The Ingredients in Phillips Colon Health

Phillips Colon Health is a dietary supplement that comes in two varieties: Probiotic Caps and Probiotic + Fiber Powder. Both varieties promote overall digestive health and defend against constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating. The Probiotic + Fiber blend, however, has additional fiber content to assist in the digestive processes, and its tasteless powdered form easily dissolves in liquids and can be sprinkled over solid foods for easy administering.

Probiotics

One of the main active ingredients in Phillips Colon Health: Probiotic + Fiber is its proprietary blend of live bacteria. While the thought of ingesting these microorganisms may be off-putting, the truth about "good" bacteria such as the Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum in Phillips' probiotic formula is that these organisms promote digestive health by assisting in food digestion, producing vitamins, preventing infection and regulating the body's immune system. While some probiotic cultures are naturally present in foods such as yogurt and sauerkraut, Phillips Colon Health contains a unique blend of probiotics in a larger quantity than is typically found in these foods.

Prebiotic Insulin

Though similar in name to probiotics, prebiotics are much different in nature. Probiotics are live bacteria, whereas prebiotics are nutrients that assist in digestive regularity. Phillips Colon Health: Probiotic + Fiber contains a prebiotic insulin that promotes and supports the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria known to regulate the digestive tract.

Dietary Fiber

The prebiotic insulin found in Phillips Colon Health: Probiotic + Fiber is a natural source of dietary fiber. A 1 tsp. serving of this Phillips Colon Health blend contains 3 of the FDA's recommended 25 grams of daily fiber intake. Fiber nutrition is essential to healthy digestion because fiber -- a form of carbohydrate -- has been found to absorb water and push food along in the digestive tract, making bowel movements easier and more efficient in cleaning the digestive tract. The fiber found in Phillips Colon Health: Probiotic + Fiber is inulin, or chicory root.

Inactive Ingredients

Phillips Colon Health: Probiotic + Fiber contains several inactive, food additive ingredients, including potato starch and silicon dioxide. The potato starch is used in Phillips Colon Health formula blend as a natural binding material that contributes to the consistency of the supplement powder. The silicon dioxide contained in Phillips Colon Health is also used to achieve the powdered form, however, unlike potato starch, silicon dioxide has additional benefits. While the nutritional benefits of this mineral aren't related to digestive health, studies have shown that human consumption of silicon dioxide promotes strong bone mass, which is especially important to women.

References

• Phillips Relief: What is Phillips Colon Health Probiotic Fiber?
• Children's Hospital Boston; Understanding Pros and Cons of Probiotics; Athos Bousvaros, MD; February 2007
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Recommended Daily Values
• Fit Day: Why Fiber Nutrition is Essential for Digestion
• Oregon State University College of Health and Human Sciences: Silicon Dioxide
• Pruthvi's Foods Private Limited: Starch & Derivatives