Best Probiotic Supplements 2023: Top 5 Probiotic Pills Reviews

The human body is host to many microorganisms, both good and bad – it’s called the human microbiome^[1]. The microbiome is made up of bacteria, viruses, and other microbes that have the potential to impact numerous aspects of health and wellness. In addition to supporting a strong immune system and healthy metabolic function, the microbiome plays a role in supporting regular digestion. 

Maintaining the proper balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive tract is essential for healthy digestion. Probiotics are live bacteria^[2] and yeasts that naturally reside in the body and support this balance. The term probiotic is also used to describe a dietary supplement that contains probiotic bacteria. 

In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of probiotic supplements and talk about their benefits. You’ll also see our top picks for the five best probiotic supplements on the market. 

The market is flooded with probiotics, but one probiotic supplement isn’t guaranteed to be as good as another. When shopping for a probiotic supplement, it’s essential to know what you’re looking for and to know how to differentiate between an effective product and an ineffective one. 

Here are some key factors to consider when shopping for a probiotic supplement:

Probiotic Strains

The benefits of a probiotic supplement are tied to the probiotic strains used. The best probiotic supplement will include numerous probiotic strains and high numbers of colony-forming units (CFUs). Experts generally recommend^[3] choosing probiotic dietary supplements that contain the genus Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, or Saccharomyces. These are the probiotic strains supported by the most scientific research. 

Some of the top probiotic strains include the following:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus (L. acidophilus)
• Lactobacillus casei (L. casei)
• Lactobacillus plantarum (L. plantarum)
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus (L. rhamnosus)
• Bifidobacterium animalis (B. animalis)
• Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum)
• Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium)
• Pediococcus acidilactici (P. acidilactici) 
• Bacillus coagulans (B. coagulans)
• Bacillus indicus (B. indicus) 
• Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis)

When shopping for probiotic dietary supplements, think about the issue you’re trying to resolve and choose your probiotic organisms accordingly. You might choose a different supplement for digestive health benefits than for immune health benefits. 

Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Saccharomyces boulardii, for example, are effective^[4] in treating antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome seem to respond^[4] best to Bifidobacterium strains, especially in combination with Lactobacillus strains.

Colony Forming Units (CFUs)

The second most important thing to look for in a probiotic supplement is the number of colony-forming units or CFUs. This simply refers to the number of beneficial bacteria in the product. Experts recommend at least 1 billion CFUs per gram to provide health benefits. Generally speaking, the higher the CFUs, the better. 

Digestive Enzymes 

Many probiotic supplements provide an extra gut health boost by including digestive enzymes in the formula. Both probiotics and digestive enzymes have the potential to support gut health but in different ways. Whereas gut bacteria help maintain a healthy ecosystem in your body, digestive enzymes help^[5] you break down food more efficiently. Both of these, in combination, can help relieve digestive symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. 

Quality And Safety

When it comes to quality, be sure to look for a probiotic that contains live bacteria. If you’re going to be taking probiotics, you want to make sure they’re going to work. Just keep in mind that these products may require refrigeration to keep them fresh. Always check the label for proper storage instructions. 

Another thing to check when shopping for any dietary supplements is third-party testing. Many companies hire scientists to formulate their products, but it’s a good idea to choose a company that has its products tested by a third-party lab to verify their quality and safety.

5 Best Probiotic Supplements For A Healthy Gut In 2023

Benefits Of Probiotics

The term probiotic^[6] refers to good bacteria and/or yeasts that can be found naturally in the body. Though bacteria is often considered a bad thing, probiotic bacteria are necessary to support healthy immune function, gastrointestinal health, and other overall health and wellness aspects. Probiotic supplements containing live probiotics can help support a healthy microbiome, keeping good and bad bacteria in balance. 

Intestinal Health And Digestion 

The primary benefit of probiotics as they relate to digestive health has to do with the gut microbiome. Promoting a healthy balance of good bacteria in the digestive system may help resolve issues with diarrhea, especially when it is a side effect of antibiotic use^[7].

Probiotics have also shown potential in reducing the symptoms of certain digestive disorders. Individuals with mild ulcerative colitis^[8] have shown improvement using certain probiotic strains including Bifidobacterium strains and Lactobacillus strains. Probiotics don’t seem particularly effective for Crohn’s disease^[9] but may help with the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS^[10]). 

Immune Health

While probiotics are best known for their ability to improve gut health, they may also boost immune function. By promoting optimal balance in the body’s microbiome, probiotics may help protect against pathogenic bacteria and viruses. There is limited evidence to show that probiotics are truly effective against common illnesses like cold and flu, but there are studies to show the benefits of probiotics for respiratory health. 

A review^[11] published in the journal Nutrients in October 2020 took an in-depth review of published research regarding probiotics and the immune system with a focus on respiratory health. It concluded that probiotic use was associated with lower risk and shorter duration of mild respiratory tract infections.

Mental Health

The connection between gut health and mental health may seem tenuous, but an increasing number of research studies^[12] are supporting the link. Numerous studies^[13] have shown that probiotic supplements can help improve symptoms of various mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and even autism. 

A 2016 randomized controlled trial^[14] published in Nutritional Neuroscience showed improvements in depression, anxiety, stress, and general health in chemical workers consuming 100 grams of probiotics per day. In an 8-week study^[15], probiotic supplements were associated with decreased depression levels and reduced levels of inflammatory markers. 

Women’s Health

In addition to supporting a healthy balance of gut flora, probiotics also support healthy vaginal flora. Though scientific evidence supporting the use of probiotics for vaginal health is limited, there is potential^[16] in cases where an imbalance in the vaginal flora causes gynecological conditions. These include bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections. 

While evidence supporting the use of probiotics for women’s health is somewhat lacking, some women find that they help with symptoms of common vaginal health and urinary tract issues. 

Dosage

Dosage varies from one supplement to another, largely depending on the number of colony-forming units in the product. For children, recommended dosage^[17] ranges from 5 to 10 billion colony-forming units per day. For adults, recommendations range from 10 to 20 billion CFUs. 

Before taking a probiotic, it’s important to talk to your doctor. Qualified healthcare professionals can help you determine which bacterial strains will deliver the beneficial effects you want. They may also be able to help you decide on the right number of CFUs and the proper probiotic dosage. Just know that you may experience bloating, gas, and changes in your stool patterns when you first start taking probiotics. These side effects^[18] should go away with regular use.

Final Thought

Digestive issues like abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation are incredibly common. If you’re looking for a way to restore digestive balance and relieve these symptoms, probiotics might help. These supplements contain live bacteria that help sway the gut microbiome in a healthy direction to resolve the symptoms of bacterial imbalance. 

Probiotic supplements are a dime a dozen, but they aren’t all created equal. Take to heart our recommendations for choosing a reputable brand and a quality product and consider one of our five top picks reviewed above. With regular use, a daily probiotic can improve your digestion and your overall health. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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