Align Digestive Care Probiotic Supplement, Capsules

What is a probiotic?

The word “probiotic” means “for life.” Probiotics are good bacteria that provide a health benefit and are essential for many vital body functions, including healthy digestion. Probiotics are increasingly being used and evaluated in the management of digestive health. When you were very young, most of the bacteria in your digestive system were good Bifidobacteria. The percentage of these good bacteria naturally decreases as we age. Align® delivers Bifantis®, a unique good Bifidobacteria that helps restore your digestive balance.* Your body needs beneficial bacteria for a number of things, including healthy digestion. But they’re fragile. Common issues such as diet, illness, and stress can disrupt your natural balance of good bacteria.

Are all probiotics created equal?

Not all probiotics are alike. Different strains of the same species may differ in a number of ways, but what matters most to you is how well the bacteria strain works for you. 

 What should I look for in a probiotic?

 According to a new set of guidelines called The P's and Q's of Probiotics, unveiled by The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), there are five criteria that consumers should consider when selecting a probiotic: probiotic strain, clinical proof, packaging, quality, and quantity.

See how Align® meets these criteria and is a good option for people wanting to build and maintain a natural defense against occasional digestive upsets.*

• Probiotic Strain: Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (Bifantis®) is the patented probiotic ingredient in Align that can help build and maintain the body’s natural defenses.
• Proof: Bifantis has been the subject of several clinical studies and has been featured in peer-reviewed journals. Please see bifantis.com for full details.
• Packaging: Align contains 1 x 10⁹ (1 billion) CFU of live bacteria when manufactured, and provides an effective level until the “best by” date on the package. Align capsules come in specially designed blister packs that ensure bacteria remain alive and effective until the date on the box.
• Quality and Quantity: DNA testing guarantees the purity of Align. The packaging and labeling meet all World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations by clearly stating:
  • Strain: Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (Bifantis)
  • Colony-forming units (CFU): 1 x 10⁹ (1 billion) live bacteria
  • Suggested serving size: One capsule daily
  • Health benefits: Promotes a healthy digestive system with ongoing probiotic protection*^†
  • Proper storage conditions: Store at room temperature; no refrigeration required.
  • Corporate contact information: AlignGI.com or (800) 208-0112
  • Calorie content: 0 calories in each capsule

Is Align like yogurt? How is it different from probiotic yogurts?

While some yogurts contain bacteria to confer benefits consistent with those of a probiotic supplement, yogurt in the United States is not required to contain any live cultures, and results from tests of yogurt products show a wide range in the levels of live bacteria. The delivery of probiotics in either yogurt or fermented milk is limited by the need for cold storage and an associated shorter shelf life. Additionally, many people with occasional digestive upsets may have trouble consuming sufficiently large quantities of these products. Align® is different because only Align contains Bifantis®, a patented probiotic strain, available in a convenient capsule form.