Discovered in 1923
In 1923, the French researcher Henri Boulard travelled through Indochina. He saw that the local population chewed the peel of lychee and mangosteen for intestinal complaints, and he isolated a yeast from that peel. Since then, the yeast has borne his name: Saccharomyces boulardii.
A yeast, not a bacterium
Most probiotics contain bacteria. Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast, related to baker's and brewer's yeast. Antibiotics act against bacteria and therefore do not affect this yeast. It also tolerates heat and stomach acid.
Use and storage
Take one capsule twice daily with a meal, or as prescribed by a doctor. The yeast is freeze-dried and stays alive best if you keep the capsules refrigerated.
Smidge YeastBiotic capsules
Saccharomyces boulardii is a non-pathogenic and non-colonising yeast with probiotic properties. Since it is not a bacterium, it can be used in conjunction with antibiotics and still survive. The probiotic fungus was discovered in Indochina in 1923. Smidge YeastBiotic capsules contain 3 billion organisms per capsule and, except for the cellulose and L-leucine needed for the encapsulation, include no other additives.
Introduction of Smidge YeastBiotic
Smidge YeastBiotic capsules is a supplement containing the particular yeast species Saccharomyces boulardii, which is both acid-resistant and temperature-tolerant. The yeast is originally a tropical species that was first isolated from the lychee and mangosteen in 1923 by the French scientist Henri Boulard. Boulard had discovered that indigenous peoples there traditionally use the peel of various tropical fruits as an anti-diarrhoeal remedy, and he continued research into this. Saccharomyces boulardii has now been used for over sixty years, and three major studies have been conducted in Europe on the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii on diarrhoea resulting from antibiotic treatments. In the intestines, this yeast produces lactic acid, butyric acid and B vitamins, among other compounds. The supplement is free from dairy, gluten and other common allergens and should be stored in a cool place.
About the intestinal flora
Our intestinal flora is a very complex ecosystem, about as unique as our fingerprint! In our intestinal flora, also called the microbiome, essential substances are produced, including vitamins and neurotransmitters. The microbiome also plays a key role in the digestion of food and in the proper absorption of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. The microbiome is therefore an extremely important ecosystem in our body. For all these processes to run smoothly, the body works together with the microbes present in the intestines, including bacteria. These intestinal bacteria can be divided into desirable and less desirable bacteria, and into passing species and permanent residents. A normal intestinal flora is in balance.
How do bacteria and enzymes work?
Our intestinal system is populated by billions of microorganisms, each with its own task within the larger whole of our intestinal flora. For digestion to run smoothly, the body works together with these microorganisms. In a normal intestinal flora, these species are in balance with each other, a balance that is different for everyone. Enzymes are able to accelerate all kinds of processes in our body; they are, as it were, the workhorses of our body. Enzymes can sometimes speed up processes as much as a trillion times! In the same way, digestive enzymes act as a kind of catalyst in our intestinal system. They are little chemical factories in our body that we may well cherish.
Benefits
Saccharomyces boulardii is a body-friendly, non-pathogenic and non-colonising yeast with probiotic properties. It contains 3 billion CFUs per capsule. It is antibiotic-resistant and can therefore be taken at the same time as antibiotics. Smidge YeastBiotic capsules contain no gluten, lactose or other common allergens, are free of prebiotics and are freeze-dried. Must be stored refrigerated.
The unravelling of our intestinal flora
We are gaining more and more insight into the workings and important functions of our intestinal flora, but in fact we still know very little about this mysterious organ in our body. The knowledge we have now is probably just the tip of the iceberg! For example, we are slowly beginning to understand the special ways in which bacteria communicate with each other via a mechanism known as quorum sensing. This mechanism allows bacteria, by secreting signal molecules, to be in constant conversation with each other and to attune their behaviour to each other. Among other things, they can tell how many of their own kind are present, and then trigger a synchronised response once a certain number is reached. Friendly bacteria communicate and work together via quorum sensing, a phenomenon that remains as fascinating as it is mysterious to many researchers.
The history of probiotics
Although the term probiotics dates from 1953, the principle is much older. The first traces of the use of probiotics date back to the Neolithic period, between 10,000 and 5,000 BC. Cattle herders in the Middle East at the time kept milk in sacks made from goat skins. Because the sun was shining on it, the milk began to ferment through a combination of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts. The origin of other fermented foods, such as kefir, beer and wine, also dates back to about 7,000 BC. The importance of these sometimes accidental discoveries, however, came to light much later, in the 19th century. In this century, the French chemist and biologist Louis Pasteur developed his theory that the cause of many diseases was a tiny living being, which he called a microorganism. This microbe theory is one of the most important discoveries in medical history and has led to many new insights in the field of microbiology. However, the real science of probiotics in Europe only got going in the 1990s, and since then probiotics have been the subject of countless clinical studies.
Compiled with care
Smidge products are carefully composed in small batches and do not contain unnecessary additives, making them of optimal quality and versatile. Because the products are developed on the basis of the latest insights and because they contain specific neutral bacterial strains, they are well tolerated by almost everyone. The products are therefore also extremely suitable for people with sensitivities or allergies, and they also fit within diets such as the GAPS diet and the paleo diet.
About Smidge
The three founders of Smidge, formerly Organic3, understand that good nutrition is the key to good health. All three have struggled with health complaints in the past and have made it their life's work to guide others towards good health through nutrition. Smidge supplements therefore focus specifically on digestion and the gut, and the formulations are composed with the greatest possible care and without unnecessary additives. The name Smidge means a small quantity, underscoring the fact that they always produce their products in small batches in order to guarantee extra quality. This makes the products suitable for the most sensitive of users and achieves the best possible result. In putting together their unique product line, the work of Dr Weston A. Price and Dr Natasha Campbell-McBride is an important source of inspiration. At Smidge, they have been working together for years on their mission to offer products with essential nutrients that can support the digestive system and help maximise the absorption of nutrient-rich food.
