Dr. Jacqueline van der Made
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Nigel Plummer, PhD
Microbiologist & Founder of HMF Probiotics
Understanding our mysterious gut microbiome may help unlock the key to better living and more tailored health probiotic products.
Much of the human body remains a mystery, and the gut may be the most elusive. Similar to a fingerprint, the gut microbiome is unique to each individual, made up of trillions of microbes that live in the digestive tract. It can change on a day-to-day basis, influenced by things like diet, environment, stress, and age. When out of balance, the microbiome can strongly contribute to issues like inflammation or mood changes.
“The gut is the intersection where diet, immunity, and metabolism meet,” explains naturopathic doctor Dr. Jacqueline van der Made. “It can be influenced every single day through what you eat, how you manage stress, and the quality of supplements you choose.”
Scientists believe an understanding of our unique gut microbiome could hold the key to better living, yet in a world where every health product promises to be the “next big thing,” it’s hard to
know where to start. Luckily, when it comes to gut health, probiotics offer a well-researched, scientifically backed starting point.
Probiotics take the mystery out of the gut
Probiotics are live, beneficial microorganisms. In supplement form, they provide users a way to support their intestinal health and balance their gut microbiome according to their individual needs. “Think of them as tiny workers helping to keep the gut environment healthy,” explains Dr. van der Made. “They rebalance and fine-tune the system.”
Generally, probiotics are an important part of helping strengthen the gut. “In today’s world, where stress, processed foods, and medications can disrupt our microbiome, probiotics act as a buffer, helping us maintain balance,” explains Dr. van der Made.
Probiotics can be found naturally in foods like yogurt, but supplements provide them in much higher concentrations. While probiotics may help guide gut health, finding the right product can still be a challenge. “Not all probiotics are created equal,” says Dr. van der Made.
Trusted products critical to success
For over 30 years, supplement company Genestra has been working to provide Canadians with trusted probiotic products based on both science and traditional knowledge. Most importantly, the company is committed to offering innovative products proven to be effective and safe.
Genestra specializes in Human MicroFlora (HMF®) probiotics, which Dr. van der Made describes as “human-sourced, strain-specific, and supported by scientific research.” Unlike many generic probiotics, HMF formulations are designed for better survival and colonization in the gut.
“From the last 35 years of research, HMF consortia of probiotic strains have produced the widest range of health benefits of any multi-strain probiotic globally,” says Dr. Nigel Plummer, PhD one of the founders of HMF probiotics and leading expert in the field. As a microbiologist, Dr. Plummer has been the force behind HMF research, spearheading dozens of studies and over 25 human clinical trials, many focused on high concentration and high potency probiotics.
With decades of research behind them, HMF probiotics are proven, highly effective probiotic solutions that can be targeted to individual needs. Gut health is unique, therefore choosing science-backed formulas offer users the highest chance of seeing health benefits.
The future of gut health
Probiotics like HMF formulas are helping to shape a future featuring more personalized probiotics, with Dr. van der Made noting this to be the start of a shift toward more condition-specific products. “The microbiome is incredibly complex,” she says. “The probiotics of tomorrow will be less about general gut support and more about precision medicine.”
To learn more about Genestra’s HMF probiotics and which product might be best for your unique gut microbiome, visit amazon.ca.
