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In partnership with Pendulum.
When I first started taking probiotics in 2012 (after my eyebrow waxer told me I needed to), I went straight to my local CVS and got the first, most recognizable box on the shelf. “I’ve done the work!” I told myself for years, having absolutely no idea what they did or if they did anything at all.
Since 2012, I’ve come to learn that not all probiotics are created equal. In fact, most of the strains supposedly “living” inside of our conventional probiotics aren’t even alive at all (which defeats the whole point!). Not only do the types of probiotics we ingest matter, but the quality of them is #MissionCritical for our gut health in the long-term.
Pendulum, which was founded by PhD doctors and scientists from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Stanford, and Berkeley, is taking gut health to the next level, determined to raise awareness about the significance of our microbiome and overall wellbeing. Did you know that our guts affect nearly every system in the body?
With so much science and research on Pendulum’s side, I decided to swing for the fences and try Metabolic Daily, a multi-strain probiotic on the market that naturally replenishes your gut microbiome to optimize your metabolism and help maintain a healthy weight—all thanks to Pendulum’s hero strain, Akkermansia muciniphila. Halle Berry, Pendulum’s Chief Communications Officer is in on it, too!
Here’s what I learned, what I felt, and what I discovered in the process (including how to say Akkermansia muciniphila).
We like
- Founded by PhD doctors + scientists
- Is the only brand in the US to use the live probiotic strain Akkermansia muciniphila
- Increases GLP-1, the hormone that tells your body it’s full*
- Sustains energy levels and boosts metabolic function*
*Based on preclinical studies
We don't like
- Some people may experience side effects that can occur when incorporating new flora and fauna to your microbiome
Dispelling Metabolic Myths
Historically, probiotics have focused on digestive health–constipation, bloating, diarrhea, all extremely valid reasons to take a probiotic. However, over the past decade or so, mainstream wellness culture has become aware of our gut health’s impact on far more than just our digestion. Probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria that help maintain a healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut—can be crucial for proper digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function.
While we shouldn’t need probiotics, the everyday stressors of modern-day society—chronic inflammation, poor diet, stress, low-quality sleep—have left our microbiomes totally imbalanced and our gut lining weak. So the next time your friend says, “But do I really need to take a probiotic,” hit ‘em with the facts.
“Metabolic Daily is literally for anyone looking for a general probiotic with the added benefits of improving metabolism, breaking down sugars and carbs better, and converting food into energy more efficiently, based on preclinical studies. Oftentimes, we experience ‘mid-afternoon slumps’ or low energy, which is actually, unknowingly related to gut health,” according to Pendulum’s Healthcare Growth Associate Alayna Hutchinson, MS, RD.
Formulated with five novel, “next-gen” strains, Metabolic Daily uses the same powerful strains of Pendulum’s flagship product, Glucose Control, but at a dose that benefits metabolic health at a lower price.
Hutchinson shared that Metabolic Daily builds on the latest research and scientific understanding of the gut microbiome and its impact on various bodily systems, in this case, the metabolism.
Look Alive
While most probiotics are based on the same two strains of bacteria (lactobacillus and bifidobacterium), Metabolic Daily uses a targeted blend of different strains, crafted with specific levels of each strain based on its role in supporting certain metabolic pathways.
Here are the five probiotic pros in one pill:
Akkermansia muciniphila: A highly targeted live strain that can only be found in Pendulum products in the US. People with metabolic issues have been shown to be deficient in Akkermansia, which can be associated with healthy weight management.
Clostridium beijerinckii: This novel Pendulum-exclusive strain produces the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, which helps the body process sugars and nourish the lining of the gut.
Anaerobutyricum hallii: This is another Pendulum-exclusive strain known to produce the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, helping the body process sugars and nourish the lining of the gut.
Clostridium butyricum: Naturally found in the human GI tract, this strain is named for its ability to produce high amounts of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate. It has been associated with digestion support and immune health.
Bifidobacterium infantis: This heavy-hitter breaks down a range of foods and produces the intermediate molecules that are used by butyrate-producing strains. It also helps maintain a healthy GI tract and alleviates digestive issues.
Akkermansia Akker-mania
Let’s just spend a little more time on Akkermansia muciniphila, Pendulum’s gut health superstar.
Hutchinson explained that “muciniphila” translates to “mucin lover.” “One of Akkermansia’s superpowers is its ability to stimulate increased mucin production in the gut lining, which strengthens gut barrier function based on preclinical studies.” In fact, research has shown that low levels of Akkermansia are correlated with an increase in health outcomes, which makes it all the more wild that most of us haven’t heard of it until Pendulum brought it to our attention!
All gut benefits aside, Akkermansia also shines in supporting a healthy metabolism. It feeds on prebiotics like polyphenols and fiber to produce butyrate, which ultimately supports our body’s natural production of GLP-1, the hormone that helps regulate appetite and cravings (aka the hormone everyone is talking about these days as it relates to GLP-1 agonists).
My Pendulum Has Swung
Heading into my Akkermansia Akker-mania, I was at somewhat of an impasse with my gut health. For YEARS, I’ve been peeling back the layers of my candida overgrowth, bacterial / fungal overgrowth, and enough bloating to inflate Brendan Fraser’s air balloon in The Mummy II. From cleanses to over-the-counter probiotics to dietary changes, some might argue I’ve seen my microbiome’s life from both sides. Needless to say, I was excited to see how Metabolic Daily could move the needle on my gastro-imbalances.
Upon receiving my Metabolic Daily three-month supply, I immediately put it into the fridge as per the advice of Hutchinson. I was both relieved and surprised to see that I only need to take one pill every day to keep my gut in check, which felt totally manageable and easily integrable into my morning routine.
For the first three-ish days, I noticed that I had some increased gas, which Hutchinson suggested was very common for anyone starting a new probiotic. I persisted with patience, and found myself gasless within the week.
Throughout the duration of my 90-day trial, I was pleasantly surprised. I noticed that my digestion was no longer sluggish post-meal, which meant that I wasn’t walking around as if a brick had dropped for hours after eating. I also noticed an uptick in my…. “BMs,” as we’ll refer to them, which meant that the bloated stomach that I had started to think was just an inherent part of my body totally disappeared. Most importantly, I found myself less impacted by a fun night out at a restaurant, where I could eat freely without worry that gluten, dairy, sugar, grains—the list is long—would leave me puffy and slow the following day.
With so many things “on the move,” I felt more mental clarity—whether it was because my gut-brain connection had actually shifted, or I just had more brain space available because I didn’t feel physically compromised.
It Takes Guts
To help continue my journey of gut healing and optimal metabolizing, I asked Hutchinson what else I could be doing to support my microbiome and the effects of Metabolic Daily as a whole.
- Eat a balanced and colorful diet of whole foods—organic fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
- Enjoy prebiotic food (garlic, onions, leeks, asparagus, bananas, and Jerusalem artichokes) and polyphenols (berries, leafy greens, apples, stone fruits, green tea) daily as tolerated.
- Limit sugar and processed foods.
- Stay hydrated by drinking half your weight in ounces per day.
- Manage stress with stress-reducing techniques like meditation, yoga, breathwork, and spending time outdoors.
- Exercise regularly.
- Get 7-9 hours of high-quality sleep per night.
