Ongoing research has discovered that probiotics can provide numerous health benefits that far extend our gut so it’s no surprise that the supplement market is pumping out new products at a rapid pace. Combination supplements such as Dr. Kellyann BellaBiotics have become particularly popular, but is this supplement really worth the high price tag? Let’s find out.
About BellaBiotics
Dr. Kellyann Petrucci is a celebrity wellness expert and board-certified naturopathic doctor, certified nutrition consultant, and bestselling author. She is the creator of Dr. Kellyann’s Bone Broth Diet and The 10-Day Belly Slimdown, both of which are New York Time bestsellers. Dr. Kellyann has been featured on many popular media outlets including Dr. Oz and Good Morning America. She is the creator of Dr. Kellyann health and wellness supplements which include a variety of products from bone broths to collagen to cleanses.
One of Dr. Kellyann’s recent products, BellaBiotics, was launched in July 2021. This product consists of a prebiotic/probiotic combo that is advertised to help nourish the gut while feeding the skin.
BellaBiotics contains four main ingredients: Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactococcus lactis, Korean mint, and FutureCeuticals’ Dermaval (a blend of fruit and vegetable concentrates that reportedly inhibit human neutrophil elastase activity).
BellaBiotics Benefits
According to the Dr. Kellyann webpage, the ingredients in BellaBiotics target your skin and gut microbiomes from a cellular level, helping to restore your skin’s elasticity, smooth out wrinkles and skin sagging, protect against ultraviolet damage from electronic devices, boost your body’s collagen and elastic production, and improve your digestive health from the inside out.
It goes on to state that this product helps to retrain your skin’s behavior, rebuild foundational beauty from its core, and restore your skin’s youthful resilience and glow.
BellaBiotics Ingredients
The four main ingredients in BellaBiotics include Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactococcus lactis, Korean mint, and FutureCeuticals’ Dermaval.
Probiotics
BellaBiotics contains 20 billion CFU of Lactobacillus paracasei and 10 billion CFU of Lactococcus lactis probiotic strains. Ongoing research has found numerous health benefits to probiotic supplementation ranging from gut health to immune health, skin health, and more.
In fact, recent studies have found that the healthy bacteria in our gut may have a strong influence on our skin health and may even suppress certain skin conditions by decreasing oxidative stress, reducing inflammatory responses, and improving our immune function.
Taking probiotic supplements is believed to help increase the good bacteria in your gut, known as your gut flora, which can help balance your gut microbiome and potentially provide benefits to your skin’s microbiome through the gut-skin axis. It’s believed many skin conditions may even be the result of alterations in our gut. While promising, research for this is ongoing and the mechanism of action is still not well known due to the many varieties of probiotic strains and the specific functions of each.
Korean Mint
BellaBiotics contains 350mg of Korean mint extract per serving. Recent research has found that Korean mint may help provide anti-photoaging effects. Photoaging is a result of excessive exposure to ultraviolet light which can result in wrinkles, dryness, and roughness of the skin. It’s hypothesized that Korean mint helps to reduce the effects of photoaging by activating type 1 pro-collagen production and improving collagen synthesis. While research on this is promising it is limited and further trials are warranted.
FutureCeuticals’ Dermaval
BellaBiotics contains 50mg of Dermaval, a natural product that consists of a mixture of pomegranate, asparagus, okra, coffee, acerola, camu camu, onion, acai berry, and mangosteen. Dermaval is a FutureCeuticals product that is advertised to protect against collagen and elastin degradation.
Collagen and elastin are both essential components for the structure and function of our skin. When these are degraded, our skin loses luster, elasticity, moisture, and structure which can result in premature signs of aging. Each ingredient is believed to perform a specific function. For example, acerola, mangosteen, and camu camu are rich in vitamin C which promotes collagen synthesis while pomegranate extract contains punicaligins which help to prevent collagen breakdown.
While this product has gained a lot of popularity in the supplement field, the research using Dermaval was conducted on only 20 participants. While the product showed benefits towards skin health, further studies utilizing larger sample sizes are needed before this product should be recommended. With that said the ingredients in this product are not likely to be harmful to most healthy adults.
Does BellaBiotics Work?
Based on the ingredients in Dr. Kellyann BellaBiotics and the subsequent research available, this product will likely provide benefits to some consumers however, the benefits will vary from person to person. Many research studies support the beneficial effects of ingredients such as probiotics for skin health however, other ingredients such as Korean mint and Dermaval are still limited in their research studies. Those who struggle with getting adequate probiotic sources in their diet may notice some improvements in both skin and gut health with this product but, as with any supplement, individual results will vary.
Who is BellaBiotics Best For?
BellaBiotics is best for healthy adults without immunocompromised conditions who struggle to get adequate probiotics from diet alone. Those who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or nursing, should avoid taking this product. If you are taking any medication for a chronic condition, always consult your doctor or healthcare provider before adding this supplement to your routine as some ingredients can interact with certain medications.
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BellaBiotics
- Formula includes Probiotics, Korean Mint, and FutureCeuticals’ Dermaval
- Contains two strains of probiotics
- Benefits skin and gut health
Claims vs. Reality
Dr. Kellyann claims BellaBiotics targets skin and gut microbiomes from a cellular level, helping to restore skin’s elasticity, smooth out wrinkles and skin sagging, protect against ultraviolet damage from electronic devices, boost collagen and elastic production, and improve digestive health from the inside out. While these are some lofty claims, some of them are valid while others may be a little too hyped up.
For example, it is likely that those who aren’t getting sufficient probiotics from their diet or suffer from skin conditions because of a poor gut microbiome may notice some beneficial impacts from taking this supplement, while those who have a balanced diet rich in probiotic sources may not notice as significant of a difference.
Additionally, those who struggle with photoaging as a result of excessive UV exposure or low collagen production from age, poor diet, or lifestyle habits may see some improvements as the ingredients in BellaBiotics also support collagen production and may have some impacts on reducing collagen and elastin breakdown. However, it is important to note that further studies on these are still warranted therefore it’s not a guarantee that these results will occur with everyone.
Is BellaBiotics Safe?
The ingredients in Kellyann BellaBiotics are not associated with any adverse or significant side effects. The main side effects reported from the ingredients in this product are potential allergic reactions and gastrointestinal discomfort. Those who are immunocompromised should avoid taking any product that contains probiotic strains. Additionally, some of the herbal ingredients in this product may interact with various medications therefore it’s important to always disclose any supplement use with your doctor or healthcare provider.
Where to Buy BellaBiotics
You can purchase Dr. Kellyann BellaBiotics directly from its website, drkellyann.com.
A 30-day supply of BellaBiotics costs $49 with the option to subscribe to monthly refills to save 10%.
