Best Probiotic For Urinary Health

Which Probiotics Are Best

Not all probiotics are the same. Different strains have different effects and offer up various benefits depending on the condition. Some will fight infection in the gut, others will fight it in the vagina. Some need to be hardy enough to survive the acid in our guts so they can get to the stomach intact. Whereas those needed to fight tooth decay only need to travel as far as the mouth.11

It goes without saying that its important to select the right strain for your own individual health needs. Knowing which specific probiotic strain to choose will help your body target the goodness where its needed most.

Taking a prebiotic in conjunction with probiotics is also recommended. Prebiotics are complex carbohydrates. You can find them in foods including wholegrain oatmeal, bananas and even onions.12

Align Probiotic Extra Strength

Price: $$$

Align is a physician-trusted brand that contains Bifidobacteriumlongum 35624, formerly known as Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, a probiotic strain that has been researched for its role in digestive health, including IBS symptoms .

Aligns Extra Strength probiotic label states that each capsule contains 5 billion live bacteria at the time of manufacturing and 50,000,000 CFUs up until the best by date.

As it doesnt require refrigeration, its a good option if you frequently travel or prefer not to worry about storing your probiotic supplement in the fridge.

Note that Align contains trace amounts of lactose, so it may not be appropriate for those with severe lactose intolerance.

Price: $

Bio-Kult contains 14 probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bifidobacterium longum.

Each Bio-Kult capsule contains a minimum of 2 billion microorganisms, and Bio-Kult guarantees that the total bacteria count of their products is viable until the end of the products shelf life.

Each probiotic strain in Bio-Kult is microencapsulated and individually freeze-dried, which protects the probiotics from stomach acid and allows the product to be stored at room temperature.

Bio-Kult products are third-party tested by United Kingdom Accreditation Service accredited labs.

Bio-Kult is not appropriate for those with a severe allergy to milk proteins, but it is safe for those with lactose intolerance.

Best Probiotic For Pregnancy: Megafood Megaflora For Baby & Me

Aside from the beneficial probiotics, this has plant-based compounds like ginger to soothe upset stomachs and support healthy digestive function, says Beth Warren, RDN, a dietitian in Brooklyn, New York. It also has prebiotics, which encourage the growth of healthy bacteria that support the well being of pregnant and breastfeeding women, she explains. The formula has L. rhamnosus HN001, which has been shown to support the childs developing immune system during the last trimester and early breastfeeding period.

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What Are The Benefits Of Taking Probiotics

Probiotic supplements have been shown to benefit health in a number of ways.

Yet, some of the purported benefits of probiotics arent supported by research, so its important to always consult a healthcare professional before taking a probiotic supplement, especially if youre hoping to improve symptoms related to a health condition.

Can Vaginal Estrogen Products Prevent Utis

For women near menopause or who have gone through menopause and get 3 or more UTIs per year, vaginal estrogen may be helpful, according to the American Urological Association . Vaginal estrogen comes as a ring , an insert , or a cream . It is both safe and effective for women in this population who are looking to prevent recurrent UTIs.

That said, in a head-to-head trial of vaginal estrogen inserts compared to a daily preventive antibiotic, vaginal estrogen was not as effective as daily antibiotics. More on this below.

Estrogen works by making the vagina more acidic and increasing the number of healthy bacteria in the vagina. This makes it hard for E. coli to live and hide in there, which prevents them from showing up in the urinary tract later.

Some of the more commonly reported side effects of vaginal estrogen include breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, and vaginal discomfort like itching, burning, and irritation.

If you are being treated for breast cancer or have had breast cancer, vaginal estrogen is considered safe, but you should speak with your oncologist before starting any estrogen-based products.

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What Are Probiotics And Why Are Probiotics Important For Women

Probiotics are good bacteria found naturally in our bodies. Theyre often called friendly bacteria due to their role in keeping the bad bacteria in check. There are 100 trillion of these powerful living micro-organisms whizzing round our stomachs and intestines. Whats their job? To help keep our bodies in perfect microbial harmony.1

Probiotics can help our bodies with many important daily functions. Did you know that probiotics can help with fighting depression?2 Theyre also credited with boosting our mood, supporting weight loss and fighting colds and flu? And not only that, they can help lower blood pressure and provide relief from the discomfort of cystitis and irritable bowel syndrome. Thats impressive stuff for something that you cant even see.

How Probiotics Support Gut Health

The balance of bad and good bacteria in your gut can be upset by medical conditions, physical stress, emotional stress, or the use of antibiotics which are known to destroy bacteria.

Probiotics can tip the balance back to good bacteria. They can also boost your immunity, fight inflammation, and provide relief for painful digestion related to irritable bowel syndrome or infectious diarrhea.

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Should I Take A Daily Antibiotic To Prevent Utis

For women who get recurrent UTIs that are not related to sex, the American Urological Association states that a low-dose daily antibiotic may help prevent UTIs from coming back. Antibiotics often prescribed for daily use include:

• Trimethoprim

• Nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals

• Cephalexin

Low-dose antibiotics can be taken for up to 6 to 12 months. Once you stop taking the antibiotics, however, the UTIs tend to come back. Taking a daily antibiotic is not without risk: It increases the risk of antibiotic resistance which could make it harder to treat future infections.

Long-term antibiotic use can also increase the risk for side effects like upset stomach and fungal infections in the mouth or vagina. There are also reports of rare but more serious side effects, like skin rash, severe nausea, and liver damage.

Probiotics For Girls With Recurring Urinary Tract Infections

• Study Details

Probiotics are dietary supplements containing potentially beneficial bacterial strains such as Lactobacillus. The safety of oral administration of probiotics has been demonstrated in hundreds of studies using adults over the last 30 years. Very few studies have been conducted with children. UTI in girls occur when virulent bacteria migrate from the rectum and colonize the vagina and peri-urethral mucosa, thus gaining access to the bladder.

This study will randomize girls to ARM A and ARM B to determine if UTIs are decreased when the probiotics are given.

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine

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How Do Probiotics Work

Probiotics are actually a group of strains of beneficial bacteria that usually grow well in the digestive tract. They have been studied for their effect on several health issues including irritable bowel syndrome, antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus infections, and even inflammatory bowel diseases.

In addition to their beneficial effect, the most commonly found species within the group of probiotics is called Lactobacillus. There are also a few others that are less well known, however, these are the ones that tend to be recommended by medical professionals as useful for women.

Natures Way Fortify Womens Probiotic

Natures Way provides a high dose of a broad spectrum of probiotic bacteria. The 50 billion CFUs are divided more or less evenly among lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains, with 30 billion and 20 billion CFUs each.

If you are really in to the science of probiotics, Natures Way even specifies the exact strain of each bacteria that it uses , so you can cross-reference it with research to see what studies have supported these particular strains.

Thanks to the variety of probiotics and the high dosage, its a top pick.

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Can You Take Probiotics While Pregnant

When carrying a child, a mother wants to create the safest environment possible. This is a time where the mother-to-be will begin integrating new and recommended health practices like exercise, supplements, and new diet habits. One question that is asked by pregnant women is whether or not probiotics are safe to take while pregnant. The benefits of probiotics are well documented, and many pregnant women want to know if probiotics will benefit them as well.

Pregnancy may be a good time to integrate a probiotic into your regimen simply due to the increased potential for an imbalance in gut bacteria that pregnancy naturally produces. Stress, medications, diarrhea, and vomiting as well as certain diet choices can cause bad bacteria to overrun the gut and lead to a dampened immune response, inflammation, fatigue, and more.

The simple answer is yes, probiotics are generally safe to take while pregnant. However, it is always recommended to discuss any introduction or discontinuation of supplements with your healthcare provider.

Many studies have shown that not only are probiotics safe to take while pregnant but also that they can add great benefits for mother and baby. A 2019 study by Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology found that the pregnant womens gut microbiota improved through probiotic supplementation and that her immune system was enhanced.

May Improve Symptoms Of Certain Gastrointestinal Diseases

Some of the most well-studied uses of probiotic supplements relate to the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease .

One review of 11 studies found that 7 of them reported that probiotic supplementation significantly improved symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain in IBS patients, compared with a placebo, while the remaining 4 studies did not find significant improvements.

The review also found that multi-strain probiotics used for at least 8 weeks seemed to be most effective at improving IBS symptoms .

Notably, Lactobacillus acidophilus was present in all of the multi-strain supplement studies that reported significantly improved symptoms .

Multi-strain probiotics may improve some symptoms in those with IBD, though they appear to be less effective for people with Crohns disease.

Evidence is currently limited, and well-designed studies are needed (

34 ).

While some people, including those with IBS and certain types of IBD, may benefit from specific strains of probiotics, in general, most healthy people who follow a nutritious diet and healthy lifestyle do not need to supplement with probiotics.

Plus, some researchers are concerned that the widespread use of probiotics may lead to antibiotic resistance and warn that many studies investigating the safety and efficacy of probiotics are of poor quality .

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The Best Womens Probiotic

Bacteria is usually something you want to avoid, but when it comes to your digestive system, there’s actually such a thing as healthy bacteria that can help treat diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, and other digestive issues. Most women aren’t able to get enough of this healthy bacteria through food alone, which is why probiotic supplements have become so popular. Women’s probiotics don’t just help with digestive issues — they can also help with urinary and vaginal health, skin issues, allergies, and other health issues. Some women even find that the right probiotic can aid in weight loss and encourage healthy hair and nail growth.

If you’re not sure how to choose among the many options, our buying guide is full of tips to help you find the best women’s probiotic for your health concerns. We’ve also offered some specific product recommendations, including our top choice from Renew Life, which offers a 90 billion culture count and provides fast results.

Considerations when choosing women’s probiotics

Target

All probiotics help promote digestive health, and both women and men can take them. A healthy digestive system helps support healthy function in other systems, too, such as the immune system and reproductive system.

Active cultures and CFUs

For overall health, a daily probiotic that offers 5 to 15 million CFU is a solid option. If you have a specific health issue in mind that you want to treat, you may want to look for a supplement with 20 to 50 billion CFUs.

Our Commitment To Superior Strains Ingredients And Survivability

LACTOBACILLUS ACIDOPHILUS helps maintain the balance of good vs. bad bacteria, aids immune systems, maintains cholesterol levels, helps prevent yeast infections and combats pathogenic microbes.

LACTOBACILLUS FERMENTUM promotes healthy aging by reducing decline in immune function in the elderly, helps neutralize some of the toxic products made during digestion and promotes a healthy balance of bacteria in the gut. An antimicrobial and antioxidative probiotic.

LACTOBACILLUS PLANTARUM Regulates immunity and controls inflammation in the gut, helps fortify the gut lining, reduces gut permeability thereby reducing risk for brain disorders, aids in preventing food allergies, ability to absorb and maintain important nutrients such as omega- 3 fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants.

BIFIDOBACTERIUM LACTIS Helps prevent digestive ills and boosts immunity, helpful in knocking out pathogens like salmonella, which causes diarrhea.

LACTOBACILLUS REUTERI

Combats vaginosis, reduces occurrences of âtravellerâs diarrheaâ, combats allergic reactions to peanuts in children.

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Dose And Formulations Of Probiotics

In literature studies on probiotic use in UTI, duration of probiotic use ranges from 5 days to 12 months, and doses vary between 104 CFU and 1010 CFU. Oral, vaginal, and liquid formulations are being used.

In UTI use of mono-, and combination treatments with probiotics has been published . These combinations have been applied with different microorganism strains and different routes of administration and effective results have been reported. In a recent prospective study, Montorsi et al. administered a combination of 120 mg cranberry, 109/CFU L. rhamnosus SGL 06 and 75 mg vitamin C for 3 months in female patients with recurrent UTI. In the 3rd and 6th month controls, the response rates to treatment were 72.2% and 61.1%, respectively. Researchers noted that the combination was well tolerated and effective.

In conclusion, recurrent UTIs impair quality of life significantly and antibiotic prophylaxis may increase resistance to uropathogens while being effective during treatment. Although there have been few studies on the prevention of recurrent UTIs without use of antibiotics within the past years, interest in this area has increased over the years.

Most of the published studies on the use of probiotics in the treatment, and prophylaxis of UTIs have low scientific value and the treatment regimens applied are heterogeneous, time consuming. However, probiotics are preferred by the patients because they are safe and more tolerable than antibiotics.

Garden Of Life Probiotics Ultimate Care

For unparalleled variety and potency, Garden of Life Ultimate Care is a great option. Athletes, aggressive dieters, and others who put a lot of stress on their body can rely on the wide variety and powerful dosage of the 34 different probiotic strains in this supplement.

This supplement also includes some pre-biotics in the form of fibers and nutrients that the bacteria can consume to multiply, ensuring these probiotics take root in your body.

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How Kidney Problems Cause An Imbalanced Gut Microbiome

People with kidney problems often experience gut dysbiosis, which means that the makeup of their gut microbiome skews heavily towards the harmful bacteria. Beneficial bacteria die off due to a myriad of reasons these include consequences of necessary diet changes, the inevitable build-up of uremic and nitrogenous toxins, and the medications and antibiotics many kidney patients take daily. These factors create a degenerative feedback loop that, eventually, causes more harm to the kidneys.

Physicians Choice Womens Probiotic

Physicians Choice makes a heavy-hitting 50 billion CFU womens probiotic supplement that focuses mostly on specific strains of Lactobacillus bacteria. Its a good option for a general-purpose probiotic thats tailored for women, and its great to see Physicians Choice specifying the exact strain of each type of bacteria used in making the supplement.

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Why Trust The Spruce

This piece was written by Lorraine Wilde who has had at least two cat companions in her home for the past 35 years including some special needs kitties. Two of her cats lived happy and healthily into their early 20s. Her current feline companions have been challenged by digestive and urinary tract health issues. When researching these brands, Lorraine evaluated the type and quality of the ingredients, the companys research and development of the food, and their business ethics.

Because she has only the highest of standards for what she feeds her pets, Lorraine recently switched to Evangers EVx Restricted Diet Urinary Tract and Evanger Organics Turkey and Butternut Squash canned food to help improve her older cats’ health issues. Lorraines family will consider adding the supplement Under the Weather Urinary Support Soft Chews for the benefits imparted by D-mannose.

Dr. Danielle Bernal is a Global Veterinarian with Wellness Natural Pet Food. She holds a Bachelors of Veterinary Science from University of Sydney and is a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in the U.K. She has more than 15 years experience in veterinary care, animal nutrition and related communications. She travels across the United States and other countries to educate pet parents on the role that premium, natural nutrition plays in pets health and longevity.