“You should try this top probiotic supplement!” The phrase sounds familiar, right? Well, it’s because marketers are increasingly using this buzzword – probiotics – to market their products. Probiotics are all the craze nowadays. But, are they really beneficial? 

Well, there are no dangerous side effects, but the effectiveness depends on the strain of probiotics, gut health of the individual, and other factors like age, climate etc. In this article, you will get to know all about probiotics – best probiotic supplement reviews, top probiotic foods, and probiotic strains for disease treatment. 

Want to improve your microbiome and overall gut health? Keep on reading to find the best probiotics that will help!

What Are Probiotics?

Aren’t germs bad? Well, not all of them. Some bacteria are actually good for your health and help you fight against certain diseases. These helpful bacteria are known as probiotics. Your gut contains some friendly bacteria that are present from birth and continue to live there due to colonization. However, the amount may decrease sometimes due to several factors like bad immune health or antibiotics. 

That is where microbiome probiotic supplements and foods rich in probiotics may come in handy. Probiotic supplements are active microorganisms that help increase the number of healthy bacteria in your gut if taken in suggested amounts. You should also note that the FDA regulates probiotics as foods, not medicines. 

Different Forms of Probiotics

Best Probiotics You Can Take In the Form of Supplements

You can improve your gut-friendly bacteria by taking probiotic supplements in forms such as capsules, powders and more. Read on to find the best probiotic supplement reviews that will help you figure out which ones suit you best.

Culturelle Health and Wellness

This probiotic contains Lactobacillus GG which improves your gut bacteria balance. Culturelle Health and Wellness Probiotic is best to boost your overall immune health and increase its defences against disease.

Synbiotic 365 Probiotic

Synbiotic 365 Probiotic is the brainchild of United Naturals. This probiotic is carefully designed to improve your digestive health along with fulfilling your Vitamin B deficiencies. It contains 20 billion CFU per capsule and 15 effective probiotic strains. This probiotic is suitable even if you have food or other allergies. 

Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotic and Mood Supplement

This 50 billion CFU probiotic supplement improves your digestive and emotional health. The strains used in this probiotic help in promoting relaxation and improve your mood. It may also help people struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

Megafood Megaflora

This probiotic helps you keep your body weight in check as gut health is linked with body weight. MegaFlora Probiotic is a combination of 14 proven strains that help improve the balance of healthy bacteria. It is the top probiotic supplement to support your intestinal health. 

Renew Life Ultimate Flora Extra Care Probiotic

This probiotic is designed by Renew Life – rated the top probiotic supplement brand – which guarantees its quality and effectiveness. It contains 50 billion cultures of bacteria and 12 proven strains to improve your overall digestive health. This probiotic is also efficient in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and provides your gut relief. 

Some Food Products That Have Probiotics

The best way to take probiotics is to include foods rich in probiotics in your diet. Fermented food products are the most popular source of probiotics. Now, don’t go and pick out a dozen beer cans just because beer is fermented. Actually, the beer-making process kills the live bacteria. Here are a few of the many dairy and non-dairy products that contain probiotics:

• Yogurt: It is made from fermented milk and is the most common source of probiotics. When you are buying yogurt, look for the label “live and active cultures”. This will give your gut a boost of friendly bacteria.
• Miso: Miso paste – a fermented paste prepared with soybeans, barley or rice – is the key ingredient for yummy soups and salads. This paste contains huge colony forming units (CFU), meaning it is a great way of probiotics intake. Not to mention, it has a delicious taste.
• Kefir: This milk drink is fermented adding kefir grains – bacteria colonies – into milk. Kefir has a more liquid consistency than yogurt and proves to be a better probiotics’ source according to some reviews. 
• Cheese: Who knew pizza could turn out to be a good source of probiotics? Thanks to aged cheeses like cheddar, mozzarella, or cottage cheese, you can intake probiotics while enjoying the cheesy goodness of your food.

Benefits of Taking Probiotics – Strains and Diseases

Some research (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5725290/) suggests that specific strains are useful in treating intestinal diseases. Take a look at the following diseases and find which probiotic strains are best recommended for each of them.

1. Acute Gastroenteritis: Experts strongly recommend the use of probiotics with rehydration therapy. Probiotic strains such as L. rhamnosus GG and S. boulardii help in the treatment of Gastroenteritis. 
2. Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD): The overuse of antibiotics can sometimes cause an imbalance of bacteria in your gut. It can result in antibiotic-induced diarrhea which is commonly found in children. L. rhamnosus GG and S. boulardii prove helpful in preventing AAD.
3. Nosocomial diarrhea: Nosocomial diarrhea is another intestinal disease which is caused by infections like rotavirus. Health experts suggest that L. rhamnosus GG is the best strain for the treatment of intestinal infections – especially in children.
4. Traveller’s diarrhea: Saccharomyces boulardii may prove effective in preventing diarrhea while traveling (also known as traveller’s diarrhea). 

Wrap up!

Now, I’m sure that you have all the relevant information on probiotics – from the benefits of probiotics for your gut health to the types of probiotics available in the market. You can choose the best one for yourself by comparing the strains and effectiveness of different probiotics. These probiotics will help you fight diseases like diarrhea or IBS. Consequently, they will improve your gut health and boost your mood. Yes, probiotics may actually be worth the hype if you take them the right way! Do keep in mind that you should consult with health experts, such as a gastroenterologist, on the best amount and strain suitable for your microbiome especially if your digestive problems do not subside from your intake of probiotics as it could signify that you have a deeper more concerning health issue.