Tiny doses. Massive results.
NOTE: SMIDGE WAS CALLED GUTPRO UP UNTIL OCTOBER 2020
Let's talk bugs.... the good ones! You will need to consider these if you're on the pursuit of building a strong wellness and lifestyle foundation for you and your family, especially with any kind of immune or digestive issues.
If there was one probiotic that was designed especially around supporting those with skin and digestive issues, SmidgeInfant™ (for immature and sensitive digestive systems). It is a small-batch supplement that focuses on clean, premium formulas with minimal ingredients. It was formulated after gathering extensive information including from those undertaking healing protocols such as Gut and Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) and is perfect for those with histamine issues.
Read on to find out more and don't forget to check out the discount code at the very end of this article!
"As a practitioner I have tried many probiotic supplements with my clients over the years but was always concerned about additives and fillers as well as the streptococcus and acidophilus strains which never seemed to agree with my more sensitive ASD/GAPS clients. So imagine my delight when I first came across GutPro™ and my wish had come true – clean, pure, d-lactate free, no unnecessary strains, no fillers and a concentrated formula which can be used by the whole family and is the most cost effective probiotic I’ve been able to find. Many happy clients later I can highly recommend it!" Kitsa Yanniotis
Building gut health.
Often the parents I'm working with are taking active steps to resolve symptoms so they are mindful and proactive on all the ways they can support a sustainable, healthier way of living. They are likely reducing chemical and toxin exposure at home, preparing nourishing nutrient dense foods, choosing natural remedies to support wellbeing and spending more time together outside, playing and connecting.
So why is gut health an important part of this picture? Because it is not just where we digest the food that will fuel our bodies, it is also the home to our immune system and importantly, our microbiome. There are two key parts to gut health I tend to focus on:
Leaky Gut Syndrome: thought to occur when the intestinal lining has become porous allowing undigested food proteins, yeasts, bacteria, toxins and parasites to cross into the bloodstream - alerting the immune system to respond often with the release of a chemical called histamine and part of the allergy sensitisation process, often also sitting alongside low stomach acid and inadequate digestive enzyme production.
Then there is Gut Dysbiosis, best described as an imbalance of the beneficial flora in our gut.
You may not know it and the idea may even gross you out a little - but our bodies are home to over 100 trillion bacteria, yeasts and even viruses! In our gut, this is our microbiome. Some of its inhabitants are beneficial 'good bugs', some less so, but all play a role within a balanced symbiotic colony to destroy pathogens and produce crucial vitamins such as Vitamin K, folate and short-chain fatty acids. Having the 'right' mix of bugs is important for our well being and linked to numerous health benefits including better digestion, improved immune function, better mental health, clearer skin and more.
However on the flip-side, there are quite a few factors which can negatively affect our microbiome, meaning that bacteria becomes out of balance - known as dysbiosis - which allows the pathogenic bugs to thrive. These factors could include getting sick, antibiotic use, not eating a diverse range of foods, lack of sleep, unhealthy habits such as alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, chronic stress and more.
So it's important to keep our gut bacteria in balance, ensuring we are promoting the growth and diversity of different bugs especially the beneficial ones. We can support this through eating a diet rich in a variety of nutrient dense wholefoods, acknowledging the role of prebiotics (a type of fibre that is not digested which helps to increase healthy gut bacteria), making healthier lifestyle choices, managing stress and only using antibiotics when necessary as even short-term use is thought to have a harmful effect on gut bacteria that may last for as long as two years. Then there are probiotics, which are friendly bugs designed to provide health benefits, that you can find in fermented foods (such as sauerkraut) or in supplements, such as SmidgeInfant™ and they're often a cornerstone element to gut healing.
Science is still exploring exactly how it all works so we are learning more about the importance of the gut, but it seems clear that these bugs do exert a profound influence over our wellness so I do believe most of us are likely to benefit from incorporating the right supplement.
Why I recommend Smidge
SmidgeInfant™ is an impressive probiotic and I believe the best on the market today. It is certainly one of the most popular products within the allergy/gut healing community. Even though we're no longer on the active gut recovery journey, it's something we still incorporate into our lifestyle since. We don't take a lot of products and so I have some very specific criteria on what we will include, knowing that with such clean and powerful products, a little goes a long way.
Here is a list of it's impressive features:
A concentrated mix of potent probiotics, created for even the most sensitive person.
Contains eight clinically-proven strains of human probiotics (L. plantarum, L. gasseri, L. salivarius, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. infantis, B. longum, B. lactis)
Provides 25+ billion CFUs per 1/32 teaspoon.
Designed based on feedback from gut health promoting communities.
Contains only histamine-neutral or histamine-degrading strains of probiotic bacteria.
Does not contain strains known to contribute to d-lactate acidosis.
Does not contain streptococcus thermophilus or other strains linked to irritation.
Does not contain any spore-forming strains of probiotics (e.g. soil bacteria).
Is free of inulin, maltodextrin and other prebiotics.
Is free of excipients and other added ingredients, i.e. mag stearate, silica, titanium dioxide.
Is free of common allergens. All strains are grown on a dairy-free, soy-free, vegetarian, non-GMO culture.
Does not contain milk/casein, eggs, fish, shellfish, wheat/gluten, peanuts, tree nuts, yeast, corn or soy.
Incredibly easy to calibrate the right dose for your needs. Many take 1/64 of a teaspoon daily (using the “drop” measure on the spoon set)
There is a formulation specifically designed for babies and children.
Produced in a GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) facility.
All raw materials and finished product are verified by an independent lab for purity and stated potency.
"GutPro™ is changing the lives of my clients daily. Not all probiotics are the same, quality really matters. I researched and used almost every available probiotic with little to no progressive results, until I discovered GutPro™. Since using GutPro™ I am seeing cases where deep cellular viral, bacterial, allergies, sensitivities, mood and behavior concerns greatly improving and in many cases, resulting in full correction of the imbalance. As a Naturopath, I use GutPro™ myself and have seen amazing health improvements. I would not have the thriving wellness practice I have today without using GutPro™ to help facilitate my clients in their healing, rebuilding and repairing process." Melissa Malinowski
Who should take Smidge?
Probiotics are an efficient way to incorporate beneficial gut bacteria. It's thought that babies, especially those like my daughter who were born via c-section, are dependent on their mothers during both gestation and labour for their intestinal flora requirements. This can become something to consider if mum has perhaps unknowingly passed on her compromised flora or when the baby missed out on passing through the birth canal and thus the collection of a rather impressive array of bugs on the way.
I would recommend SmidgeInfant™ for the majority of our clients and readers especially those working through immunity, digestive or skin related complaints, with babies and young children (and perhaps those with extremely compromised digestive systems) using the infant probiotic.
Studies are showing certain stains are not only safe but also effective in treating certain conditions. To be on the safe side, it's always best to check with your family doctor before starting probiotics or any supplements.
"GutPro™ has been a pivotal part of my daughter’s healing. When we transitioned her onto the GAPS diet at 18 months old, we not only needed a probiotic that was GAPS legal, but one that would work for her chronically ill and extremely sensitive immune system. With severe allergies to corn, dairy, soy and wheat, she needed a probiotic that was free of even the smallest trace amounts. She also required a gentle probiotic that would begin to balance her body bacteria, without containing some of the more aggressive strains that were just too hard on her body. It took perseverance and time, but GutPro™ was our answer." Nichole Sawatzky
Histamine intolerance? I have good news!
Histamine is a chemical involved in our immune system which causes an immediate inflammatory response where the blood vessels dilate so white blood cells can respond. If our bodies are not able to break down histamine very well, symptoms of an intolerance can develop which can include things such as headaches, congestion, difficult falling/staying asleep, skin rashes and hives. Some foods naturally contain higher levels of histamine and some release histamine but in my eczema clinic, it's becoming an increasing factor for consideration. Personal tolerance levels can differ day to day, and it's impossible to avoid this compound altogether and still eat.
Many people with histamine issues do have trouble when taking probiotics that contain histamine producing strains such as L.casei so it's fantastic that the strains included in SmidgeInfant™ are either histamine-neutral or histamine-degrading which means when taking this product, you don't have to worry it will increase your histamine load!
How to Give Smidge Probiotics
We need to treat these probiotics with respect as they are premium, pure and potent therefore it's important to start slowly with a much lower dose than recommended, gently increasing towards that, and perhaps taking every other day so you can easily determine how it affects your body and what dose feels best.
I recommend purchasing the Organic 3 Measuring Spoons to help make it easier to measure those minute doses! Ideally you will take SmidgeInfant™ first thing in the morning with a small amount of water around 20 minutes before having breakfast. While the most cost effective option is the powder, which also helps families needing to manage differing dosages with the measuring spoons, the capsules do offer a lot of convenience and great value.
Adults
CAPSULES
One full adult serving = two capsules per day, providing 10 billion CFU.
One full child serving = one capsule per day (presuming they can safely swallow as caps should not be opened).
POWDER
One full adult serving = 1/32 teaspoon, providing 25+ billion CFU. Each bottle has 240 adult servings.
One full child serving = 1/64 teaspoon.
Infants
This contains 7 of the same 8 strains in the adult formula however the L. plantarum is omitted and 50% of the formula is B. infantis. Since it’s so concentrated, its best to start your baby off on a very small dose, working towards 1/64 teaspoon containing 6+ billion CFU. Some parents start with only a few grains on a toothpick and work their way up.
I would highly recommend this product if you suspect your child's skin and/or digestive issues may be affecting their sleep. It is recommended from 3 months to two years plus.
The other ingredients at the time of this writing are hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, cellulose and L-leucine. The powder formulas are as is, but always verify ingredients of any supplement before taking.
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How to store
Keep refrigerated and always capped. Do not remove the moisture packet inside the bottle. Make sure the spoons are clean and dry before using them.
Ready to try?
At $130 per bottle, the SmidgeInfant™ range can seem pricey, however Functional Self NZ will ship orders over NZ$99 for free and at between 240 and 363 servings, knowing that you'll start small and work towards a full dose, one bottle of SmidgeInfant™ will likely last you around one year if not longer. This breaks down to around 50 cents a dose, and $16 a month which is not only less expensive than many inferior brands, but with a lot more punch and potency for the benefits it provides.
Save 5% if you use the code MARYANA5
To purchase in other countries, visit:
Australia: www.functionalself.com.au
United Kingdom: www.functionalself.co.uk
United States of America: GetSmidge.com
For more discussions, join me in my Facebook Group, The Healing Tribe.
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Content in this website for informational purposes only and is not considered medical advice. Please see your doctor before making any medical or lifestyle changes. I am not a doctor, this is not medical advice, none of these statements have been evaluated by any authority and and they are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease.