The human body harbors millions of microorganisms, especially in the gut, that help in the maintenance of overall health. These microorganisms constitute what is scientifically called the ‘microbiome' of the body.
Now, not all the microbes present in the digestive system are beneficial, but most of them are.1 There is always a balance between the ones that are beneficial and those that tend to be harmful. If, for some reason, the level of beneficial microbes declines, the bad ones can quickly take over and cause major digestive problems.
That is why it is absolutely crucial to maintain a healthy level of these good bacteria. One of the best ways to maintain the level of good microbes in the gut is through consuming probiotics. These are viable microorganism strains that can colonize in the gut and restore balance.
The primary source of these probiotics used to be food... however, in the modern world, where food is unnecessarily processed, it is no longer a sufficient source of probiotics. That’s where probiotic supplements come in. These supplements contain scientifically proven strains of beneficial microbes that help in maintaining overall health.
There are hundreds of probiotic supplements out there. However, as you can imagine, some are better than the others. Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement is one of the more popular brands that promises great results. In this article, we will take a closer look at this supplement and see if stands up to our scrutiny. Let’s begin!
Formula & Ingredients
The Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement contains a blend of 15 different strains of beneficial microbes. It contains common strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus which is perhaps the most extensively studied probiotic out there.
The strain has a proven record when it comes to digestive benefits.2 It is also ideal for people suffering from Crohn's disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The strain has also been shown to help fight Candida (Yeast) infections in women.
That said, a couple of strains in this supplement are not some of our favorites. For instance, the Lactobacillus casei is a particularly aggressive strain.3 This strain can overtake the other strains and suppress their colonization and growth, which can be highly counterproductive. Bacillus coagulans—another strain in the product—can cause some mild gastric discomfort in some users.
It is also crucial that the strains are present in good concentrations and are viable
so that they have a chance to fully colonize in the gut. The Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement contains 30 billion Colony Forming Units (CFUs) of probiotics.
The CFU is a unit of microbial concentration—so the higher, the better. It is a sufficient serving size that falls in the recommended range.4 However, the label does not indicate the CFU levels of the individual strains. Hence, there is no way of knowing whether all the strains will be effective or not.
Although we could not find independent studies regarding the purity of the products, the manufacturing facility is FDA approved. It lends some credibility, and we can rest easy that if the facility meets FDA standards, the product should be safe.
One of the biggest drawbacks of these capsules is the fact that they contain Lactose as a filler. It is not great news for people with lactose allergies. There are no clear labels regarding other allergens such as soy, gluten, or egg protein.
We would not recommend these capsules if you have allergies to any of these ingredients, simply because we were unable to rule them out.
Other filler/binder ingredients include magnesium stearate, silica, and cellulose. The manufacturer does not identify any other synthetic colors or preservatives on the label.
Probiotics, in general, are safe to consume and we don’t see any major problem with the Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement in that regard. Most customers don’t seem to be experiencing any significant side effects worth our concern.
The recommended serving size is two capsules per day to maintain a healthy digestive system. The instructions indicate that you should take one capsule in the morning and one at night. Individual results will vary greatly.
brand Guarantee
Gaia Source is a popular brand when it comes to supplements in general. They have some supplement products on the market. The product has some decent reviews on Amazon.com as well.
However, there is no guarantee of any kind on the company website. It is also not clear whether they have a return policy and if they do, what the terms and conditions might be. The only contact on their website is an email address. There is no phone number or chat line for customer support, which is a bit of a let down.
product Value
Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement is a premium probiotic, and it is reflected in the cost. The daily serving of the product costs around $0.83 a day, which is quite steep.
However, considering that the supplement contains 15 strains, it is not a terrible value for your money, when considering your digestive and financial needs.
Product Effectiveness
The effectiveness of any probiotic supplement is somewhat subjective. Not all people experience equal benefits, and the time to see those benefits also vary.
That said, the Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement seems to be generally effective when looking at thousands of positive reviews. It will take a couple of weeks for any probiotic supplement to show even some effect.
So, one could reasonably expect to see some minor results in a couple of weeks. If a user is suffering from IBS or other ailments, you may see the effects sooner.
The side effects with this product seem to be sporadic. Only a few people reported having prolonged or troubling adverse reactions. Most common side effects included gas and upset stomach, although some people also reported diarrhea.
Most of these side effects are transient and go away in a few days, once the body adjusts to the microbes.
Customer Satisfaction
Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement is one of the most highly rated probiotic supplements on Amazon. It has a 4.8-star rating after tabulating over 1000 reviews which seems like a great sign. Check to make sure these reviews are legitimate.
Most people who have used the supplement have nothing but great things to say. Users seem to report a positive impact on their gastrointestinal health from regularly using these supplements. Unfortunately, there is no place to review the product on the company website at all, which is suspect.
The probiotic supplement must be refrigerated to maintain viability. It is a big complaint for many as the sustainability—and therefore the effectiveness—seems to reduce drastically if storage instructions are not followed.
Also, a few reviewers complained about some mild side effects as well.
Final conclusion
Probiotics can be helpful in maintaining positive gastrointestinal health. The Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement gets most of things right. It contains a panel of probiotics—which is good—and at 30 billion CFUs, the concentration is also right.
However, the need to refrigerate is not particularly desirable. It means that you can't travel with these supplements as the cells start dying when in room temperature.
The customer service and availability is also a concern. As there is no direct phone number or chat line, the only contact between the customers and the company is through email. Although we have not verified the response time ourselves, it is always nice to have a direct number you can call if you have a serious question.
The Gaia Source Probiotic Supplement is a highly reviewed probiotic supplement. Customer health seem to have generally gained from use of this supplement, so we will give the product the benefit of customer happiness as our bottom line.
Citations
- http://hrcak.srce.hr/index.php?show=clanak&id_clanak_jezik=92463
- http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030201844815
- https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/36/6/775/319312/Safety-of-Probiotics-That-Contain-Lactobacilli-or
- http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-94-011-2364-8_1#page-1
