Which Probiotics Should You Avoid
As weve touched on above, lots of things can make probiotics sub-par. Some of these are:
- Few strains
- Not a complete blend of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces boulardii strains.
- Filler ingredients
Obviously we cant put a list of individual products to avoid together because it would be pages long, but as a general rule, anything under 1 billion CFUs per serve is not worth your time. Anything that contains only lacto or only bifido strains is also not the best choice. Anything that contains cheap vege capsules is also likely to be ineffective, as the bacterias will be long dead by the time they hit your gut. You generally get what you pay for with probiotics, so if something looks suspiciously cheap, theres probably a reason.
Stick with our recommendations and youll be just fine!
Culturelle Daily Probioticdigestive Health Capsules
The Culturelle probiotic is made up of Lactobacillus GG, Inulin, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, sucrose maltodextrin, sodium ascorbate, magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide. The lactobacillus improves your digestive functionality and has been scientifically proven to maintain a balance in your digestive system by preventing diarrhea, bloating the stomach, and gas. The recommended dose is one capsule a day meant for vegetarians, and it is gluten-free.
Ahead Protect Probiotic Cultures Complex
Ahead is a German wellness company and has an impressive broad based probiotic that weve used from time to time.
What we love about it is the broad selection of 18 strains, and while it doesnt contain Saccharomyces boulardii, it doesn include a few others we dont see often in other products. Its manufactured in Germany like the rest of their range, and third party tested in TUV certified labs.
We also love their gastro-resistant capsules, with zinc and calcium additions, which use a time release formula to ensure as many bacterias as possible make it safely to the gut.
18 strains over 15 billion CFUs, including prebiotic fibres to give optimal digestion. At this price, its great value for money.
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Probiotics For Gut Health
Probiotics can also be useful to help support a persons gut health and relieve gut issues.
The guts lining can sometimes become damaged, which may lead to intestinal permeability, or leaky gut. This can allow molecules to get through into the bloodstream and cause inflammation or immune reactions.
Antibiotics can kill both bad and good bacteria. Sometimes, this can cause a person to experience symptoms of diarrhea when taking them. Taking probiotics at the same time, however, can help repopulate a persons gut with beneficial bacteria and ease any symptoms of diarrhea.
In particular, the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii has been effective in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea that occurs when taking antibiotics or following infection. The yeast may also be effective in treating irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, but more research is needed to confirm this.
Research indicates that probiotics may reduce gut transit time that is, the time it takes for food to pass as a bowel movement by 12.4 hours and increase bowel movements by 1.3 per week.
The Bifidobacterium lactis strain seems most efficient in improving gut transit time, stool frequency and consistency, and flatulence. The researchers advise caution when interpreting these results, however, as there may be bias in some of the studies.
2016 review suggests that probiotic strains can help combat mood and neurotransmitter conditions.
Inessa Advanced Daily Biotic
Coming in a rather suave looking bottle, these vegan capsules contain a whopping 10 billion CFU of Lactobacillus Rhamnosus – the probiotic strain thats potentially beneficial at preventing eczema.
This has also been studied the most extensively and has shown evidence to colonise in the intestine – the area where bacteria is the most effective at fighting off imposters. Manufactured in the UK, these capsules have been designed with a delayed release, ensuring they can pass through the stomach without being harmed. Youll get 60 capsules in a bottle, meaning they should last you for two months.
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Buying Guide For Best Men’s Probiotics
Probiotics are bacteria and yeasts that are beneficial for you, especially your digestive system. The bacteria in your body outnumber your cells ten to one, and mostly reside in your gut. Much of this bacteria is harmless, but unwanted germs can develop from time to time, and what many dont realize is that gut health directly correlates with overall health.
To fend off infection or disease, ingesting probiotics through food or a supplement helps promote a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Getting adequate levels of healthy bacteria through foods can be difficult, so thats why probiotic supplements are often the best method to incorporate them easily into your diet.
For men, taking probiotic supplements can help maintain good cholesterol, as well as keep blood pressure low. Theyre also proven to have an effect in supporting optimal testosterone levels. Check out our favorite probiotics for men, and read on to learn more about what they can do for you.
How To Pick A Probiotic Supplement That Works And Get It At A Great Price
With all the media craze surrounding probiotics and their incredible health benefits, we decided it was time to write an in depth analysis of the benefits and what you want to look out for when buying an effective probiotic supplement.
The increase in popularity of probiotic supplements is growing and supplement manufacturers have been crawling out of the woodwork to create their version of a probiotic supplement, with wild claims as to its actual benefits. As each new company bursts into the market with their own proprietary formula, it becomes harder to separate fact from fiction, premium product from worthless imitation.
We decided it was time to analyze them ourselves to find out which products were subpar, which were flat-out lying about what was even in their pills, and which, if any, might actually be worth a try.
Its hard to believe, but most companies slap on a label that says Probiotic Supplement, often without even mentioning which strains of probiotics are found in the product or how much of the key ingredients are in each pill or without actually including the amount they claim.
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Best For Overall Womens Health
$16.98
For womens general health, Rizzo recommends Renew Life #1 Womens Probiotic because it has 25 billion live cultures from 10 different probiotic strains. This abundance of cultures and strains reflects the natural diversity of your own gut, she describes. It contains strains that support digestive and immune health, as well as Lactobacilli to promote vaginal health.
Probiotics For Males And Females
The effects of probiotics may be different in males and females.
In a 2014 study, researchers gave males and females with obesityLactobacillus rhamnosus. The results suggested that females lost weight and fat during the trial, and that they maintained the loss after study completion. The males in the study, however, did not.
A different study in people with Salmonella infection suggested that the effects of taking Lactobacillus plantarum varied according to sex. Although the study authors saw little evidence that this probiotic can treat Salmonella, they noted how males and females experienced the symptoms and clearance of the infection differently.
Scientists need to conduct more studies to establish whether or not probiotic therapy should be different depending on a persons sex.
shows that people with obesity have lower bacterial diversity.
A small 2019 study found that people following a low calorie diet for 15 weeks had changes in their gut bacteria. They also had a reduction in bacteria associated with atherosclerosis, which occurs when the arteries become clogged with plaque.
The links between weight and gut bacteria could indicate that probiotics may be able to support weight loss.
Some suggest that supplementation with synbiotics, using strains such as Lactobacillus gasseri, cause weight reduction in large independent studies. Adding certain fibers may increase these effects.
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Puritans Pride Premium Probiotic 10
Puritans Pride Probiotic 10 is a rapid-release probiotic supplement containing 20 billion live cultures per serving. With an advanced formula that uses 10 different probiotic strains, this product is well-balanced and effective.
Highlights:
Whats in it: One serving contains:
- 20 billion active cultures from 10 different strains
Who makes it: Probiotic 10 is made by Puritans Pride, a large scale producer of supplements and other health products. For more than 40 years, Puritan Pride has worked hard to develop cutting-edge products to meet the needs of their customers. Based in Long Island, NY, Puritans Pride now has customers worldwide.
Bottom line: Overall, Puritans Pride Probiotic 10 is a good probiotic. It offers 20 billion CFUs per serving, which is lower than average but still very beneficial. Its made by a very well reputed company, and it comes at a very reasonable price, making it an easy choice for our list of recommendations.
Where to Get It |
The Right Type Of Bacteria
Its critical to choose strains that will address your specific problem and have been evaluated for your population group.
As mentioned, probiotics behave in a strain-specific way, so it is important to get the exact strain that has been evaluated for your specific concern.
In the next section, I will provide more details on the strains to choose for each specific health concern.
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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.
How The Best Probiotics Were Rated
All probiotic companies boast of their products having the same beneficial properties, but the following factors were considered when ranking these probiotics.
Number of CFUs: Some probiotics contained only 1 billion CFUs, while others had up to 50 billion CFUs. CFUs do not determine the quality of a probiotic. Still, from their use, the higher the number of CFUs a probiotic has, the longer its shelf life, quality, and effectiveness.
Quality of Strains: Strain quality differs from one probiotic to another as some probiotics use one bacterial strain. In contrast, others use more than one to increase the efficiency of the strains on the products. Some brands use cheaper bacterial strains, which lower the probiotic quality as good quality probiotics are always more expensive.
Diversity of strains: Some probiotics use at most two strains that do not lower the product’s quality, but different strains have different properties. Incorporating more strains in a probiotic will improve its quality and uses. Some strains may have specific functions, while others have generalized functions, which may work better when the strains are put together.
Transparency & Reputation: More probiotic companies are formulated daily, and some of these companies praise their products for earning quick money. They do this for their business growth and not to promote good health. We considered the reputation of these companies and their reputations to determine which probiotics were legit.
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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.
How Did We Choose The Best Probiotics Supplements In India
We researched for hours and looked for the most famous and available probiotics supplements in India. To begin with, we made a list of all the products that were rated at least 3 out of 5 stars on Amazon India with proper customer reviews.
We interviewed a few subject matter experts on which products they consider best rated and recommend their customers for their health and wellness.
It facilitated us to put together the authenticity and the trust factor. And this entire process shared some more prospects that helped us present this list of the 10 best probiotics supplements in India that are worth every penny.
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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.
Bio Schwartz Advanced Strength Probiotic
Though Bio Schwartz includes a huge amount of bacteria the choices of which ones to include are a little odd.
The staple bacteria lactobacillus acidophilus is there, but the other three are less common and less well-researched bacteria. The supplement also includes fructooligosaccharides to support the growth of the bacteria, but it doesnt document how much it actually includes in the supplement.
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Best Probiotics For Immune Health
The right balance of gut bacteria can help support a healthy immune system. They can also help reduce inflammation associated with aging, helping lower the risk of chronic diseases.
Strains that have been found to be beneficial for immune support include Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Bifidobacterium longum.
A product that contains these specific strains is EU Natural Flourish Probiotics.
Hum Nutrition Skin Squad Pre+probiotic Clear Skin Supplement
The combination of pre and probiotics in HUMs cult supplements are designed to balance the gut microbiome and encourage the growth of good bacterial for healthy digestion and a clear complexion. The formula is made up of naturally derived ingredients – including prebiotic konjac root – with a clinically proven quality. They are also vegan, free from artificial flavours, colourings and gluten.
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Should I Need To See A Doctor Before Taking A Probiotic
If you are healthy and do not have any underlying health conditions, you typically do not need to consult a doctor before consuming a probiotic. However, if you have a health disorder, specifically one that involves the gastrointestinal tract, you may want to seek medical advice from your healthcare provider first.
Load Up On Picked Cabbage
Like yogurt and kefir, vegetables that are fermentedespecially pickled cabbage, like sauerkraut and kimchiare reliable ways to pump up your probiotic ratio.
One caveat about pickled cabbage: Most of the products sold in U.S. stores have been through a heating process called pasteurization for safety, which can destroy both good and bad bacteria. So, if you really want to reap the fermentation benefits, look for unpasteurized products or make your own.
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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.*
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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