Benefits Of Soil-Based Organisms (SBOs)

As people look for additional ways to improve their health naturally, soil probiotics have gotten renewed interest. In this article, we will discuss the health benefits of soil-based organisms. 

What Are Soil-Based Organisms?

Soil-based organisms are the microorganisms that live in the soil, used similarly as probioitcs. For centuries, people grew their own food and ate the crops directly from the ground without washing it. (The healthy bacteria would be on the leaves, roots, low growing leaves, and ultimately, the person’s hands). When consumed even in small amounts, soil-based probiotics can multiply in the gut and join forces with the trillions of good bacteria that reside in the body’s existing microbiome, helping to maintain overall gut health.

Common Soil-Based Probiotics

There are over 100 species of bacteria and other organisms living in the soil. The following are four of the most widely studied soil-based probiotics:

• Bacillus coagulans (Weizmannia coagulans). Helps good bacteria colonize in the gut
• Bacillus subtilis. Supports gut repair and produces antibiotics
• Bacillus clausii (Alkalihalobacillus clausii). Helps modulate the immune response
• Bacillus indicus (Metabacillus indicus*). Can produce carotenoids,the source of the red, yellow and orange colors of many plants. 

Each bacteria species has its own unique characteristics and health benefits. Today, many of these bacteria have been isolated and added to probiotic supplements separately. As a result, it's important to understand the different soil-based probiotics and their functions. 

Benefits of Soil-Based Organisms

Studies on soil-based organisms indicate they can provide many important health benefits:

Improved immune function. 

Soil based probiotics have been used to “restart” the immune systems of people with allergies, lung cancer, and tuberculosis. In HIV patients, use of soil-based probiotics had positive results in energy, weight gain, and improvements in some chronic conditions as well. [1]

Ease Depression and Anxiety. 

SBOs were found to “significantly decrease the depression scale score” in randomized control trials. They also had an effect on both healthy individuals and patients with major depressive disorder. [2]

Boost neurotransmitters. 

Preliminary studies on the consumption of SBOs have been shown to produce and/or consume a wide range of mammalian neurotransmitters, including dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). [3] This boost in neurotransmitters could increase feelings of happiness, improve health, alertness, mood and pain relief.

Reduced cholesterol levels. 

High triglyceride levels (greater than 200 mg/dl) have been linked to an increased risk of atherosclerosis and ultimately, coronary artery disease and stroke. SBOs were found to reduce total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in overweight or obese individuals. [4]

Relief of constipation. 

Constipation is defined as the infrequent, irregular, or difficulty of having bowel movements. Prebiotics are the ingredients in certain foods that remain undigested in the gut, which stimulate the growth of bacteria. Studies indicate prebiotics are effective treatments for chronic idiopathic constipation and showed improvement in the stool consistency, number of bowel movements and bloating. [5]

Soil-Based Organisms vs Milk Based Probiotics

Soil-based probiotics are considered more effective than dairy based probiotics in improving microbiome health for two primary reasons:

• Many milk-based probiotics won’t survive in the stomach due to its acidity, significantly reducing any long-term effects they might provide.
• Soil-based probiotics enter the body in spore form, which are resistant to stomach acid. They won’t change to probiotic bacteria until they enter the large intestine. It is during this time they begin to germinate and stimulate gut health.

Soil-Based Organisms Sources

A person can get soil-based probiotics by simply growing their own food and eating it off the vine or directly out of the ground without rinsing it off. With that said, it’s important to refrain from using pesticides that contain harmful ingredients like glyphosate. For those who can’t grow their own food, buying a couple houseplants and putting their hands in the dirt allows the body to receive the healthy bacteria through the skin.

Supplements are one of the most popular ways to consume soil based probiotics. One of the most popular brands is ION* For Gut Health

Formerly Restore For Gut Health, ION* For Gut Health is derived from 60-million-year-old soil that is full of nutrients and free of dangerous pesticides. It is a brain-boosting mineral supplement that also strengthens the gut, naturally supporting microbiome balance. In addition, it is a Terrahydrite mineral supplement that has been scientifically proven to protect the gut wall from toxins, which helps improve gut bacteria and overall health.  

Terrahydrite comes from the soil, and is made of Aqueous Humic Substances, which are carbon-rich mineral amino acids that are alkaline.

ION* For Gut Health is a daily supplement that offers to protect the GI tract from many toxins in our food and environment.  Its protections including the following:

•  Gluten and other food allergens
•  Pesticides and herbicides found in our foods
•  Antibiotics consumed from farm raised cattle 
• Genetically Modified Organisms GMOs

Instead of attempting to treat one disease in particular like other soil-based probiotics, ION* focuses on strengthening the entire gut itself. This approach helps to protect the body from a variety of harmful bacteria, infections, toxins, and pathogens that may otherwise go undetected.  Created by Zach Bush MD, ION* Terrahydrite is a patented blend with no harmful side effects.

Summary

Soil-based probiotics have many amazing health benefits. A healthy immune system, improved gut health, reduced cholesterol levels and an increase in neurotransmitters have all been linked to soil-based probiotics. Unfortunately, much of the soil’s nutrients have been depleted due to a variety of factors, including deforestation, erosion, and excessive use of fertilizers. Growing your own foods and consuming supplements containing soil-based probiotics are excellent ways to get these precious microorganisms.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is based upon the opinions of Revelation Health. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Revelation Health and associates. This article has been medically reviewed by Dr. Charles Penick, MD for accuracy of the information provided, but Revelation Health encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. 

References:

[1] Soil-Based Organisms Improve Immune Function: Shift Cytokine Profile From TH2 To TH1.   Posit Health News. Spring 1998;(No 16):16-8. [PMID: 11365013]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11365013/

[2] Ruixue Huang,Ke Wang andJianan Hu. Nutrients | Free Full-Text | Effect of Probiotics on Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.  Nutrients 2016, 8(8), 483; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8080483.  https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/8/8/483/htm

[3] Philip Strandwitz. Neurotransmitter Modulation By The Gut Microbiota. Brain Res. 2018 Aug 15;1693(Pt B):128-133. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.015. [PMID: 29903615]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29903615/

[4] Shoumeng Yan 1, Zhenwei Tian, Meng Li, Bo Li, Weiwei Cui.Effects Of Probiotic Supplementation On The Regulation Of Blood Lipid Levels In Overweight Or Obese Subjects: A Meta-Analysis.   Food Funct. 2019 Mar 20;10(3):1747-1759. doi: 10.1039/c8fo02163e. [PMID: 30860222]. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30860222/

[5] Maliha Naseer 1, Shiva Poola 2, Suleyman Uraz, (et al). Therapeutic Effects of Prebiotics on Constipation: A Schematic Review. Curr Clin Pharmacol. 2020;15(3):207-215. doi: 10.2174/1574884715666200212125035. [PMID: 32048977].  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32048977/