I have a confession. I’m a naughty health coach and here’s why. I recommend probiotics to almost everyone I work with. I make sure my kids take probiotics, especially after they’ve been sick. I sing the praises of probiotics to all who will listen. So what’s naughty you ask? I’ll tell you, I don’t take them myself.
Yikes, right?
Here’s the thing, I’ve got a shaky digestive tract. Try as I might to live well, I store just about every ounce of my stress in my gut so it’s been known to act out in a variety of ways as a result. So, over the years I’ve tried many different brands of probiotics. I either don’t notice any difference and thus don’t commit to continuing to take them every day, or (this is the worst) the pills have just the opposite effect of what I’m looking for and no one wants to spend that much time in the bathroom. Am I right?
I’ve heard great things about align. In fact, when I shared that I could start taking it, I learned that a few people I know take it and report good results. So, when given the opportunity to try it out for 14 days, I figured I owed it to myself to give it a shot. (You can see where I shopped for align using my Duane Reade Balance Rewards card on my google+ album.)
I’ve since learned that not all probiotics are created equal. Yogurt, for example, is not required in the US to have live cultures so tests of various yogurts show a wide range of live cultures. It’s the live culture bacteria that can make the difference in your digestive activity and align is manufactured and packaged to take give you the most live bang for your buck. This is probably what makes it the #1 gastroenterologist recommended probiotic. I mean, makes sense right?
At the risk of TMI, I will tell you that after two weeks of taking align, I have noticed enough of a difference in my “activity” that I will continue taking the pills. It’s the first time I’ve really noticed a difference in the way my body works so I’m sold on the fact that align’s B. infantis 35624 is just what I needed to keep my insides moving along the way they’re supposed to.
Did you know that over 80% of your immune system power resides in your gut? That’s another reason to keep things going the way they’re meant to in your belly. The Husband has come down with a cold this week and I can’t help but wonder if I’m cold-free because align has helped strengthen my immunity too.
Maybe I’m just cooler than he is. It could be that too.
Either way, I’m committed to keeping up the align for the benefit of my digestion and immunity. Thank goodness for this too often scatterbrained check, they even put the days of the week on the packaging so I’ll be sure to keep up even when I can’t remember my mornings!
#DRAlign
P.S. Looking for more parenting guidance and tips for self-care? Check out From Chaos to Calm a guided training to help you feel better in this tough season.
