One of the simplest yet most effective ways to improve your gut health and overall well-being is by taking a probiotic. These supplements provide a large dose of good bacteria that work in the GI tract and gut to support nutrient absorption, digestion, regularity, and even your immune health.
There are many factors that affect your gut microbiome, but when bad bacteria outweighs the number of good bacteria, you’ll see and feel it. This is why it’s so important to take a daily probiotic supplement that nourishes you from the inside out so that you can feel and be your best.
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- Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic
- mindbodygreen probiotic+
- Penguin Probiotic Gummies
- Everest Delta 8 Gummies
- Spring Valley Daily Probiotic
- Nature's Bounty Probiotic 10
- Physician's Choice 60 Billion Probiotic
- Olly Purely Probiotic Gummies
- Seed Daily Synbiotic
- Nature Made Digestive Probiotics Gummies
- Align Probiotic Gut Health and Immunity Support
- Ora Trust Your Gut Probiotic & Prebiotic
- The Vitamin Shoppe Probiotic Gummies
- Culturelle Daily Probiotic
- Health by Habit Gut Health
- Jarrow Formulas Probiotic + Immune Gummies
- Mav Nutrition Prebiotic + Probiotic
- Pure Encapsulations Probiotic G.I.
- Up4 Probiotics Gummies
While there are many factors to consider when taking a probiotic supplement, you may be wondering if there’s a best time to take them to get the most health benefits. Below you’ll find a guide to the 18 best probiotics as well as information about when to take these supplements.
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What are probiotics?
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that naturally occur in the intestinal tract. Probiotic supplements contain strains of this beneficial bacteria to ensure that your gut microbiome is balanced. There are many factors, including stress, what you eat, and even your environment, that impact the good bacteria in your gut.
A probiotic supplement helps to maintain and restore gut diversity. A healthy gut microbiome plays a key role in your internal and external health. A balanced gut microbiome means a stronger immune system, higher energy levels, and even a more positive mood and mental state.
When is the best time to take a probiotic?
When it comes to probiotic supplements, research has found that timing does matter. However, what's even more important is that you're consistent. Taking probiotics every single day will provide the most benefit.
Probiotics live in the small and large intestine. Here they work to strengthen the digestive tract while also supporting the immune system. The bacteria then has to pass through the stomach, which is very acidic.
To get the most benefit from probiotics, it's best to take them on an empty stomach in the morning. This allows the bacteria to move through the digestive tract to get into the stomach as quickly as possible.
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The stomach environment is least acidic when it's empty or contains very little food. This is because the stomach produces acid to digest food. In turn, there’s a higher risk that more probiotics are able to make it to their final destination.
If taking a supplement on an empty stomach is known to cause nausea or other adverse side effects, you can eat a light snack or highly digestible meal beforehand.
What are the benefits of probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that offer all sorts of health benefits to men and women of all ages. Having an imbalance of bacteria in your gut increases the risk of various health conditions. Here are the top reasons why you should take a probiotic supplement.
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Optimize gut function
Probiotics are good bacteria. An imbalance of too much bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria can be very problematic, including an increased risk of digestive issues. Probiotics help to maintain a healthy bacteria balance in the gut, which helps to keep you regular while supporting nutrient absorption.
Less gas and bloating
Gas and bloating are some of the most common digestive problems that people experience each day. They're often caused by an imbalanced gut microbiome. Because probiotics work to balance the gut and digestive tract, they may reduce gas, bloating, and other digestive upset.
Treatment for diarrhea
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Diarrhea can be caused by many factors, including a change in gut bacteria. If you often experience loose stools, probiotics may be able to help. Research has found that probiotics may reduce the risk of diarrhea caused by antibiotics.
Stronger immune system
When you're sick, it's not uncommon for the gut bacteria to be unbalanced. This is even more true if you're prescribed antibiotics, which kill both bad and good bacteria throughout the body.
By taking a probiotic, you replenish your gut flora with good bacteria, which in turn balances the immune system. A healthy gut means a lower risk of cold, flu, and other common infections.
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Improved nutrient absorption
The food you eat, especially wholesome foods like fruits and vegetables, are loaded with vitamins and minerals. But you only benefit from these nutrients if your body is able to absorb them.
Probiotics support gut microbes, which are key for nutrient absorption. Certain probiotic strains, specifically lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, play a role in iron absorption along with other nutrients.
May help with weight loss
The gut microbiome affects how the body extracts calories from food. Supplementing with probiotics may help with weight loss and weight management by increasing the metabolism while also regulating appetite and energy expenditure.
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Support heart health
Cholesterol impacts heart health. High cholesterol is one of the most common heart conditions, but thankfully it’s treatable, reversible, and preventable. Some research has found that certain probiotic strains may reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol while also reducing total cholesterol levels.
Improved mood
Your gut plays a direct role in your mood. Bacteria in the gut produce neurotransmitters, which send messages throughout the body. These compounds play a role in mood and sleep. Stress is known to negatively affect the gut microbiome.
Probiotics help to repopulate good bacteria in the good, which improves mood, cognitive function, and sleep.
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Top 18 probiotic supplements
With so many probiotic supplements on the market today, it can be hard to know which ones are worthwhile. Below you’ll find a guide to the 18 best probiotics. These products are made with high quality, well-researched probiotic strains that are known to benefit digestive, immune, and overall health.
Support your gut health and feel better than ever with Elm & Rye Daily Probiotic. These probiotic gummies are specially formulated for people who want to boost their digestive and overall health. Each serving offers an optimal dose of lactobacillus acidophilus, one of the most widely studied probiotic strains.
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Designed to support a healthy gut, mindbodygreen’s probiotic+ features a unique blend of four probiotic strains.* While all strains are clinically tested to support a healthy gut, each one offers added benefits. For example, some strains promote regularity while others help ease bloat and maintain a healthy weight.* The shelf-stable probiotic has 30 servings in every bottle—each containing 32 billion CFUs of powerful probiotic bacteria. Save 15% on your order with code NEW15.
Recharge and nourish your gut with Penguin Probiotic Gummies. These delicious gummies are packed with live probiotics along with CBD. When taken as directed, these soft chews help to boost digestion, immunity, and skin health while also reducing inflammation. Each serving provides 10mg CBD to boost your mood while reducing stress and anxiety.
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Stress and anxiety are detrimental to gut health. Lower your stress and anxiety while boosting your mood with Everest Delta 8 Gummies. These fruit-flavored chews are formulated with high quality delta 8 that’s sourced from premium plants. They’re available in great flavors like peach, blue raspberry, and watermelon.
5. Spring Valley Daily Probiotic
Support your digestive and immune health with Spring Valley Daily Probiotic. This supplement is specially formulated to promote digestive, colon, and immune health. Each dose contains five billion active cultures from five different probiotic strains, including lactobacillus acidophilus, lactobacillus rhamnosus, and bifidobacterium lactis.
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6. Nature's Bounty Probiotic 10
Nature's Bounty Probiotic 10 is a premium, one-a-day formula that is enriched with 20 billion live probiotic cultures. With 10 distinct probiotic strains, this supplement supports a healthy gut microbiome and digestive ecosystem. Each dose contains well-researched probiotics, including lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus paracasei, and lactobacillus casei.
7. Physician's Choice 60 Billion Probiotic
Support your digestive health with 60 billion CFUs from ten probiotic strains with Physician's Choice 60 Billion Probiotic. This non-GMO supplement is made with a delayed-release technology to help probiotics travel through the digestive tract and stomach. These capsules are also enriched with an organic prebiotic blend, which helps the live bacteria to thrive.
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8. Olly Purely Probiotic Gummies
Chew your way to improved gut, digestive, and immune health with Olly Purely Probiotic Gummies. These tropical mango flavored gummies are naturally flavored and are loaded with one billion live cultures in every serving. Two gummies a day is all you need to balance and support your gut microbiome.
9. Seed Daily Synbiotic
Formulated with clinically and scientifically studied probiotic strains, Seed Daily Synbiotic is a 2-in-1 capsule that provides an optimal dose of prebiotics and probiotics. This supplement supports systemic health by supporting digestive health, gut immune function, and even cardiovascular health. Each capsule contains 53.6 billion probiotics and 400 mg microbiota-accessible polyphenolic precursors.
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10. Nature Made Digestive Probiotics Gummies
Naturally support your digestive health with Nature Made Digestive Probiotics Gummies. These raspberry and cherry flavored soft chews contain eight billion CFUs per serving, which work fast to support gut, digestive, and immune health. Each batch is made with natural fruit flavors and colors derived from natural sources.
11. Align Probiotic Gut Health and Immunity Support
Fortify your digestive system with a healthy dose of good bacteria with Align Probiotic Gut Health and Immunity Support. These capsules support a strong and healthy immune system with proven bifidobacterium lactis. This supplement works with your body to nourish your health from the inside out.
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12. Ora Trust Your Gut Probiotic & Prebiotic
Make digestive health issues a problem of the past with Ora Trust Your Gut Probiotic & Prebiotic. These capsules are formulated with dairy-free probiotics and organic prebiotics that work to ease constipation, diarrhea, and bloating. Each serving provides 16 billion CFU from six probiotic strains. Just one or two capsules a day is all you need to support your digestive health.
13. The Vitamin Shoppe Probiotic Gummies
Chew your way to improved digestive health with The Vitamin Shoppe Probiotic Gummies. These strawberry-flavored soft chews are loaded with five billion CFUs or good bacteria that nourish the gut while supporting immune and digestive health. The Vitamin Shoppe Probiotic Gummies are vegan and don't contain any dairy, gluten, soy, or other common allergens.
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14. Culturelle Daily Probiotic
Support your digestion and immunity while reducing gas, bloating, and diarrhea with Culturelle Daily Probiotic. These capsules are formulated with clinically studied lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. When taken as directed, this supplement helps your digestive and immune system to work better.
15. Health by Habit Gut Health
Health by Habit Gut Health is specially formulated with prebiotics, probiotics, zinc, and selenium to support every aspect of digestive health. These capsules are vegan, non-GMO, and don't contain any artificial colors or flavors. Each serving delivers 1.5 billion cultures along with prebiotic apple extract.
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16. Jarrow Formulas Probiotic + Immune Gummies
Promote digestive and immune health with a blend of vitamins and minerals with Jarrow Formulas Probiotic + Immune Gummies. These orange-flavored gummies are made with two clinically studied probiotic strains. Each serving contains two billion live bacteria that work to promote gut health and overall well-being.
17. Mav Nutrition Prebiotic + Probiotic
Get microbiome therapy in a single capsule with Mav Nutrition Prebiotic + Probiotic. This supplement offers a combination of prebiotics and probiotics that support digestive health and regularity. These capsules even regulate hormones while improving mood and overall mental health. Each dose is loaded with 20 billion live cultures and 250 mg inulin.
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18. Pure Encapsulations Probiotic G.I.
Support your GI function while strengthening your GI barrier with Pure Encapsulations Probiotic G.I. capsules. This supplement is non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free. It’s made with shelf-stable probiotics that nourish your digestive and gut health. Each capsule is enriched with 10 billion CFU, including bifidobacterium and lactobacillus strains.
19. Up4 Probiotics Gummies
Gut health has never tasted so good. Support your digestion and immune function with Up4 Probiotics Gummies. These mixed berry-flavored gummies are gelatin free and are enhanced with vitamin C. Each serving delivers a selectively chosen blend of two billion CFUs.
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What are the side effects of taking probiotics?
Now that you know about the top 18 probiotics to consider adding to your daily regimen, you may be wondering if these supplements pose any adverse side effects. Generally, when taken as recommended, probiotics have very few side effects. However, some people may experience:
- Diarrhea
- Mild stomach upset
- Flatulence
- Bloating
- Headache
The good news is that these symptoms typically only occur when first introducing probiotics to your system. For most people, these symptoms subside within a few days.
Final thoughts
Taking a probiotic can have an immense impact on your gut health and overall well-being. To get the most benefit from this supplement, be sure that you’re taking it in the morning on an empty or relatively empty stomach. This ensures that the stomach has an ideal environment for probiotics to pass through.
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The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.
