5 Probiotics
That Will Make Your Gut Happy in 2023
What top scientists are discovering about our gut and how it can dramatically affect the quality of our lives.
It seems like there are literally hundreds of different probiotic brands out there these days. How do you make sense of it all and actually find the one that will work best for you? A good place to start is our in-depth probiotic reviews. We’ve tested out hundreds of products and share our opinions on the ones we think are worth your time and money
Probiotics are living microorganisms, such as bacteria or yeast, that are valuable for our gut health. The gut is responsible for many aspects of our health and probiotics can keep it healthy by preventing the growth of harmful organisms, reinforcing the gut barrier, and restoring bacteria after disturbances from illness or medications like antibiotics.
According to research, our gut is responsible for most of the occasional gas, bloating, and constipation. In fact, scientists, researchers and physicians are discovering that the gut is responsible for many aspects of our health and ultimately, the quality of our lives.
Researchers have proved that there is a lot of interaction between the body’s immune system and bacteria in the gut, consequently probitiocs can make your immune system stronger.
70% of the immune system is located in the gut, where diverse bacteria is best. The gut also plays a role in our digestion, lungs, heart,and even the brain. And when bad bacteria start outnumbering the good, it can negatively impact one or more of these vital systems.
We can find them in dairy products like yogurt and aged cheeses. They are also in fermented vegetables, like kimchi and sauerkraut, and pickled vegetables. While you can consume probiotics from foods, a supplement may provide your gut the extra boost it needs. A high quality probiotic supplement can restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut, re-establishing the correct balance of our gut flora.
Just like other popular supplements, the vast selection of probiotic products can make it hard to choose a high quality supplement. To reap the benefits, you need to choose the right one to address your particular issue or concern. For that reason we did the research for you, including what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for an effective probiotic.
We also list the 5 best probiotic supplements on the market today.
6 WAYS PROBIOTICS CAN GIVE YOU A HAPPY TUMMY
DEFENDS GUT WALLS
When our good bacteria is plentiful, they line up along the inside the walls of our arteries to defend against invading bad bacteria, much as soldiers would when defending a fort. But when we have too few of these good ‘wall defenders,’ the bad bacteria jam their way through these thin walls where they enter our bloodstream and travel throughout our body — definitely not a situation we’d want.
IMPROVES GUT ISSUES
When the bad bacteria in our gut start outnumbering the good, not only does it make it more difficult to digest food, but it can sometimes lead to embarrassing gut issues such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. A high-quality probiotic can help correct this imbalance, leading to a marked improvement of these symptoms.
ENCOURAGES RESTFUL SLEEP
A recent study has shown a direct relationship between bad bacterial growth in the gut and the ability to fall and remain asleep. This can lead to sleep disorders that zap our energy during the day and create erratic sleep patterns. In short, the more good bacteria in our gut, the better our sleep!
PROMOTES BRAIN HEALTH
Many are surprised to learn that our gut has over 500 million neurons that send signals to the brain via the spinal cord. When our bad bacteria is out-of-control, the gut sends confusing signals, which can lead to occasional brain fog, stress, and even memory slips. The gut and brain are intricately linked, so it’s vitally important that the gut is as healthy as possible.
FOSTERS HEALTHY AGING
If you ever wondered how people slide past the age of 100 so effortlessly, chances are it’s because of their healthy, youthful gut. In fact, recent studies show that participants over the age of 100 who are less physically frail and enjoy greater mental acuity had one thing in common: an abundance of healthy bacterial strains in their gut. So, the fountain of youth may just be located in our gut after all!
STRENGTHENS IMMUNITY
With over 70% of our immunity residing in our gut, it becomes important to support it in any way we can. Probiotic supplements replenish the gut with helpful bacteria to boost our immune system so it can respond to unanticipated attacks.
4 THINGS ALL EFFECTIVE PROBIOTICS MUST HAVE
There are many factors to consider when choosing a probiotic including the storage temperature, number of colony forming units, or CFUs, and types of bacterial strains included in the supplement.
CFU Count
Probiotics are measured in colony-forming units (CFUs). These units represent the number of viable bacteria per dose.Since our microbiome is composed of about 100 trillion good and bad bacteria, a high number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) will have greater impact on the growth of beneficial bacteria within our gut.23 It’s essential to choose a probiotic which specifies CFU versus “active cultures” or “live cultures.” Look for a formula with a minimum of 40 billion CFU.
Choose a probiotic brand that has a higher number of probiotics, ideally at least 50 billion per serving.
Prebiotics
The latest research shows that fiber-based prebiotics (such as NutraFlora Fiber) feed the probiotics, helping them to populate and flourish in our gut. Choose probiotics supplements containing prebiotics to significantly increase the overall effectiveness of the probiotic.
Strain Diversity
Select a probiotic supplement that has 10 or more probiotic strains, such as Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium and Streptococcus thermophilus strains.
Each category of probiotic seems to occupy an important niche in your gut ecology and multiple species of beneficial bacteria collectively provide the health benefits of probiotics.
One single probiotic species is unlikely to be the magic pill that solves all health problems. But multiple species taken together are able to outcompete against bad bacteria and keep your gut environment healthy.
There are hundreds of different probiotics strains, but many have never been proven effective. The best way to identify the potency of a particular strain is to look at the clinical studies backing it up. To find out if a particular strain has clinical backing, search the strain name on the internet. Look for strains proven effective by clinical studies.
Storage Recommendations
It takes specific expertise to form an effective probiotic formulation. More is not necessarily better. The exact combination of strain type, potency, quantity, and prebiotics determines the product’s quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.
Know What Strains You Need
Every year, researchers make new strides in understanding probiotics and how they affect our health. We now understand that there are hundreds of unique probiotic strains that all perform different functions in our bodies. Some strains enhance digestion to minimize uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation. While others can enhance our mood, increase energy or give us greater mental clarity.
Discuss any medical conditions with your doctor and dietitian prior to selecting your probiotic. Recent studies suggest certain strains of bacteria can provide symptom relief for those with antibiotic-associated diarrhea, acute onset infectious diarrhea, IBS and IBD. For example, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG has been suggested to reduce length of symptoms with acute infectious diarrhea and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Additionally, for patients with IBS, a probiotic supplement with a combination of species including Bifidobacteria is recommended rather than a single species Lactobacillus probiotic.
Clinical studies have shown that specific probiotic strains can help with particular health concerns. While the human gut contains thousands of different bacterial strains, most probiotics only include a few generic Lactobacillus or Bifidobacterium strains. Look for a probiotic that has at least 14 unique strains to support proper microbiome balance.
Here are some of the most effective strains available in a high-quality probiotic:
TOP PROBIOTIC STRAINS AND THEIR BENEFITS:
While the potency and variety of strains is crucial when looking for in a high-quality probiotic, it’s equally important to know what to avoid when looking for an effective probiotic.
The following 3 tips should help you sidestep those not worth your time:
PROBIOTICS: 3 THINGS TO AVOID
LIMITED UNIQUE STRAINS
Probiotic strains serve different purposes in the body, so it’s important to choose a probiotic supplement that features a variety of robust strains. Most probiotics feature only one or two strains — far too few to be effective.
We recommend looking for a supplement with at least 9 unique strains for a more comprehensive approach to overall health and immune function.
REQUIRED REFRIGERATION
Probiotics requiring refrigeration can be damaged or killed off during shipping. They may also be unable to survive the hot, acidic environment of our gut. We therefore suggest choosing a probiotic that is shelf-stable and does need to be stored in the refrigerator.
STOMACH ACID PROTECTION
Bacteria are often destroyed by our stomach acid and provide no beneficial probiotic effect
TOP 5 PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS OF 2022
Healthy Genetics Probiotics $17.95
Deligant Naturals Probiotics $10.95
Product Name: Deligant Naturals Probiotics
Product Description: Deligant Naturals Probiotics contains over 50 billion Shelf Stable colony forming units of essential probiotics from several different strains.
Brand: Deligant Naturals
Offer price: $10.95
Currency: USD
Availability: InStock
Offer URL: Deligant Naturals Probiotics and Prebiotic
Align Probiotic $43.98
Product Name: Align Probiotic
Product Description: Align is a daily probiotic supplement that fortifies your gut with good bacteria to help you maintain digestive balance. It naturally helps soothe occasional abdominal discomfort, gas, and bloating.
Brand: Align Probiotic
Offer price: $43.98
Currency: USD
Availability: InStock
Offer URL: Align Probiotic
Florastor Daily Probiotic Supplement $58.96
Product Name: Florastor Daily Probiotic Supplement
Product Description: Florastor Daily Probiotic Supplement for Women and Men to Support Digestive Health.
Brand: Florastor Daily Probiotic Supplement
Offer price: $58.96
Currency: Dollar
Availability: InStock
Offer URL: Florastor
1MD Nutrition Complete Probiotics Platinum $49.99
Product Name: 1MD Nutrition™ Complete Probiotics Platinum
Product Description: 1MD Nutrition Complete Probiotics Platinum. This probiotic blend helps encourage the digestive tract's normal microbial balance. This supports proper nutrient digestion and absorption and helps alleviate occasional common gas, bloating, and indigestion.
Brand: 1MD Nutrition™
Offer price: $49.99
Currency: USD
Availability: InStock
Offer URL: 1MD Probiotic
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