Rotating Probiotic Supplements

At Oasis Colonics in Portland, Oregon, I recommend rotating probiotics to enhance overall microbial biodiversity in the G.I. tract. This practice is gaining interest among medical professionals. Rotation usually involves taking a given probiotic brand for a period of time (daily, weekly or monthly) followed by a different brand for a similar time period, and then “rotating back” to the first brand. Sometimes three or more brands are used. For this reason, I rotate my favorite brands that are for sale in my colon therapy practice.

The premise is that pathogenic bacteria and other undesirable microorganisms will be more effectively defeated by a larger contingency of probiotic strains. Certain probiotic strains colonize more effectively in specific areas of the G.I. tract – Lactobacilli do better in the small intestine while Bifidobacteria prefer the colon.

When a label tells you that the food you are buying “contains probiotics,” I encourage you to question whether they are selling health benefits or meremarketing hype. More on that topic in this article from The New York Times ~ Health section.

For a more detailed definition and description of probiotics click HERE