Best For Gut Health: Mindbodygreen Probiotic+
At mindbodygreen, we have very particular criteria when it comes to high-quality supplementsso when we developed our own probiotic, we made sure it checked all the boxes. mindbodygreen probiotic+ features a unique combination of four clinically tested strains, which help ease bloating, aid digestion, and holistically support your gut microbiome.*
Maintain Healthy Testosterone Levels
After 30, a males testosterone levels usually drop, and this hormone is essential for fertility and sperm count. Probiotic supplements may help boost testosterone levels while regulating other vital male hormones, a combination that may enhance sperm quality.
That is also related to sexual health because low hormone levels can harm your desire. While your testosterone levels rise, your sex drive increases as well. Testosterone is, however, involved in the formation of red blood cells and controls muscular growth and strength.
What Are Probiotics And What Are Their Benefits
Probiotic bacteria work to keep the community of microorganisms in your gutand throughout the rest of your bodyin a healthy, balanced state. We get them primarily from eating fiber-rich foods, which promote the growth of friendly bacteria, as well as from fermented foods like kefir, tempeh, and sauerkraut. Supplements can also deliver them in concentrated form. As with other dietary supplements, probiotics dont need to be tested or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before hitting shelves.
The last several years have seen an explosion of research on the importance of the microbiome and the many health benefits associated with a balanced one. Probiotic supplements offer a way to help maintain this balance, says Roshini Rajapaksa, M.D., a gastroenterologist with NYU Langone Health. They might serve as a sort of insurance supporting your overall health, particularly if you dont eat a lot of fiber or fermented foods.
Probiotic supplements can restore the balance of good bacteria in the gut after taking antibiotics, says Frances Largeman-Roth, R.D.N., a New York City-based nutrition expert. Plus, a growing body of evidence suggests they play a role in improving digestion, promoting immune function, optimizing healthy blood sugar, and even fighting disorders like depression.
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Reasons Why Align Could Be The Best Probiotic For You
Trust the Pro in Probiotics. With decades of research and commitment to supporting your healthy gut,* Align Probiotics continues to show up for you every day. Make the gummies a part of your daily wellness routine. Help protect your digestive balance* with daily use of our flagship 35624 strain. Align shows up in the way you need it.
Is Kombucha A Probiotic
Kombucha is a fermented drink using tea and of course, the magnificent SCOBY which stands for symbiotic cultures of bacteria and yeast.
This SCOBY is in one way similar to milk kefir grains which is a community of bacteria and yeast that ferment milk to sour milk full of probiotics and similarly Kombucha is a probiotic beverage because it is the result of weeks of fermenting the sugar by these wonderful beneficial microbes.
Food historians believe kombucha was originated in China and some think in Russia hundreds if not thousands of years ago. Interestingly enough Kombucha has been practiced and studied mostly in these two countries as well and became famous in the U.S. many years later.
As a probiotic drink kombucha is considered an immune enhancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic, and enhances the body with a gentle detoxification process by stimulating the liver to do its job optimally .
This probiotic fizzy drink can help many individuals who are addicted to carbonated sodas to switch easily to kombucha and get all the health benefits from it while enjoying drinking it too.
One caution about commercial Kombucha is that many brands do the fermentation but not long enough so the sugar residue is somewhat high at least to my standard. Best to make it at home and some of you may not like it to be too vinegary so dont let ferment it for a very long time.
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Vsl#3 Probiotic Medical Food
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Irritable bowel syndrome is a collection of digestive symptoms such as gas, nausea, abdominal pain, and other digestive disturbances.
While most people with IBS either have predominately constipation OR diarrhea, some people can alternate between the two.
Probiotics may be helpful in improving IBS symptoms, but which strains are best is unclear.
VSL#3 is one particular product that has been evaluated in-depth for various symptoms of IBS and may be worth a shot to see if it helps.
VSL#3 contains a blend of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. It contains 112.3 billion CFUs. It also has a much higher price point.
Additionally, it is recommended that you use it only under medical supervision, although it can be purchased without a prescription.
Several studies have found it is effective against various symptoms of IBS, as it helps regulate melatonin, which may play a role in symptoms.
Price: $63.52 for 60-capsules, the recommendation is to take 116 capsules per day
The Bottom Line: VSL#3 is a medical-grade probiotic designed for people with IBS. It is best used under the supervision of a doctor.
Probiotics For Medical Conditions
Because of the way that beneficial probiotic bacteria affects the digestive system, some researchers speculate that taking probiotic supplements could help to address symptoms of certain medical conditions. A clinical review published in “Canadian Family Physician” concluded that there was promising evidence that probiotics could be beneficial for people with a digestive disease called inflammatory colitis. They may also help to improve symptoms of vaginal infections. However, the review stated that more research was needed to prove the benefits of good bacteria for these conditions. Research is also investigating the possible benefits for those with irritable bowel syndrome. Some scientists also speculate that probiotics could be beneficial for travel-related diarrhea and other types of stomach upset. These proposed uses are currently under investigation.
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Q When Should A Person Begin Taking Probiotics
Although men could consume probiotics at whatever age, several studies have found that people over the age of 60 had one-thousandth of the number of beneficial bacteria as young folks. Bifidobacterium variants Bifidobacterium lactis and Bifidobacterium infantis have been proven to improve digestion and inflammation in elderly individuals.
How To Choose The Best Probiotic Supplement
Seek out the right bacteria. General-use supplements should contain well-researched strains Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces boulardii have been studied the most, Dr. Rajapaksa says. If youre trying to address a specific health concern, seek out a probiotic thats been studied for that issue. Ask your doctor about strains that have been shown to be particularly helpful. Plus, be sure youre getting enough: Theres no official recommendation for how many CFUs, or colony-forming units, you need, but most supplements contain between five and 10 billion per dose.
Look for a few key extras. A good supplement has time-release technology and delivers a dose of prebioticsfibers that act as food for probiotic bacteria. The time-release technology ensures the probiotic reaches your intestine and the prebiotic component aids in absorption, says Dr. Rajapaksa. Another important extra is third-party certification seek out a seal of approval from groups like Consumer Lab, NSF International, or the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention , which ensures the product has been tested for quality, purity, potency, and ingredients.
Now that youre an expert on the best probiotic supplements, here are a few that come recommended by experts and reviewers alike.
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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.
Previnex Probiotic: Best Probiotics For Digestion
As a premier dietary supplement, Previnex Probiotic may help take care of bacterial pathogens from the lining of ones gut.
The supplement may improve the digestive systems overall health through its sturdy secretion of bacteria 30 billion of the good ones.
This Previnex U.S.-manufactured probiotic captures in each capsule the nourishment of ingredients that are nutraceutical and non-chemical. Its blend has compounds of nutraflora and lactobacillus, which are safe and may help revitalize ones immunity.
Moreover, all good bacteria in each strain of this probiotic gear towards improving six important digestive health areas. Therefore, with Previnex Probiotic, one can reap the benefits of a lifestyle of proactiveness, not thinking of disruptions that affect ones bodily functions.
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Q Can Probiotics Help With Diarrhea
Probiotics are not anti-diarrheal medications in and of themselves. Probiotics help to reestablish a healthy microbiota in the gut, which should aid in the restoration of regular bowel motions. However, it will certainly take a while to produce this effect. Probiotics may be the most excellent option if you suffer from persistent diarrhea. However, if you just get the odd attack of diarrhea, you could be better off with an over-the-counter diarrhea drug that works faster.
Probulin Colon Support Probiotic
Product Strength: 20 billion CFU
Price: $$
Between 10 to 20 billion CFUs is all a person needs for total gut health support. Probulin Colon Support is the best probiotic for men because Probulin goes above and beyond the processes of most probiotics supplements.
Youll find 12 highly targeted strains accompanied by prebiotics and postbiotics that help the bacteria arrive alive in the gut. Probulin uses a proprietary delivery system unlike any on the market and is formulated by a board-certified naturopath. If that isnt enough of a win, all Probulin probiotics are third-party lab tested to ensure they remain shelf-stable and potent throughout the entire journey from creation to your home. When you order Probulin Probiotics, theyll arrive packed tight and cold to ensure they survive the heat from shipping, but no refrigeration is required once you start taking them. And for all of our beloved Observer readers, you can take 25% off site-wide with the promo code PRB25.
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Which Probiotics Should You Add To Your Diet
Probiotics are commonly found in food. They are also available in dietary supplements.
Food. Many foods have good bacteria. However, these bacteria dont always survive strong stomach acids and may not be able to add to gut health. Other foods have probiotic strains that can survive the digestion process and successfully reach the gut.
Whether a food truly has beneficial probiotics depends on three things: the levels of good bacteria contained when eaten, whether the good bacteria can survive passage through the stomach, and whether those strains of bacteria are able to support your health.
These are a few foods that provide a good source of probiotics:
- dried beans and other legumes
- garlic
- green bananas
- wheat
Dietary supplements. Probiotics are also available as capsules, powders, liquids, and more. The wide variety of available products can make it difficult to determine which ones offer health benefits based on science.
Some of the best probiotic strains for health include:
Lactobacillus acidophilus. Lactobacillus acidophilus balances potentially harmful bacteria that can otherwise grow in your gut due to illness or antibiotics.
Lactobacillus fermentum. Lactobacillus fermentum strengthens your immune system and prevents gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections.
Continued
Lactobacillus plantarum. Lactobacillus plantarum stimulates your digestive system, fights off disease-causing bacteria, and helps your body produce vitamins.
The Recommended Dosage For Probiotics
There is no specific recommended dosage for taking probiotics as they have varying strains and CFUs, which influence their body effectiveness.
In general, Probiotic contain between 1 to 100 billion Colony Forming Units in a single serving with 2 to 15 strains of bacteria in these servings. The probiotics come with their own recommended dose, which you can follow to get your purchase results.
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Olly Probiotic + Prebiotic Gummy Digestive Support And Gut Health 500 Million Cfus Fiber Adult Chewable Supplement For Men And Women Peach 30 Day Supply
$ as of February 16, 2022 9:41 am
Features
- OLLY PROBIOTIC + PREBIOTIC: These chewable adult probiotics deliver a powerful combination of live Probiotics and Prebiotic Fiber to help keep your natural flora and digestion balance*
- THE GOODS INSIDE: 500 million CFU of Bacillus Coagulans work with your bodys natural bacteria to support a healthy digestive tract and immune system. Prebiotics nourishes your good bacteria so it can thrive and work more efficiently in your body*
- HOW TO TAKE: Chew one gummy daily, no food or water needed
- NATURALLY DELICIOUS: These probiotic prebiotic gummies come in naturally flavored Peachy Peach with no artificial colors or flavors and are gluten free. 30 gummies per bottle
- MIX AND MATCH: Delightful and delicious OLLY gummies can be taken togethermix and match as you please
Common Strains Of Probiotics
Probiotic strains are genetic subtypes of species. Each probiotic strain has a different effect in the body. You will see the probiotic strain names on food or supplement labels, combined with the species name. For example, the Bifidobacteria or Lactobacillus species are often abbreviated as B. or L. and combined with the individual strain name, such as acidophilus. This gives you the probiotic L. acidophilus. This is how the name will appear on food or supplement labels.
Here are six common strains of probiotics that youll find on food and supplement labels.
B. animalis: This strain is an ingredient in Dannon yogurts Activia product. Its helpful in aiding digestion and fighting food-borne bacteria. Its also thought to boost your immune system.
B. breve: This strain lives in your digestive tract and in the vagina. In both places, it fights off infection-causing bacteria, or yeast. It helps your body absorb nutrients by fermenting sugars. It also breaks down plant fiber to make it digestible.
B. lactis: This is derived from raw milk. Its an ingredient in Nestles probiotic infant formula, called Good Start Natural Cultures. It also serves as a starter for:
- buttermilk
- cottage cheese
- other cheeses
B. longum: This strain lives in your gastrointestinal tract. It helps break down carbohydrates and also can be an antioxidant.
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Choosing The Right Probiotics For Men
Stereotypically, men are known for being a bit lax when it comes to health practices. Sure, they might do intense workouts and eat a healthier diet, but what about the other aspects of health like sleep, self-care, meditation, journaling, and gut health?
Choosing the best probiotic for men means understanding what makes a high-quality probiotics for men. Some of the probiotics benefits for men include immune function support, overall digestive support, and reduced gas and bloating.
One of the essential characteristics of a probiotic is the delivery method. If you want to support the gut microbiome, some of the criteria for the best probiotics for men include:
- Ensuring an effective delivery system so your bacteria arrive alive in the gut
- Targeted probiotics strains for men
- Shelf stability, so the bacteria are nourished on the journey through the digestive tract
- Prebiotics and postbiotics that support the bacteria strains
- Third-party lab testing to make sure formulations are everything they say they are
Final Verdict On Best Probiotics
Probiotic supplements have immense benefits to the digestive system. They balance the bacteria present and form colony-forming units that then grow and work to keep a standard metabolic environment conducive to other useful bacteria. Although there is no specific dosage for all probiotics, different probiotic supplements have their specific prescriptions to be followed for the best results.
The number of CFUs does not determine how useful a probiotic supplement is. These are directly influenced by how a probiotic is made to ensure it reaches the gastrointestinal tract with the highest survival CFUs. The quality of bacterial strains also affects how effective a probiotic will be as some companies use cheap strains of low quality, which affects a product’s effectiveness.
Many companies have ventured into probiotic production, but we recommended purchasing probiotics made by doctors as they have higher effectiveness because experts make them.
Probiotics have little to no side effects, but pregnant and lactating mothers should consult with their physician before using these products. They work hand in hand with prebiotics, although they perform different functions. Other benefits of probiotics include reduced bloating and occasional gas buildup. It reduces constipation after meals, faster metabolism of nutrients helps elevate weight loss, enhances better sleep at night, helps ease menopausal effects, eases colic in babies, and enhances the general immune function of your body.
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