What To Look For On The Probiotic Supplement Label
When looking over the probiotic supplement label, you will come across a lot of information which may include:
- The type of bacteria in the supplement
- The number of organisms by colony-forming units
- Possible third-party certification
- Whether the product must be refrigerated or not
- The proper dosage
- Whether the product is in capsule, tablet, powder, or liquid form
The product dosage and form are pretty self-explanatory choose the type that will fit your lifestyle and preference. However, the following are tips on how to interpret the rest of the information included on the probiotic label:
Vital Plan Biome Boost
Price: Starts from $58.00
Another product by Vital Plan that aims to give your digestive system a boost is Vital Plan Biome Boost. Yes, the product lives up to its name. The supplement boasts positive customer reviews from numerous users all across the web.
It contains only natural ingredients that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as safe for consumption by humans.
Earth Echo Vitality Bliss Bites
Strains Present: Bacillus Coagulans
Price: Starts from $59.99
This is yet another supplement from the brand Earth Echo. Not only is it more popular than Earth Echo Probiotic, but it is also a more fun and interesting way to take in your daily dose of probiotics.
Instead of calling this supplement a probiotic, the makers chose to go with the term “postbiotic treats.
These candies have a great chocolate taste.
Yay, chocolate lovers!
You can treat yourself to this guilt-free candy because it not only promotes an optimal digestive system, it also curbs cravings and improves immunity.
To top it all off, Earth Echo Vitality Bliss Bites is all-organic.
So, say goodbye to those seemingly endless hungers and sugar traps and say hi to the only postbiotic chocolate-flavored candy on the market!
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Do You Need One Thats Designed Specifically For Women
Most probiotic supplements are aimed at both men and women because they tend to focus on gut health, which is pretty similar for men and women alike.
However, as we mentioned in our introduction, probiotics for women are even more beneficial for preventing urinary tract infections. They do so by limiting the growth of bad bacteria in the vaginal area.
So, if you are quite prone to such infections, we would recommend that you go for a prebiotic thats specifically aimed at women, such as our number one and number two picks, over a more generic probiotic supplement such as our number three and number four picks.
What Happens When You Take Probiotics Every Day
If you are a healthy adult, taking a probiotic is safe and recommended daily.
How long you should take a probiotic depends on why you take it. For example, do you want to manage a sudden onset of diarrhea or improve chronic constipation? Although research is still ongoing about the long-term safety of probiotics, studies have found that long-term use is safe and recommended for some chronic conditions. However, talking with your healthcare provider about long-term use is best to ensure you arent masking signs of other health issues.
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Best Probiotic For Women’s Health
YourBiology Gut + is the only one that was developed especially for women. For most women, it will also be the best option. Not because of the marketing claims, though. YourBiology Gut + is the top option due to the manufacturer’s choice of probiotic bacteria.
However, depending on the benefits you require, you may find one of the other two options may be a better fit for your needs.
Best Powder: Garden Of Life 5
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Contains 34 studied probiotic strains for digestive health
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Also made of prebiotics, fiber, and enzymes
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Can be added to your smoothies or shake
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Only five servings per package
Looking for a powerful probiotic solution without adding a new daily supplement to your routine? If so, Garden of Lifes 5 Day Max Restore is a potent, fast solution.
This probiotic blend in powder form is rich in different Bifidobacterium strains which have been studied extensively for their effect on the gastrointestinal tract. One daily serving contains 400 Billion CFU of 34 different probiotic strains, 100 milligrams of digestive enzymes, and a rich prebiotic blend from Jerusalem artichoke and banana powder. This powder alone contains 10 grams of fiber per serving, a bonus for anyone seeking to increase their fiber consumption.
Certified organic, non-GMO, and featuring an NSF certificate, this supplement has been independently tested and evaluated against a rigorous set of quality and material safety requirements.
Type: Powder | Colony Forming Units: 400 billion | Dosage: 2 tbs. daily | Certified: Organic, gluten-free, NSF
Price at time of publish: $32
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Gundry Md 24 Strain Probiotic
Strains Present: 24 strains including Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Plantarum, Bifidobacterium Longum, among many others
CFU Count: 30 billion CFUs
Servings Per Container: Starts from 30
Price: Starts from $65.95
As the name suggests, Gundry MD 24 Strain Probiotic contains 24 different strains of healthy bacteria to promote digestive function and the immune system. It has a count of 30 billion CFU, which is higher than many other probiotic supplements available both online and in physical stores.
It is dairy-free, caffeine-free, and vegetarian.
The makers claim that the supplement can specifically help with antibiotic-associated diarrhea while preventing the negative impact of certain environmental factors on the digestive system.
A review for the product says, “I have been trying to get my gut microbiome in order using probiotic supplements. I had been taking another probiotic, but it wasn’t getting me back to health. So I figured I would try Dr. Gundry’s 24 Strain Probiotic as a change. They say it’s good to switch probiotics up in order to get a better variety of gut microbes. Well, it has helped! Things are better. Time will tell if I can maintain my digestive health.”
What Is The Alternative To Probiotic Supplements
Probiotic treatment in the form of a dietary supplement is very convenient. The best probiotics contain several probiotic strains with known health benefits. However, some experts in clinical nutrition feel that probiotic foods are a better and more natural choice.
Probiotic-rich foods include fermented foods such as yogurt, kombucha , kimchi , and kefir . Other fermented foods like sauerkraut also provide a nourishing environment where beneficial bacteria can thrive.
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Biomemd For Women: Advanced Probiotics With Prebiotic Blend
BiomeMD for Women is one of the best probiotics for women because of the impressive CFUs and powerful strain count. Unlike most dietary supplements, the BiomeMD for Women creators designed the formula specifically for female needs, targeting digestive and vaginal health. If youre interested in formulated probiotics that pack the biggest punch, BiomeMD for Women may be for you.
BiomeMD for Women Benefits
BiomeMD for Women combines probiotic and prebiotic strains to:
Strengthen gut health: BiomeMD for Women includes over a dozen powerful strains that can balance the human gut microbiota, resulting in better nutrient absorption rates, reduced stomach acid, and improved energy levels.
Create a healthy vaginal microbiome: Poor vaginal health can cause numerous uncomfortable conditions, like UTIs, bacterial vaginosis, and more. BiomeMD for Women can balance vaginal PH and yeast levels to help you avoid such conditions while supporting your vaginal health .
Strengthen the gut lining: Increased inflammation and gut microbiota disruptions can harm your stomach lining, causing damage and stomach acid pains. The BiomeMD probiotic for women supports a healthy gut biome with ample colony-forming units that can re-strengthen and maintain a damaged gut lining.
Types of Strains Included in BiomeMD for Women
BiomeMD for Women uses various proprietary probiotic blends with ample lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains. The formula includes a total of 16 powerful strains:
Best Budget: Bayer One A Day Womens Petites Multivitamin
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Gluten, artificial flavors and artificial sweetener free
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Two tablets per serving
At less than ten cents per tablet, Bayers One A Day Womens Petites multivitamin is our top pick for a budget multivitamin. One container includes 80 servings and is priced at around $10. Featuring key nutrients such as vitamins A, B6, C, D, and E, plus folic acid, calcium, and iron, this is a great choice for women at any age in life. We also love that this product is free of artificial flavors, colors, and artificial sweeteners.
Type: Tablets | Age Range: Teens and adults | Dosage: Two daily | Certified: Free of shellfish, dairy, soy, and egg
Price at time of publish: $11
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Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care:
Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care is produced by Garden of Life and it provides your body with 100 billion live microorganisms with every capsule you take daily. It is also one of the few probiotic supplements with hundreds of probiotic strains in it. Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care contains 334 probiotic strains.
The products, as the name suggests, offer ultimate care for your body, health, and well-being. The replenish blend in the supplement maintains colonies of healthy bacteria in your gut, especially to suit all ages of women. With almost every probiotic your gut health might require, every single capsule of the product is packed with the whole range of probiotics. Due to medications, stress, lifestyle habits, ageing, pollution, etc, you can lose a lot of Bifidobacterium in your gut. Probiotic supplements help you regain your count.
The product is scientifically formulated and cultured to give you the best results in the quickest time possible. It can bring fast solutions to any of your gut and digestive health conditions. However, you must remember that it can only prevent and treat any mild conditions. You must consult a doctor if you have acute conditions or long-term serious issues. You cant depend exclusively on probiotics to cure you from all ranges of illnesses.
Ingredients in Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care:
Pros of Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care:
Cons of Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care:
Are Probiotic Supplements Actually Effective
Experts claim that certain probiotics may be a safe and effective way to boost your health, but these benefits vary based on the strain, dosage, and the person taking them.
Although taking a quick gummy or pill each day may be convenient, commercially made dietary supplements are not necessarily a catch-all solution.
The United States Food and Drug Administration does not subject dietary supplements to the same testing and regulations as over-the-counter medicines.
Manufacturers are responsible for putting out a safe product, but the bacteria in a particular supplement may not necessarily be the strain thats going to improve your health.
Some evidence suggests that the probiotics in foods may be more beneficial than supplements for overall health.
ZOE scientists have identified 15 good bugs linked with good health and 15 bad bugs linked with poor health. Currently, there are no available supplements that contain these 15 good bugs.
The best way to promote them is by eating a healthy, varied diet, with plenty of plant foods. But if you want to know the exact foods that can help the good bugs in your gut thrive, start by taking our free quiz.
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Do Probiotics Make You Lose Or Gain Weight
Some studies show that probiotics may aid in weight gain or loss it just depends on which strain you are taking. For example, Lactobacillus acidophilus may aid in weight gain, whereas Lactobacillus gasseri can aid in weight loss.
However, there is more to weight gain or loss than just taking a probiotic.
Squibb says, I let women know that losing weight is more than calories and exercise. What we eat and how and when we eat can significantly impact our weight and the weight distribution in our bodies, especially for women. A healthy balance is key.
How To Get Probiotics From Your Diet
At ZOE, we believe that probiotics from food are more beneficial for your gut microbiome and health than probiotics from the supplements that are currently available.
ZOE co-founder Prof. Tim Spector shares some tips for improving your gut health:
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Fermented foods: Live yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, sauerkraut, and some cheeses are good sources of probiotics. Eat small amounts of these daily, rather than large portions every once in a while.
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A variety of plants: Try to eat 30 different plants per week. Nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are rich in fiber and other nutrients that support a healthy gut.
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Prebiotics: These feed the good bacteria in your gut. Its best to include a variety of different colored plants, as each color comes with slightly different benefits.
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Best Gummy: Olly The Perfect Womens Multi
Courtesy of Target
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Only 2 grams of sugar per serving
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No synthetic colors, flavors, or sweeteners
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Iron is not included
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Does not appear to be non-GMO
Ollys gummy vitamins for women provide 18 essential nutrients for overall wellness. Ideal for picky eaters or for those that have a hard time swallowing pills, this product is a great way to support your nutrient intake if your diet is less than perfect. These chewable vitamins come in a Blissful Berry flavor that is made with no artificial colors, flavors and is gluten-free. There are 90 gummies per bottle which is a 45-day supply. As a bonus, we love that there are only 2 grams of sugar per serving.
Type: Gummies | Age Range: Women 18+ | Dosage: 2 gummies per day | Certified: B corporation, NSF certified ingredients, gluten-free
Price at time of publish: $14
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Garden Of Life Dr Formulated Probiotics For Women At A Glance
Strains:Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum
CFU count: 50 billion
- Type: vegetarian capsules
The multi-strain probiotic blend in Culturelle Womens Health Balance works naturally with a womans body to support vaginal, digestive, and immune health.
It also helps to maintain an optimal balance of good bacteria in the body, thanks to the inclusion of the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG strain .
The convenient once-daily capsules are also gelatin-free, vegan-friendly, and made without gluten, sugar, dairy, or soy.
Whats more, Culturelle is certified by NSF International, a third-party organization that tests supplements for strength, safety, and quality.
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Supports Healthy Digestive Function And Less Constipation Gas And Bloating
Because theyre housed right in the digestive tract, probiotics are absolutely essential to gut health. In addition to supporting healthy elimination, probiotic supplements can also provide benefits such as reducing occasional diarrhea, constipation, gas and bloating.
SBO Probiotics Gut Restore includes a combination of 25 billion soil-based probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics to create a trifecta approach. Prebiotics act as fertilizer for probiotics. Postbiotics are the metabolites created by probiotics.
In addition, consider adding digestive enzymes to your routine in order to make sure your foods are being properly digested, an issue that can crop up as one ages.
The Nue Co Prebiotic + Probiotic
Why we love it: Hold up, we hear you say – what on earth are prebiotics? Put simply, theyre what probiotic gut bacteria feed on, and so are pretty helpful in all this too. So this option from The Nue Co. that combines both is highly convenient. Each capsule contains five billion Bacillus Coagulans spores, a strain thats particularly effective at tackling bloating and boosting energy. Its a gut-friendly force to be reckoned with.
Pros: Vegan.
Cons: Contains prebiotic which some people might prefer to avoid.
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Happy V Prebiotic And Probiotic
Pros
- Only full-price products are included in their money-back guarantee.
Who is Happy V Prebiotic and Probiotic Best For?
Choose Happy V Prebiotic and Probiotic if you want the best for womens health.
Other studies on bacteriophages, which eat unwanted species, show they can remove bacteria such as E. coli. This is a common vaginal and urinary tract infection, so reducing its population in the intestines may protect your urogenital health .
Who Should Avoid Happy V Prebiotic and Probiotic?
If you are severely immunocompromised, avoid Happy V and other probiotics, or consult your doctor first.
Potential Side Effects
Probiotics can cause digestive discomfort when you start taking them. This is often due to the die-off of unwanted species, which may be more noticeable thanks to Happy Vs phage prebiotic.
Happy V Prebiotic and Probiotic Ranking – 4.6/5
Number of Strains – 4.5/5
Happy V includes seven evidence-based strains in their probiotic, but there is less clarity on how they are protected against digestive enzymes.
CFU Count – 4.5/5
The listed CFUs are backed up by research, but protection against stomach acid and enzymes is less well-explained.
Price – 4.7/5
While a one-time purchase costs $34.99 for each bottle, this drops to $29.74 if you choose the quarterly subscription. However, discounted products arent included in their money-back guarantee.
Customer Ratings – 4.9/5
With over 1,100 reviews, Happy V boasts an average rating of 4.9/5.
Summary
CFU Count – 4.5/5
Renewlife Health & Wellness Ultimate Flora Probiotic
Image Courtesy ofRite Aid
With over 25 billion live cultures and 10 probiotic strains, this probiotic health supplement is perfect for any woman looking to improve her digestive health without having to break the bank. Each bottle costs only $17.99 and contains a months worth of supplements. All the taker needs to do is take a capsule in the morning and enjoy good digestive health throughout the day.
This particular probiotic has been designed for women. This means that many of the common digestive system issues women face, bloating, constipation, and poor bathroom experiences can potentially be dealt with only a single capsule taken alongside your other pills and supplements when you get up in the morning.
The women on our team were very interested in the promise made by this brand to promote vaginal health, though that seemed to be a stretch goal. After all, the bacteria go no further than the gut. As such, while we did find relief from many common ailments, there was no change down there.
Regardless, we strongly recommend this brand to anyone looking for a simple and affordable supplement that can potentially deal with many of the common digestive system woes women face.
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