Saccharomyces Boulardii | 60 Capsules | NOW Foods

Saccharomyces Boulardii by NOW Foods

When people think of live cultures, most think of bacteria, such as in yogurt. This saccharomyces boulardii from NOW Foods is something different: a yeast. Two capsules together contain 10 billion colony-forming units of strain I-3799. The capsules are plant-based and the bottle should be stored in the refrigerator, so that the yeast cells remain alive for as long as possible.

A yeast from the skin of lychees

The story of this yeast begins in 1923. The French microbiologist Henri Boulard was traveling through Indochina, present-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. There, he investigated the skin of tropical fruits such as lychee and mangosteen. On those skins, he found a yeast that he named after himself. Later, it turned out that saccharomyces boulardii is genetically very close to Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the yeast we use to bake bread and brew beer. That is why the official name is also on the label: S. cerevisiae var. boulardii. Yet, this variant behaves differently. It grows at a higher temperature, around 37 degrees, exactly your body temperature.

How a yeast differs from bacterial cultures

The difference lies in the structure of the cell. Yeast cells are larger than bacteria and have a sturdy cell wall made of sugary substances. Another characteristic is that the yeast does not permanently nestle in your intestines. It travels with your food through your digestive tract and leaves your body again after a few days. That is why people take it daily. Many people wonder how many colony-forming units (CFU, the number of living cells that can multiply) you need. Two capsules together contain 10 billion CFU.

How to use the capsules

The advice on the bottle is to take one to two capsules two to three times a day, between meals. Between meals because your stomach produces less acid then. Store the bottle refrigerated, then the yeast cells will stay alive the longest. If you take it with you for a day, that is not a problem, but put it back in the refrigerator afterwards. In addition to the yeast, the capsules contain a small amount of inulin (FOS), a plant fiber, and guar gum. Both serve as an excipient. With 60 capsules, you have 30 servings of two capsules.

The capsules are made of hypromellose, a plant-based material, and are made without wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or nuts. NOW Foods checks the number of living cells in its own laboratory. Good to know: if you have a weakened immune system or use substances that suppress your immunity, consult your doctor first. For those who consciously choose a boulardii yeast in capsule form, with a known strain and a clear amount of living cells, this saccharomyces boulardii is a straightforward option.