Did You Know That Not All Probiotics Work
There is, however, more to formulating an effective probiotic than throwing some strains in a capsule.
For example: A probiotic which does not include an organic simple starch, which some call a prebiotic, almost ensures that the probiotics will have starved to death before reaching you. Including a prebiotic also greatly increases the odds that the probiotic strains in the product will establish a successful colony one that will be able to sustain itself over time.
Keep track of time: Effective probiotics will noticeably begin working within days. Usually you will notice an increase in natural energy and digestive regularity first, with healthy weight changes within two weeks.
With so many brands of probiotics on the market, how can you find the right one? Because every product claims to be the most effective, it can be hard to find the probiotic that best suits your particular needs. Luckily, thats what were here for.
Firstly, this list will ONLY include probiotics which are manufactured in accordance with cGMP guidelines.
If a probiotic was NOT manufactured in clean, regulated conditions, as per cGMP guidelines then in all likelihood it will not only be ineffective but it could be POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS!
There are 3 factors which impact our grade of each probiotic. They are listed and explained below.
CFU this is the total count of all of the bacteria in the probiotic, VERY important because probiotics are ONLY EFFECTIVE IN ADEQUATE AMOUNTS.
How We Chose The Best Probiotics
Here are the factors we considered to create our list of the best probiotic supplements.
Probiotic Strains
We looked to see how many different probiotic strains were included in each product and the types of strains used.
Number of Colony Forming Units
The number of Colony Forming Units, or CFUs, is the number of active microorganisms present in each serving of the probiotic.
Other Ingredients
We noted if the supplement contained additional digestive enzymes, fiber, or prebiotics to help boost digestive health.
Dietary Concerns
The best probiotics are also vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and non-GMO.
Do Men And Women Need Different Probiotics
In terms of intestinal support, men and women require basically the same types of probiotics. But as men and women have different bodies and different body composition, there are some instances where they differ with regard to what intestinal issues they may have and what probiotic strains they may require to cure those issues.
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The Right Type Of Bacteria
Its critical to choose strains that will address your specific problem and have been evaluated for your population group.
As mentioned, probiotics behave in a strain-specific way, so it is important to get the exact strain that has been evaluated for your specific concern.
In the next section, I will provide more details on the strains to choose for each specific health concern.
Swiss Bioenergetics Full Spectrum Probiotic Defence
Contained inside DRCaps capsules, the bacteria in this probiotic are particularly hardy able to withstand the acids in the stomach long enough to reach the intestines – where theyre really needed – intact.
Free from artificial ingredients and suitable for vegans, they contain 10 billion CFU so are digestive and immune system boosting. Theyve also been proven to help relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms and to galvanize the gut after a round of antibiotics.
Containing 120 capsules, these should last between 6 to 12 weeks, depending on whether theyre taken once or twice a day and come in a handy carton package that can be posted through the letter box and stored with ease.
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For Gastrointestinal Issues: Microbiome Labs Megasporebiotic
This is one of my favorite probiotics for helping to treat intestinal permeability, aka leaky gut, says Ryan Whitcomb, MS, RD, CLT, a dietitian in Jersey City, New Jersey. Its a spore-based probiotic that doesnt require refrigeration, so its convenient to take along while traveling. He likes it because it lowers the levels of certain toxins in the gut that cause inflammation. When the level is decreased, more beneficial bacteria can attach. As you can imagine, this is helpful when trying to heal the gut, he says. Learn the 14 food rules of an anti-inflammatory diet.
Buyers Guide: How To Find The Most Effective Probiotic Supplement
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are edible and usually included in fermented foods and supplements. Numerous studies have shown the effects of a balanced and imbalanced number of bacteria in ones digestive functions and how it can affect our overall health and wellness.
So, start taking probiotic supplements. They provide the right amount of gut bacteria needed by the body, resulting in an array of health benefits. Some of these include weight loss and improvement in digestive health, immune functions, and more.
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Microbiome Plus+ Probiotic: Best For Healthy Bowel
With its formulation of vegetarian and non-gluten nutraceuticals, MicroBiome Plus+ Probiotic may help boost immunity. Moreover, through regular oral consumption of these capsules, one may keep a quintessential metabolism of the bile and a balanced bacterial composition.
This Longhill Enterprise Ltd Canada-manufactured product may maintain bowel irregularities and help in the reduction of bloating and heartburn.
This doctor-recommended probiotic may help healthy heart stimulation and body protection and fight with dangerous illnesses.
MicroBiome Plus+ Probiotic also has benefits in addition to reducing cholesterol and enhancing Vitamin A, which all contribute to a life of health and wellness. With regular consumption of this probiotic, one may have digestive mechanism advancement and an increase in nutrient absorption.
Tula Daily Probiotic & Skin Health Complex: Best For Skin Care
TULA Daily Probiotic & Skin Health Complex contains a mixture of lactobacillus strains, bifidobacterium strains, and vitamin C. With this addition of vitamin C, TULA Daily Probiotic & Skin Health Complex has been found to enhance your skin moisture retention and texture.
As the title indicates, you can take this probiotic once per day with food over the course of a few months to see the best results. In fact, after 12 weeks of using TULA Daily Probiotic & Skin Health Complex, 83% of individuals said that their skin was hydrated and less dry, and 75% said that they could eat a wide assortment of food without having any discomfort.
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Probiotic Brand Is United Naturals
The best probiotic brand out there is United Naturals.
United Naturals flagship probiotic is Synbiotic 365, a 3-in-1 digestive health probiotic. This 3-in-1 probiotic has turned the industry upside down.
Synbiotic 365 has 20 billion CFU with 14 clinically tested probiotic strains, prebiotics as well as B vitamins. I am just so in love with this probiotics potential to help people with digestive problems it was easy to rate it 5 out 5 stars.
They also have a forgiving return policy, so theres no risk to try this #1 ranked probiotic supplement brand. It is very well priced . Its easy to award this the 2020 probiotic of the year.
There you have it, the top 10 probiotic brands! If youd like to stay up to date on the probiotic brands, be you should click here to sign up for the Probiotics.org newsletter. When you sign up, well give you a free Probiotics Buying Guide download as well. Or, click here if youre looking specifically for the best probiotics for men.
P.S. If you canine family members are having weight, bad breath, and itching themselves till they are raw, you may want to check out our best dog probiotics article.
What Do We Look For In A Probiotic Supplement
Probiotics work like this: A small pill contains freeze-dried probiotic bacteria. They benefit your body by helping fortify your gut, digest foods properly, strengthening your immune system and keeping any bad bacteria in check. Whenever you take one, you populate your gut with these beneficial bacteria, that slowly restore your gut flora to a healthy level over time.
Generally, probiotic supplements contain three broad strains of bacteria:
- Lactobacillus
- Bifidobacterium
- Saccharomyces boulardii .
If you look at the back of a tub of yogurt or bottle of kombucha you will generally see one of these words, or a combination of them, on the ingredients label.
Probiotics are also fragile things. If they arent manufactured under controlled conditions, or tested strains arent used, or are sealed in cheap capsules, they may not be very effective . Its also a bonus if theyve run clinical trials, or have submitted their strains for third party testing.
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Md Probiotics: Best Probiotic Supplement Overall
1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum is one of the best probiotic supplements of 2021 that aids in ones microbial balance. With all of its good quality probiotic strains, 11 in total, it helps protect ones immunity from harmful diseases.
This probiotic has prebiotic fibers of nutraflora, so each capsule may revitalize and help in ones health and wellness overall. What makes it even healthier and more nutritious is its non-dairy, gluten-free composition.
1MD Complete Probiotics may also aid in the fast absorption of nutrients, prevent bloating, regulate heartburn, combat irregularities in low bowel movement and diarrhea, and assist in cell immunity function.
The consumption of probiotics assists beneficial bacteria to be brought to ones gut so it can provide the support to the body to enhance well-being.
Buying Guide For Best Probiotics
The human body houses trillions of bacteria that work to keep it functioning at an optimal level. Probiotics are wellness supplements that introduce additional good bacteria to your system. These supplements are claimed to provide a multitude of health benefits, from clearing your skin to losing weight to improving brain function.
Most good bacteria live in the intestines. In fact, this is where the bulk of your immune system is housed. At times, the good bacteria in your digestive tract can become depleted, opening the door for bad bacteria to come in and take over. By introducing a probiotic supplement, you can help replenish the good bacteria to keep your body functioning the way it should.
Different strains of probiotics do different things, but none of them will do you any good unless the bacteria cultures are live and unexpired. Potency is another issue you should pay attention to.
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What Side Effects Can Probiotic Supplements Give You
Most of the probiotic supplements are safe to use. You can have a few side effects if you are taking some medications or have some chronic conditions such as Crohns disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes, etc.
You should consult with your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement if you have any types of chronic illness or are on medications. If you are taking antibiotics then wait for a few hours before taking probiotic supplements to avoid the side effects.
Some common symptoms of those who have negative reactions to probiotics supplements are as follows:
- Diarrhea
- Rash or hives
- Itching
If you are not tolerating any particular supplement, stop taking it immediately. Start with small doses after consulting your doctor and slowly increase to the recommended dosage.
Scientific Evidence Of Probiotics
Probiotics have existed for centuries as naturally occurring in yogurt, cheese, and other fermented dairy products. With technology improving, scientists and medical experts started making these probiotics’ cultures using bacterial strains to develop supplements. These cultures are nurtured in a modern laboratory using friendly bacteria that are safe for human consumption.
Probiotic dosages are referred to as Colony Forming Units, mostly termed as CFUs. The higher the CFU, the longer the shelf life and the higher the quality of the probiotic. However, the mode of delivery affects a probiotic’s effectiveness regardless of the CFUs. A well-coated probiotic with fewer CFUs may do more work than a poorly coated probiotic with more CFUs.
According to the National Health Interview Survey in 2012, at least 4million adults in the US had used Probiotic within the past 30days during the survey. Over the years, the number has increased immensely as more people discover these probiotics and new companies are developed more rapidly as technology improves.
Most digestive tract issue such as diarrhea, indigestion, bloating gas, stomach discomfort may be due to poorly balanced bacteria in the stomach. Antibiotics destroy both useful and harmful bacteria when taken that’s why most doctors recommend taking a probiotic after a complete antibiotic dosage.
Benefits of probiotic supplements according to a National Health Interview Survey Review are as follows:
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Whats The Difference Between Probiotics And Prebiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that you can find in fermented foods, yogurts, and supplements. This is the good bacteria that maintain your gut health.
On the other hand, prebiotics are indigestible fibers that come from different plant sources such as garlic, onion, wheat, or barley these sources will feed the probiotics.
So, prebiotics are the foods that feed probiotics present in your gut and help to increase their number for healthy functions.
Swansons Femflora Probiotic For Women
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While a probiotic generally tailored to your health concern may be beneficial, some companies are going a step further.
Ombre offers a gut test that helps identify any gut microbiome imbalances and evaluates how this may be impacting your overall health.
Based on the results of this at-home test, they then recommend a specific type of probiotic product to address your health concern.
The probiotics they carry include blends for weight management, immunity, gut health, mood, and energy.
You can read more about my experience with Ombre and the results here.
Price: Gut health tests cost $99, and probiotics are $39 for a 30-day supply
The Bottom Line: If you have tried other general probiotics in the past with no improvement, using the Ombre gut test to identify exactly what you need may be a good option.
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Essential Oils And Probiotics
So if weed killers and antibiotics affect gut flora, have you ever wondered whether essential oils affect the microbiome? According to Dr. Olivier Wenker, 7 research studies have found that essential oils support the elimination of bad bacteria, but they dont destroy the good bacteria.But what about probiotics? Should we take them to repopulate our microbiome, so we can optimise our health on every level? Absolutely we should! That is why Young Living has created Life 9.
What Are The Benefits Of Probiotic Gummies
We all know that a probiotic works to maintain a healthy balance in your body and boost up your immune system. If the fact that they help in food digestion, improving mental health conditions, and promoting the overall flora in your gut doesn’t cut it for you, here are two benefits that make these supplements a must have.
Healthy Skin
Some health conditions like inflammation and depression can disturb the microbial balance in your body. This may result in increased skin and vaginal infections. Probiotics restore the balance in microbes which leads to improving your skin health and reducing the severity of prevailed skin diseases.
Age Defying
To those who aspire to remain youthful and bloom their garden of life, you’ve got a great chance to preserve the freshness of youth for a longer time with probiotics.
Many cosmetic products claim to be effective in reducing the aging effect but they also damage the skin cells from inside. Rather anti-skin, if you ask us. A probiotic supplement has the potential to slow down your skin aging process and unlike cosmetics, they dont cause any harm to your skin.
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Renew Life Colon Care Probiotic
Product Strength: 80 billion CFU
Price: $$$
Renew Life Colon Care Probiotic is the best probiotic for men due to the care and quality involved in creating it. These delayed-release capsules support digestion, bowel irregularity, constipation, and overall gut health. With 12 clinically studied strains, you can purchase with confidence, knowing youre getting high-quality bacteria that are designed to do their job right.
How We Select Supplements
Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements you can read more about our dietary supplement methodology.
We support supplements that are evidence-based and rooted in science, as well as clinically tested and approved for use in humans. We value certain product attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products. These attributes include non-GMO, Organic, and allergy-friendly products that are free of most artificial ingredients including colors, flavors, preservatives, and sweeteners. When possible, we recommend products that are third-party tested and certified.
It’s important to note that the FDA does not review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they go to market. Our team of experts has created a detailed, science-backed methodology to choose the supplements we recommend.
Here, the best probiotics:
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Helps with diarrhea, gas, and bloating
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For adults and kids
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Do Probiotics Have Any Side Effects
The short answer is yes and no.
I know, thats not very helpful.
But the fact of the matter is, different probiotics affect different people in different ways.
So as we discussed earlier, a particular brand may work great for me and give me no side effects. You may take that exact same supplement and get stomach pain and indigestion.
Once again, its really a matter of finding a particular brand that works well for your particular situation, body and needs.
In general, reported side effects with probiotic use are very low.
Some people get some gas and bloating when they start using probiotics. Luckily, this is usually temporary and goes away with time.
As always, its best to speak to your doctor before using probiotics just to go over these kinds of things. This applied doubly to children, the elderly or anyone who is very ill and/or has a compromised immune system.
The vast majority of people get no side effects from probiotics, but it never hurts to get a professionals opinion!