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5 Probiotics That Will Transform Your Gut Health in 2021
What top scientists are discovering about our gut and how it can dramatically affect the quality of our lives.
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Occasional gas, bloating, and constipation? Chances are your gut's to blame. In fact, scientists, researchers and physicians are discovering that the gut is responsible for many aspects of our health and ultimately, the quality of our lives.
Along with housing over 70% of our immunity, our gut directly impacts our digestion, lungs, heart, and even the brain! And when bad bacteria start outnumbering the good, it can negatively impact one or more of these vital systems.
But a quality probiotic supplement can do wonders to help replenish our gut with billions of helpful bacteria, thereby re-establishing the correct balance of our gut flora.
Unfortunately, not all probiotics are made the same. And with so much clutter on the market it's tough to know what direction to take when looking for a high quality supplement. So, Smarter Reviews did the hard work for you, by revealing what to look for and what to avoid when shopping for an effective probiotic.
We even researched hundreds of probiotics on the market to give you the 5 very best probiotic supplements on the market today.
6 Ways Probiotics Can Skyrocket Your Health
When our good bacteria is plentiful, they line up along the inside the walls of our arteries to defend against invading bad bacteria, much as soldiers would when defending a fort. But when we have too few of these good ‘wall defenders,’ the bad bacteria jam their way through these thin walls where they enter our bloodstream and travel throughout our body — definitely not a situation we'd want.
When the bad bacteria in our gut start outnumbering the good, not only does it make it more difficult to digest food, but it can sometimes lead to embarrassing gut issues such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea. A high-quality probiotic can help correct this imbalance, leading to a marked improvement of these symptoms.
A recent study has shown a direct relationship between bad bacterial growth in the gut and the ability to fall and remain asleep. This can lead to sleep disorders that zap our energy during the day and create erratic sleep patterns. In short, the more good bacteria in our gut, the better our sleep!
Many are surprised to learn that our gut has over 500 million neurons that send signals to the brain via the spinal cord. When our bad bacteria is out-of-control, the gut sends confusing signals, which can lead to occasional brain fog, stress, and even memory slips. The gut and brain are intricately linked, so it’s vitally important that the gut is as healthy as possible.
If you ever wondered how people slide past the age of 100 so effortlessly, chances are it’s because of their healthy, youthful gut. In fact, recent studies show that participants over the age of 100 who are less physically frail and enjoy greater mental acuity had one thing in common: an abundance of healthy bacterial strains in their gut. So, the fountain of youth may just be located in our gut after all!
With over 70% of our immunity residing in our gut, it becomes important to support it in any way we can. Probiotic supplements replenish the gut with helpful bacteria to boost our immune system so it can respond to unanticipated attacks.
4 Things All Effective Probiotics Must Have
Based on our research and feedback from our Smarter Shoppers, these are the things to look for in an exceptional probiotic supplement:
High CFU Count
Since our microbiome is composed of about 100 trillion good and bad bacteria, a high number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) will have greater impact on the growth of beneficial bacteria within our gut.23 It's essential to choose a probiotic which specifies CFU versus "active cultures" or "live cultures." Look for a formula with a minimum of 40 billion CFU.
Prebiotics
The latest research shows that fiber-based prebiotics (such as NutraFlora Fiber) feed the probiotics, helping them to populate and flourish in our gut.24 Choose probiotics supplements containing prebiotics to significantly increase the overall effectiveness of the probiotic.
Clinically Studied Strains
There are hundreds of different probiotics strains, but many have never been proven effective. The best way to identify the potency of a particular strain is to look at the clinical studies backing it up. To find out if a particular strain has clinical backing, search the strain name on the internet. Look for strains proven effective by clinical studies.
Formulated By A Doctor
It takes specific expertise to form an effective probiotic formulation. More is not necessarily better. The exact combination of strain type, potency, quantity, and prebiotics determines the product's quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.
Every year, researchers make new strides in understanding probiotics and how they affect our health. We now understand that there are hundreds of unique probiotic strains that all perform different functions in our bodies. Some strains enhance digestion to minimize uncomfortable symptoms such as diarrhea and constipation. While others can enhance our mood, increase energy or give us greater mental clarity.
Here are some of the most effective strains available in a high-quality probiotic:
Top Probiotic Strains & Their Benefits:
While the potency and variety of strains is crucial when looking for in a high-quality probiotic, it's equally important to know what to avoid when looking for an effective probiotic.
The following 3 tips should help you sidestep those not worth your time:
Probiotics: 3 Things To Avoid
Limited Unique Strains
Probiotic strains serve different purposes in the body, so it's important to choose a probiotic supplement that features a variety of robust strains. Most probiotics feature only one or two strains — far too few to be effective.
We recommend looking for a supplement with at least 9 unique strains for a more comprehensive approach to overall health and immune function.
Absence of Clinical Studies
A high-quality probiotic will clearly identify its specific probiotic strains on the label. Indicated by a combination of letters and numbers following the strain's name (eg. L. gasseri L22G), these 'substrains,' tell you that they are backed by one or more clinical studies.
Unfortunately, many supplements on the market are made with generic (and cheaper) strains, so it's always a good idea to check the label to ensure specific substrains are there.
Required Refrigeration
Probiotics requiring refrigeration can be damaged or killed off during shipping. They may also be unable to survive the hot, acidic environment of our gut. We therefore suggest choosing a probiotic that is shelf-stable and does need to be stored in the refrigerator.
Top 5 Probiotic Supplements Of 2021
1. Complete Probiotics Platinum
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Total Ranking
647 votes
9.6/10
A+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Contains 51 billion live cultures in each capsule
- 11 diverse strains
- Endorsed by an MD
- Each capsule is acid-resistant
- 100% Vegan
- NutraFlora Prebiotic Fiber is included
- Only one capsule per day is needed
- Has no synthetic fillers or binders
- Each substrain is listed and has been clinically studied.
CONS
- Due to popularity, sometimes it's on backorder/sold out
The Bottom Line
Our Smarter Shoppers have voted 1MD's Complete Probiotics Platinum the most popular daily probiotic they tried. It is one of the best formulas on the market, due to its 51 billion live cultures, 11 robust and clinically studied strains, NutraFlora prebiotic fiber, vegan capsule composition, and no synthetic fillers or additives.
This was the only product we could find that has been endorsed by an MD, specifically a Gastroenterologist (gut and digestive health physician). It was also the only one that listed each of its clinically studied substrains. Our Smarter Shoppers absolutely loved this probiotic blend.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn About Our Top Pick2. Pro-45
Total Ranking
214 votes
9.5/10
A
Overall Grade
PROS
- Provides 45 billion live cultures
- 11 clinically proven strains
- No fillers or additives
- 365-day return policy
- NutraFlora Prebiotic Fiber included
- Dairy and gluten free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- Not endorsed by an MD
The Bottom Line
Live Concious came in at a respectable #2 on our list, with a potent 45 billion CFUs and 11 strains.
Pro45 offers vegetarian delayed release capsules and pure ingredients. We confirmed that there are no unhealthy fillers or additives. We also checked its 365-day return policy and were impressed by how easy and straightforward it was. Our Smarter Shoppers gave this product high marks in the categories of customer service, returns, and overall effectiveness.
Unfortunately, it's not endorsed by an MD, but easy to order through their Amazon store. Though the reviews were stellar and ingredients are pure, the lack of medical endorsement led this product to come in a close second place on our top picks.*
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More3. 60 Billion Probiotics
Total Ranking
263 votes
8.9/10
B+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Provides 60 billion organisms per serving
- Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- No clinically studied ingredients
- Only 60-day money-back guarantee
The Bottom Line
Taking third place in our ranking is 60 Billion Probiotics by Physician’s Choice. What we like about this product is its 10 separate probiotic strains and 60 billion CFUs. Where 60 Billion Probiotics falls short, however, is that none of its strains are specific, meaning there is no possibility they have been clinically studied — all are generic strains.
If a product’s formulation contains specific strains, you can easily identify them on the label by the letters and numbers following the general strain’s name. For example, Bifidobacterium Bifidum would be a generic strain, whereas Bifidobacterium Bifidum B66B would be the specific version of that strain.
All-in-all, however, taking into consideration the product’s overall CFUs, the number and diversity of its strains, and overall customer satisfaction, 60 Billion Probiotics comes in at a solid #3.
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More4. Extra Care 50 Billion
Total Ranking
263 votes
8.9/10
B+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Provides 50 billion organisms per serving
- Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- Reports of less capsules in bottle than on label
- No money-back guarantee
- Refrigeration recommended for best quality and efficacy
The Bottom Line
Some Smarter Shoppers stated that the storage guidelines of this product was inconvenient.* Although the product contains over 50 billion live cultures, many reviewers believed the product lost its potency due to poor refrigeration by delivery.*
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn More5. Digestive Health Probiotic
Total Ranking
494 votes
8.7/10
B+
Overall Grade
PROS
- Can be found in retail stores
- Dairy and gluten-free, vegetable capsules
CONS
- Only offers 10 billion CFUs per serving
- Contains unhealthy, synthetic fillers
- Only contains one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG
The Bottom Line
This product only offers one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus GG. In addition, this product only contains 10 billion live cultures. Smarter Shoppers noticed fairly short expiration dates. This product contains undesirable fillers and added colors such as gelatin, sucrose, maltodextrin, magnesium stearate, and titanium dioxide.*
*Results are based on the Smarter Reviews Ranking System and do not necessarily reflect typical results from the use of these products. Please visit product websites for more information.
Learn MoreDisclaimer:
Smarter Reviews is owned and operated by the same company that owns certain products featured on this website, including the products ranked number one.
In addition, we receive compensation from certain companies whose products are featured on this website when you purchase a product using the links on this website.
Go back to pageMedically Reviewed By:
Tom
Tom is a lifelong nutrition enthusiast who recently retired from his career in pharmacology to write about natural health. When he isn't researching health products, Tom enjoys exploring local farmers markets and growing his own organic vegetables.
Our Main Sources
Sources used for research purposes. Smarter-Reviews.com are not officially affiliated with these sites.
What You Will Learn:
Estimated Read Time 5 Minutes
Benefits of a Quality Probiotic Supplement
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