequate amounts, confer health benefits to the host. Commonly found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir and sauerkraut, these bacteria support a wide range of health benefits including:
Promotion of a Healthy Gut Microbiome – Probiotics are vital in cultivating a balanced gut microbiome, leading to improved digestive comfort and nutrient absorption.
Immune System Support – Probiotics play a vital role in supporting your immune system, reducing the risk of certain infections and autoimmune issues.
Mood and Cognitive Function Regulation – Through the gut-brain axis, probiotics can help regulate mood as well as mental focus and recall.
Allergy and Eczema Reduction – Probiotics may reduce the severity of certain allergies and skin conditions such as eczema.
Weight Management – A healthy gut microbiome is vital to maintaining a healthy weight and reducing obesity-related risk factors.
Cardiovascular Health – The term “gut-heart axis” simply describes the relationship between gut health and cardiovascular function. Gut microbiome balance plays a critical role in your overall cardiovascular wellness and certain probiotic strains have been shown to help balance total cholesterol levels while boosting “good” HDL cholesterol.
Which Specific Probiotic Strains Support Cholesterol Health
Emerging research shows that a few specific probiotic strains can break down bile in the gut, reducing cholesterol absorption into the bloodstream. This is great news for those seeking natural ways to support healthy cholesterol levels.
Clinical research has shown that a unique combination of four patented probiotic strains, L. paracasei LPC-37®, L. rhamnosus HN001™, L. acidophilus NCF® and B. lactis HN019™, helped to support healthy cholesterol balance. The participants in the study who took this combination significantly lowered their total cholesterol while raising “good” HDL within 8 weeks.
Two Common Mistakes When Buying a Probiotic Supplement
There are two common mistakes you MUST avoid when choosing a probiotic supplement to get the gut biome boost and health benefits you are looking for:
1) Buying Solely on the Basis of the CFU (colony forming units) Count
Probiotic marketing unfortunately has become somewhat of an “arms race”, with CFU counts getting higher and higher in an attempt to attract attention with the consumer perception that the higher the CFU the more potent the probiotic formula. This simply isn’t true.
What is vitally important is genetic verification, the process that ensures that the bacterial strains found in your probiotic are positively identified based on the composition of their DNA.
The bacterial strains in probiotic supplements must be genetically identified and verified via testing to confirm that they are the ones stated on the label. This eliminates the possibility of contamination with undesirable microbes and ensures that you’re getting the specific strains tied to the research that has demonstrated specific health benefits. These strains are designated with names, letters and numbers. For example: Bifidobacterium lactis Bl-04®. With over 200 different bifidobacterial strains out there in the world, getting the right one is important.
If your probiotic is not genetically verified down to the level of the strain, you really have no idea what you are getting or the effects it might have on your body, no matter what the CFU count is on the label. DNA verification ensures that what is stated on the bottle is in fact what you are taking. Furthermore, strain-based probiotics are the only ones with human clinical trials and research backing the beneficial effects.
2) Buying Cheap Products That Will Degrade Prior to Use
Probiotics are living microorganisms that require extra care compared to other supplements. They can degrade significantly while sitting in a warehouse, a store shelf or on a delivery truck. In an analysis by a top consumer watchdog organization, roughly a quarter of the probiotics tested had just 56% or less of the living CFUs advertised on the label. One popular brand had just 16%!
High quality probiotic products use advanced encapsulation technology to protect the cells during storage and reduce their degradation from stomach acids when consumed. Too many probiotic supplements either aren’t as potent as claimed on the label or lose potency between the time they are manufactured and the time they are consumed.
You should only purchase a probiotic that guarantees potency until the product expiration date.
The High-Quality Probiotic I Recommend to My Patients
For years I found it difficult to find a high-quality probiotic supplement to recommend to my patients which contained the exact strains needed to not only promote a healthy gut microbiome but to support cardiovascular health as well.
So I developed Durable PROBIOTIC® to combine the specific genetically verified strains that provide both digestive comfort and regularity while also supporting the “gut-heart axis” to help lower total cholesterol while boosting “good” HDL cholesterol. And Durable PROBIOTIC utilizes advanced encapsulation technology so that no refrigeration is needed, and its potency is guaranteed through the product expiration date.
If you're looking for patented, genetically verified probiotic strains that are clinically proven to support cardiovascular health—while also strengthening your digestive and immune systems— click here to learn more about Durable PROBIOTIC.
