Renew Life Probiotics raises gut-wrenching issue for women

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It's a gut-wrencher of an issue -- as many as 72% of women have experienced an occassional digestive issue in the past year, including the occasional constipation, gas or diarrhea, yet the majority of those women (64%) aren't willing to disclose that "reveal" to their closest friends, according to a survey commissioned by Renew Life Probiotics.



In response, Renew Life Ultimate Flora Probiotics is launching the "Get to Know Your Gut" education campaign to put the taboo topic on the table in an effort to educate women about digestive health, how vital its ecosystem is to the body's overall health and well-being, and the benefits everyone can reap from a daily dose of probiotics.



"Many women are shocked to learn that the gut is the center of their overall health and wellness. It affects the entire body including digestion and immunity," stated Ellie Krieger, Renew Life Probiotics spokesperson and a culinary nutritionist, host of "Ellie's Real Good Food" show and author to several healthy cookbooks.



Nearly a quarter of women (22%) don't consider the status of their digestive health when they think about their overall health and wellness, which suggests they may be severely underestimating the power of their gut.



"Some women are unaware that stress (21%), diet (16%), aging (43%) and even their living environment (52%) are factors that can upset the bacterial equilibrium in the gut, which can make it difficult to feel one's best," commented Katie Keil, director marketing, Renew Life Probiotics. "Women need to know there are solutions to their digestive struggles."



There are more than 100 trillion live bacteria cultures of many diverse strains inside the digestive tract that need to be balanced in order to keep the body healthy. There are simple, everyday activities that support healthy digestion, such as eating a healthy diet, including probiotic-rich foods like kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, and yogurt, drinking plenty of water, staying physically active and managing stress. Nutrition experts also agree that a probiotic supplement is the key to replenishing the gut with good bacteria, and yet a third of women (34%) report that they don't clearly understand the role probiotics play in the body.



"It's important to maintain gut health all year long. I generally take a food-first approach when it comes to getting the nutrients you need, but probiotic supplements offer a distinct advantage for gut balance that is difficult to get with food alone, so I recommend them along with getting more probiotic-rich foods into your life," Krieger said. "During the winter season, 63% of women look for ways to support their immune system, and with 70% of one's natural immune system support in the digestive tract, taking a probiotic is a good place to start."



The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Poll on behalf of Renew Life Probiotics from Nov. 9-11, 2016 among 1,127 U.S. women ages 18 and older.