The 2nd Best Probiotic: Just Thrive Soil
- Contains 4 soil-based probiotic strains
- 3 billion CFUs per capsule
- No fillers, Gluten-free, non-GMO, and dairy-free
- Guaranteed to survive stomach acid
- Contains antioxidants that maximise absorption
Our number 2 option is this 100% soil-based probiotic from Just Thrive that only consists of 4 bacillus strains delivered in 3 billion CFUs per capsule. If youre wondering why it only has a few strains, thats because there are only a few well-researched soil-based probiotic strains that have been shown to be beneficial, and three of them are included here. So that in and of itself is a good sign.
So while I highly recommend a wide array of strains for lactobacillus/bifidobacterium probiotics, for a soil-based probiotic like Just Thrive, 4 is actually what you want to see.
Because its a soil-based probiotic, it can naturally survive stomach acid and it doesnt need to be refrigerated to stay alive. Because of its high survival, 3 billion CFUs is more than plenty to get rid of your candidiasis.
While this simple formula might not seem like much, it was actually developed with the help of a probiotic expert named Dr. Simon Cutting, and one of the patented strains produces an antioxidant that improves its absorption once it gets into the gut. This might be why it works so quickly and effectively.
And with 960 reviews and a 4.6 star rating, its hard to complain, especially when you see testimonials like these:
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- Only 35 billion CFUs
A Deeper Look Into Candidiasis
Candida overgrowth is one of the most common causes of infections in humans. We often associate it with genital infections. But unknown to many, there are actually four types of candidiasis:
Each of these types of yeast infections can bring a whole host of varying medical conditions.
Webber Naturals Probiotic 30 Billion
And, finally, Webber Naturals Probiotic 30 Billion is a shelf-stable 8-strain formula ideal for traveling. This one-a-day formula provides a minimum of 30 billion active cells including the following 6 strains shown to act against Candida:
- L. casei 5.88 billion colony forming units
- B. breve 4.5 billion cfu
- L. rhamnosus 4.5 billion cfu
- L. acidophilus 4.2 billion cfu
- L. plantarum 4.2 billion cfu
- L. rhamnosus 2.1 billion cfu.
Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking
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Question #: How Many Billion Cfus Of Bacteria Does It Contain
CFU stands for colony forming unit, and it tells us the level of live and active bacteria that we can find in a dose of probiotic. It doesnt give the whole picture, but it does give us one way to compare probiotics.
In general terms: the higher the CFU count, the more effective that probiotic is.
Although you should also be aware of how many bacteria your probiotic will actually deliver to your gut.
Not all probiotics inform you how many CFUs they contain. Be wary. A probiotic should contain at least 10 billion CFUs for it to be useful for an adult, or at least 5 billion CFUs for children.
If you are looking at a probiotic and it doesnt clearly state the CFU count, then consider a different brand.
The higher the CFU count, the greater the amount of useful bacteria will reach your intestines where it can get to work healing your body. No one has ever overdosed on probiotics the worst side effect you are likely to see is some bloating or stomach cramps. Therefore, finding a high CFU is your safest bet.
How Do Probiotics Help With Vaginal Health
Probiotics are strains of live bacteria cultures that can be used promote healthy functions of many organs, including the female reproductive system. In the vagina, probiotics work to maintain a good balance of the healthy bacteria and microorganisms that normally live in your body, typically by restoring a healthy vaginal pH, promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and/or by making the vagina an inhospitable environment for unhealthy microorganisms like bacteria, viruses, and yeast. Probiotics can make the vagina a difficult place for harmful bacteria to live in several ways, such as producing compounds like lactic acid and hydrogen peroxide which make the vagina an inhospitable environment. Probiotics also boost the immune system, making it better able to fight and stave off infections, including those associated with womens heath like yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis, and various viruses. I personally recommend taking prebiotics along with probiotics as together they make a potent combination to support beneficial bacteria.
In a hurry?Here is a list of our Favorite Probiotics for Vaginal Health on the market.
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Which Probiotics Are Best For Candida
A common question regarding probiotics is if they can help in cases of Candida albicans yeast overgrowth, commonly known as Candidiasis or fungal dysbiosis. We’d say that it’s very important that all Candida diet and supplement protocols are undertaken with the support and guidance of a suitably qualified therapist. Many symptoms of Candida overgrowth are similar to those relating to other health conditions, so it is also essential for individuals to first consult with their doctor to rule out other medical causes for their symptoms.
What You Should Look For In A Candida Supplement
Based on our research and feedback from our Smarter Shoppers, these are the things to look for in an exceptional candida supplement:
Formulated By A Doctor
It takes specific expertise to create an effective formulation. The right mixture of ingredients and probiotic strains determines the product’s quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.
Clinically Proven Ingredients Proven To Support Fungal & Yeast Balance
The right candida supplement will include potent, all-natural ingredients that have been clinically proven to control overgrowth. The best include: Oregano oil, caprylic acid, coconut oil, and aloe vera.
Probiotic Strains
Supplementing your microbiome with probiotics is key to maintaining the right amount of candida. The bacterial strain clinically shown to help support this balance is lactobacillus acidophilus. Make sure your candida supplement contains this powerful and effective strain.
Digestive Enzymes
Unfortunately, most of the candida supplements we tested didn’t contain the right combination of the antifungal ingredients above and digestive enzymes, which help break down yeast cells into waste that our bodies can easily eliminate. Look for ingredients like protease and cellulase, both of which are highly effective yeast-killing enzymes.
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Best Value Probiotics For Candida
Seeking Health Probiota 12
Seeking Health Probiota 12: is one of the most broad-spectrum probiotic and it is also inexpensive with great reviews. Contains 7 lactobacillus species, 4 bifidobacterium species, and 1 Streptococcus species for a total of 26 billion probiotics per serving.
These include Lactobacillus rhamnosus , Lactobacillus plantarum , Lactobacillus acidophilus , Lactobacillus casei , Lactobacillus salivarius , Lactobacillus bulgaricus , and Lactobacillus paracasei . The Bifidobacterium species are Bifidobacterium bifidum , Bifidobacterium infantis , Bifidobacterium breve , Bifidobacterium lactis , and Streptococcus thermophilus.
The Seeking Health brand is third-party-inspected for purity and quality and is GMP certified. It is also free of harmful additives and fillers, with only gellan gum, vegetable fibers, and L-leucine.
Another perk of this brand is that it is doctor-formulated by Dr. Lynch.
You can find this product on . But, you should know that you can get the product at a much better price directly from the company. Compare here.
NSP Nutrition 40 Billion
Another very cost-effective probiotic is called NSP Nutrition 40 billionthat contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei, and also contains the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides and marine polysaccharide complex.
Other ingredients are safe and include rice and L-leucine with the vegetable fiber cellulose.
Our #1 Amy Myers 100 Billion Probiotic Best Overall For Curing Candida Overgrowth
- Shelf-stable and doesnt require refrigeration
- 14 strains & 100 billion CFUs per capsule
- Free from fillers and gluten, GMOs, dairy and soy
- Its backed by a 30-day return guarantee
If youre looking for a probiotic strain to help cure your candidiasis, this 100 billion BTU probiotic from Amy Myers is the one you want.
Formulated by physician Dr. Amy Myers, this probiotic comes with 14 research-backed strains and a whopping 100 billion CFUs in each capsule.
Yes, you read that rightfourteen different strainsthats double the minimum of 7 strains I recommend when choosing a probiotic supplement.
The strains includedlactobacillus and bifidobacteriumare the most well-researched probiotic strains available, and have an enormous amount of research backing their efficacy and effectiveness at curing candida overgrowth.
On Amy Myers site, they have a candida protocol that includes 5 different supplements to help overcome candida overgrowthand this is one of the ones included.
Another thing I love about this one is that its GMP certified.
As you may already know, probiotics have no governing board like the FDA to validate that the supplement contains what its supposed to contain. As a result, I strongly recommend supplements with 3rd party certification called Good Manufacturing Practices.
This means that it has been manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices to ensure safety, quality and efficacy. Basically, it works as advertised.
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Antibiotics And Other Medications
Antibiotics are made to kill the bad bacteria that are making you sick. This is a very important medical tool to help keep us healthy. Unfortunately antibiotics dont differentiate between the good bacteria living in our gut and the bad bacteria making us sick when they are used as a medical treatment.
Therefore, taking antibiotics even for just 48 hours can dramatically diminish the good bacteriain our gut. Similarly, other medications such as some forms of oral contraceptives and painkillers can disrupt our gut microbiome. Once again, when the good bacteria are diminished, theres room for Candida to overgrow in our gut.
Gut Dysbiosis Is When This Balance Is Lost
A robust gut microbiome is in perfect harmony. When this stability is upset by stress, antibiotics, alcohol, or by your diet, then gut dysbiosis can occur.
Overgrowth of the yeast Candida albicans is one form of gut dysbiosis. It can cause a huge range of symptoms including digestive problems, fatigue, food cravings, recurring yeast infections, skin problems, and more.
For this reason, it is imperative to keep the gut biome as balanced as you can. Probiotics are one way that you can help your intestines to overcome dysbiosis.
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Yogurt And Other Natural Options
Some natural options may provide relief from a yeast infection, but medical experts agree there isnt sufficient evidence to prove if theyre effective treatment options. At this point, home remedies may be best for preventing new or recurring yeast infections:
- Practice good hygiene: Change out of sweaty or wet clothing or bathing suits as soon as possible.
- Wear cotton underwear: Cotton is breathable and absorbs moisture, which can help keep your vagina dry.
- Dont put foods into your vagina: Using apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, yogurt, avocado oil, or any other food in your vagina will likely cause more harm.
- Avoid scented products: Scented tampons, pads, bubble baths, and laundry detergents can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the vagina.
- Do not douche: The vagina is self-cleaning, so you never need to douche. Doing so can lead to a yeast infection or other vaginal infections.
Are Probiotics Good For Candida
Probiotics help to keep candida levels in check by taking up space in the gut. When the gut microbiome is full of beneficial probiotics, there is no room for candida to overgrow.
Candida overgrowth often occurs after the use of antibiotics where beneficial bacteria die along with pathogenic bacteria. The use of antibiotics is the perfect opportunity for candida to take over.
A round of antibiotics that causes a loss of beneficial bacteria in the gut allows for candida to overgrow where the beneficial probiotic bacteria once resided.
Candida is an opportunistic yeast that will overgrow when the conditions are right. An overgrowth of candida especially in its virulent forms will cause a leaky gut.
Using the best probiotics for candida and leaky gut help to reinoculate the gut with beneficial probiotics that inhibit candida overgrowth and prevent leaky gut.
As you kill candida with antimicrobials or antifungals, you also want to make sure that you are replacing the gut with beneficial bacteria to take over where candida once resided.
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Risks Of Using Probiotics
Bad reactions to probiotics are extremely rare. These bacteria already exist in your body, so adding more of them generally doesnt carry any risks. However, if you have a weakened immune system, due to an underlying condition or treatment youre receiving, its best to check in with your doctor before adding any type of bacteria to your body.
As well, keep in mind that you could experience mild side effects such as gas and bloating.
How To Treat Candida At Home
Candida overgrowth can be cured with probiotics at home. Probiotics can be bought over the counter, but you need to know certain things before you start on a probiotic treatment. For some severe cases additional measures have to be taken to kill the excess of yeast, but in most cases a temporary increase in the probiotics amount in your diet should be fine.
Yeast infections can be very annoying and many times the symptoms can be agonizing. Yeast infections are many times internal and you dont even know about it, suffering in quiet because diagnosing Candida is not that simple, and its elusive because the symptoms are not consistent. Some people present only a few symptoms, other have other symptoms, which can lead to misdiagnosis. The accurate test is a microscopic examination, or an antibody blood test. There are a few types of tests available, cultures test, stool tests, blood tests, etc These tests will be ordered by your physician if other symptoms are present.
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What Strain Of Probiotic Is Best For Candida
Beneficial bacteria are a powerful defense mechanism against opportunistic infections such as candida. They are what keep the gut balanced. Here are some of the best probiotic strains to curb candida overgrowth and keep colonies of bad bacteria in check.
- Lactobacilli:
The lactobacillus species are like the police of the digestive system. They secrete various kinds of chemicals to keep the bad guys in check, such as hydrogen peroxide and they are acidophilic in nature, which allows them to maintain balance.
When lactobacillus numbers drop off, bacteria and yeast such as Candida Albicans get the upper hand, creating a negative shift in the entire gut.
Some of the best Lactobacillus strains for candida overgrowth include lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. These well-researched strains boost different aspects of immune function, particularly in the small intestine, which is the area that you want to improve.
Lactobacillus acidophilus has also been shown to have excellent therapeutic properties for candida overgrowth, particularly vulvovaginal Candida infections. Thanks to its antibacterial effects, Lactobacillus reuteri is very effective at curbing candida growth.
- Bifidobacterium:
- Soil- Based Organisms Probiotics:
They also come in a variety of strains, with the most researched being bacillus coagulans, bacillus subtilis, bacillus clausii, and bacillus licheniformis.
- Saccharomyces Boulardii:
How Do You Know If You Have Systemic Candidiasis
Fungal overgrowth that is outside of the gut environment can, in some ways, be easier to detect and identify. A good example of this is thrush which has give-away signs such as a thick discharge in the case of vaginal thrush, and a white coating to the tongue and mouth in the case of oral thrush. Other fungal infections such as athletes foot also have obvious signs to look out for. Infections such as these can be linked to systemic Candidiasis, or they can just be stand-alone, localised infections. Having thrush or athletes foot certainly doesnt mean that you have systemic Candida, but having systemic Candida does raise the chance of developing localised yeast infections.
So, a propensity towards yeast infections at different body sites can be one possible symptom of Candidiasis. However, due to the many toxins that Candida produces, there are a whole raft of other possible symptoms that can occur. In fact, many health conditions are thought to have their basis in Candida overgrowth, including mental health disorders6 such as anxiety, confusion , chronic fatigue syndrome7, acne/eczema, headaches, skin rashes, allergic symptoms, joint pain15 and many other chronic health complaints.
The mycotoxins that the yeasts excrete can even cross the blood-brain barrier, which is how the mental symptoms such as confusion and anxiety can develop.
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Are Any Probiotics Not Recommended For Candida
In general, there arent any probiotics that are contraindicated in Candida overgrowth in fact, most probiotic bacteria offer some degree of anti-Candida potential through competitive inhibition/competitive exclusion and by lowering the pH in the intestines like most pathogens, this troublesome yeast prefers an alkaline environment.
There is however some debate over whether an anti-Candida protocol should include prebiotics, in the form of fructo-oligosaccharides or inulin. One opinion is that prebiotics can feed the Candida, and potentially worsen the dysbiosis. However, others believe that the positive effects of taking prebiotics from a high-quality source, such as encouraging the growth of friendly bacteria in the gut, and increasing short-chain-fatty-acid production outweigh any potential negatives. If you are interested in finding out more about the debate you can read our blog over on the Probiotics Learning Lab, ‘Does FOS feed bad bacteria?‘