Kelly LeVeque is a holistic nutritionist and health coach for celebrity clients like Jessica Alba and the mother of two little boys here in LA. She is one of our most trusted wellness pros and has appeared on our pages countless times.

Because Kelly has a talent for making all kinds of health science feel accessible, we asked her to dive into the science of probiotics with Seed, whose DS-01™ Daily Synbiotic has quickly become an industry gold standard.

Kelly personally uses and recommends Seed’s DS-01™ Daily Synbiotic to clients, many of whom notice changes in their skin health as well as their digestion, as Seed includes four dermatologically specific strains known for promoting healthy skin texture and clarity.

How The Heck Do Probiotics Really Work?

Let’s talk about how probiotics really work so that you can make more informed decisions and navigate the crowded market of probiotic products.

Lately, the term “probiotic” is being thrown around as a marketing term with a growing number of consumer products fortifying everything from protein bars to skincare creams in order to differentiate or elevate their product positioning without the evidence to back claims. Simply adding microbes to any product and labeling them “probiotic” only preys on consumers’ naivete.

To understand how probiotics work, you first have to know what a probiotic actually is.

The scientific definition authored by ISAPP, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics:

Pro·bi·ot·ic /ˌprōbīˈädik/ | Live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.

For a product to meet the scientific definition of a “probiotic,” it must include one or more strains of living microorganisms that have been clinically studied at a specific, effective dosage. Those strains must be shown in one or more clinical studies to produce the claimed health benefit.

So before you buy a probiotic just because it has that high “CFU number” (colony forming units, which indicates the number of replicable cells) on the label, remember that ‘more’ isn’t necessarily better. The optimal dosage is the one that clinically demonstrated a beneficial effect.

Seed’s consumer innovations — DS-01™ Daily Synbiotic for adults and PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic for kids and teens are formulated with strains that have collectively been studied in over 30 published randomized, placebo-controlled clinical studies. This is important as many probiotics only disclose the species (not the strains) so it’s challenging to know what you’re actually consuming.

That’s the kind of science you want to see behind your probiotic products.

Beyond Digestion: The Benefit of Probiotics Beyond Your Gut

Yes, certain probiotics can significantly impact your digestion with benefits like ease of bloating, increased intestinal motility and better regularity. But specific probiotics have been studied for benefits beyond digestive health in these areas as well:

For the Heart: Seed’s DS-01™ includes multiple strains of bacteria that modulate cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol, plasma lipids, and systolic blood pressure. For example, L. plantarum SD- LDL400-UK was chosen specifically because it clinically demonstrated the ability to help support healthy cholesterol levels (already in a normal range) in humans.

For Glowing Skin: Seed includes four specific strains for dermatological outcomes known for promoting healthy skin texture and clarity and it’s always my first recommendation for looking to support resilient, healthy skin.

For Nutrient support: Our microbiome influences the health of our entire body through the production of byproducts, like butyrate, (an anti-inflammatory short chain fatty acid) but it also influences other functions like micronutrient synthesis (how our body manufactures compounds like vitamins), by increasing the your body’s production of vitamins like vitamin B9, or folate. Folate (not the synthetic folic acid) is a critical nutrient for fetal development and neural tube closure, and is also crucial forDNA and red blood cell production, helping to prevent anemia and contributing to cellular health. DS-01™ is the first multistrain synbiotic to include a strain that increases the intestinal production of bioactive folate.

Why I Use Seed For My Family + Clients

I personally use and recommend Seed’s DS-01™ Daily Synbiotic for my clients.

DS-01™ Daily Synbiotic was formulated in collaboration with Dr. Gregor Reid—who chaired the United Nations – WHO expert panel that first authored the global definition of the term “probiotics” and was a founding member of ISAPP. (Impressed yet?)

A reminder: in order for probiotics to optimize their full spectrum of benefits, they must first survive the digestive tract. Seed developed a proprietary technology (Viacap®), a “nested” capsule-in-capsule that helps shield against stomach acid, digestive enzymes, and bile salts, and safeguards viability through digestion, to deliver 100% of the starting dose to your colon.

My children also use Seed’s new PDS-08™ Pediatric Daily Synbiotic which I recommend to clients who are parents or caregivers of kids aged 3-17.

For kids, Seed’s PDS-08™ is the first of its kind (a 9-strain synbiotic to be studied in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial pediatric population and to support ease of bloating and easy, frequent poops, with no observed side effects or GI distress (which can be commonly reported with many high-dose fermentable prebiotics/ fiber supplements).. It also contains 5 grams of prebiotic fiber per serving, which I appreciate given that 95% of kids in the US don’t get their daily recommended fiber intake.

PDS-08™ is my first line of defense for any of my client’s that have kids with digestive issues.

Explore Seed’s offerings for 15% off with our exclusive code CHALK15 and receive 15% off your first month of subscription. Still want to learn more? Read one of our editor’s experiences with Seed and her gut health HERE.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. 

This story is brought to you in partnership with Seed. From time to time, TCM editors choose to partner with brands we believe in to bring our readers special offers. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider for any questions you have regarding a medical condition, and before undertaking any diet, exercise or other health-related programs.