What Are Human Strain Probiotics? - Fitbiomics

What Are Human Strain Probiotics?

There’s a lot of information out there about probiotics. One of the first questions might be: Should I be taking one? 

As you learn more about probiotics, more questions start to pop up. For example, have you ever thought to yourself: Where do probiotics come from? You may have even heard the phrase human strain probiotics thrown out there at some point. But what does that even mean? 

In short, some probiotics come from outside sources such as dairy or plants while human strain probiotics have been proven to grow and thrive within the human gut and provide a multitude of health benefits.

Down to get some more detail on what human strain probiotics are and how they can benefit your health? Read on as we take a deep dive to answer all those questions and more!

First Off, What Exactly Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live, friendly microorganisms that help boost the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut. Having a diverse set of healthy, “good guy” bacteria not only means great things for your gut health but overall health as well. 

Yes, probiotics can improve gut health and provide relief from gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation, and diarrhea. And yes, improved gut health can help you manage conditions like leaky gut, IBS, and IBD.

But that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface on the benefits of probiotics and what upgrading your gut health can do. Many people take probiotics for increased energy, improved sleep, faster workout recovery, and constipation relief. That’s what makes gut health so important. It really does have an impact on so many other areas of your health!

If you’re looking to get more probiotics in your diet, whole foods like yogurt (with active cultures), sauerkraut, kombucha, and kefir are solid options. Then, there are also probiotic supplements to give the healthy bacteria in your gut a good boost.


Where Do Human Strain Probiotics Come From?

First off, don’t read too much into the name. If you’re picturing some evil mad scientist sitting in their lab dissecting human tissue and flesh to create the ultimate probiotic strain, well…You can go ahead and throw that cannibalistic image away! 

Human strain probiotics are NOT made from human ingredients or anything like that. A probiotic with “human origins” just means it’s a bacterial strain that’s capable of flourishing within the human gut. In other words, human strain probiotics have proven themselves to be able to adapt and thrive within our bodies. There’s a great tradeoff for us too. Human strain probiotics get room and board in our gut and we get to reap all the major probiotic health benefits.

And because human strain probiotics have proven they can adapt within the human gut microbiome, they're a better choice than probiotics sourced from plants or dairy. Don’t just take our word for it though! Check out this study published in The International Journal Of Medical Science. Basically, the study found that human strain probiotics are superior to probiotics sourced from plants or dairy. 

Two of the most common types of human strain probiotics come from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genus. They set the benchmark as far as probiotic strains go. 

  • Lactobacillus bacterial strains improve digestion, make for a healthier immune system, assist in nutrient absorption, and bolster your body’s defenses against toxic pathogens trying to do damage to your health. Popular examples of Lactobacillus probiotic strains include L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, and L. rhamnosus. You’ll find all three of these probiotic strains in Nella!
  • Bifidobacterium helps populate your gut with healthy bacteria, helps with vitamin and mineral absorption, and is crucial to the butyrate production process. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that provides your colon’s cells with energy and also has a hand in insulin sensitivity and helping you manage your blood sugar. B. lactis and B. longum are two of the more well-known bacterial strains from the Bifidobacterium genus, and have been shown to provide relief from abdominal discomfort, constipation, bloating, and specific conditions like IBS. 

Want even more? Here’s a more detailed list of human strain probiotics:

  • Lactobacillus (L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. acidophilus)
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  • Bifidobacterium (B. lactis, B. longum)
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  • Saccharomyces boulardii
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  • Streptococcus thermophilus
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  • Pediococcus pentosaceus
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  • Leuconostoc mesenteroides
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  • Bacillus (B. cereus, B. subtilis, B. pumilus)

    • How Many Strains Should a Good Probiotic Have?

    When choosing a probiotic (link back to how to choose the right probiotic post), one thing you’ll definitely want to make sure of is that it’s a multistrain probiotic. Multistrain probiotics are more efficient at helping you keep up with the ever-changing diversity of bacteria in your gut. In fact, a study published in the European Journal of Nutrition found multistrain probiotics to be more effective than single strain ones. 

    For example, Nella Probiotics contains three human strain probiotics from the Lactobacillus genus:

    1. Lactobacillus plantarum: Research shows this bacterial strain can ease stress and anxiety. It also possesses an anti-inflammatory effect that can provide relief from gut-related conditions like IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and leaky gut.
    2. Lactobacillus acidophilus: Do you suffer from recurring vaginal bacterial or yeast infections? Research shows L. acidophilus can help prevent them. Also, out of all the different probiotic strains out there, this one may be the best at reducing cholesterol levels (which means a reduced risk of heart disease).
    3. Lactobacillus rhamnosus: If UTIs are an issue for you then look no further than this bacterial strain for preventing them and lessening symptoms. And if traveler’s diarrhea always seems to rear its ugly head whenever you’re on the road, research demonstrates L. rhamnosus to be an effective treatment option.

    Another thing that’s important when choosing a probiotic is the amount of CFUs it contains. CFUs (aka Colony Forming Units) tell you how many live microorganisms are in a probiotic supplement. The higher the CFU, the more bacteria the probiotic has, which is a good thing. If you can find a multistrain probiotic with at least 10 billion CFUs, you’re in business! For example, Nella Probiotics contain 10 billion CFUs until the expiration date, which translates to a little over 3 billion CFU per strain. 


    What Benefits Can You Expect From Taking Probiotics?

    The obvious benefits of probiotics are improved gut health, as probiotics help populate your gut with beneficial bacteria. Here’s how else they can help:

    • Reduce inflammation (which is at the heart of many diseases and conditions, such as IBS, IBD, psoriasis rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer). 
    • Fortifies the lining of your gut and helps to keep it sealed, which can prevent conditions like leaky gut from occurring.
    • Probiotics are the ultimate immune booster, as they strengthen your body’s defenses so that you can stay healthy and recover faster when you do find yourself under the weather.
    • Probiotics have even been shown to help with food sensitivities. For example, a review of a collection of studies found that probiotics improved symptoms in those with lactose intolerance. 

    We mentioned this briefly before but the benefits of taking probiotics (link back to benefits of probiotics for women post) stretch well beyond improved gut health and better digestion, which you can see from some of the examples above. To demonstrate even further, let’s take a look at what we found through an internal study about the benefits people experienced from taking Nella Probiotics, our premier probiotic supplement. 

    The two-week study consisted of participants filling out a weekly survey with questions on digestion, sleep, energy levels, exercise, recovery, and general health. A whopping 94% of those who completed the study said they experienced benefits in at least one of the categories.


    Human Strain Probiotics Summary

    Next time someone asks or says something about human strain probiotics, you’ll know exactly what they mean and be able to add some valuable insight to the conversation!  You can tell them that human strain probiotics are healthy bacteria that have been shown to grow and thrive within the human gut, making them optimal for achieving peak gut and overall health. Remember, while probiotics can be sourced from dairy or plants, the best probiotics have a human origin. 

    Here at FitBiomics, we understand that human strain probiotics are the best option for delivering you optimal health. After years of cutting-edge research analyzing the biology of elite athletes and super performers, Nella Probiotics was born as a way to help you achieve prime health! From improved gut health to better sleep, faster recovery, and more energy, Nella is designed to help you live your healthiest and most fit life! 

    Learn more details about Nella Gut Health Probiotics, frequently asked questions, and the science behind decoding elite microbiomes.


    About the Author: Chad Richardson is a blog copywriter from Cincinnati, OH. When he’s not cooking up content, Chad enjoys jumping rope in his backyard, putting his Chef Boyardee hat on and trying new recipes, and hanging out with friends while rooting on his hometown sports teams. 





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