Discovering the Best Gut Health Probiotic Solution

Keep Up With Your Digestive Health

Your gut has to be kept healthy for you to feel healthy, and probiotics may help you achieve the best gut and digestive health. A healthy gut may have a positive influence on both physical and mental health conditions because of the gut-brain connection.

What are Probiotics?

Your gut contains trillions of bacteria that work with your body to maintain, among others, digestive health. Probiotics are found in food or supplements containing specific strains of (good) bacteria that are essential for your gut to maintain optimum health.

Probiotic-rich Foods

It’s not always necessary to take daily probiotic supplements – you can get the strains of good gut bacteria or give yourself a boost by eating any of the following probiotic-rich foods:

• Yogurt (containing live cultures).
• Olives.
• Apple cider vinegar.
• Sauerkraut.
• Kimchi.
• Kombucha.
• Pickles.
• Miso.
• Fermented cheese like Cheddar.
• Kefir.

(Becker and Blanton, 2021).

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However, sometimes stress or an illness can disrupt your gut’s bacteria to such an extent that you need extra bacteria in the form of supplements to get you balanced again. You’ll find that the supplements can help with bloating, gas and diarrhea, but can also help to relieve more serious conditions, including ulcerative colitis.

Probiotic Supplements

Another way to get a probiotic boost is by taking a probiotic supplement. These supplements are usually taken in capsule form and contain billions of the necessary bacterial strains to get your gut back in balance. (Because these are the “good” bacteria, they won’t make you sick – you aren’t taking a capsule full of germs that cause illness.)

The Benefits of Probiotic Supplements

Taking probiotic supplements may have many benefits for both overall gut health and support relief of the symptoms of various ailments, including:

• Traveler's diarrhea.
• Diarrhea from antibiotics.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Crohn's disease.
• Ulcerative colitis (EJCN, 2019 and Islam, 2016).

A 2019 study also notes that evidence supports the role of probiotics in improving:

• Immune system responses.
• Stool consistency.
• Bowel movement.
• Vaginal lactobacilli concentration.

Therefore, taking a probiotic supplement and eating foods that supply your digestive system with the necessary good bacteria that it needs to function at an optimal level.

What to Look For in Probiotic Supplements

Although there are many probiotic supplements available on the market at the moment, not all of the supplements have been created equal. Therefore, you need to make sure that you take the best probiotic to support your gut health.

When buying a probiotic supplement, make sure that the brand you’re buying:

• Contains a high number of colony-forming units (CFU) of bacteria, that’s also stated on the packaging.
• That the packaging “clearly states ideal use, including recommended dosage, when to take them, storage suggestions and any contraindications.”
• Has a good reputation and is from vetted brands.
• The packaging contains no unsubstantiated health claims or promises (Marengo, 2023).

The Best Probiotic Supplements for Gut Health

Align Extra Strength Probiotic Supplement

Align Extra Strength is an all-around daily probiotic supplement that won the 2010 Gold Edison Award for health innovation and is the number one Gastroenterologist recommended probiotic brand.

• Fortifies the digestive system with healthy bacteria.
• Only Align contains Bifidobacterium 35624™, a probiotic strain
• Gluten-free.
• Naturally helps with occasional abdominal discomfort, gas and bloating.
• Maintains digestive balance.

Culturelle Ultimate Strength Probiotic

This probiotic is great to take when you’re on antibiotics to relieve diarrhea, gas and bloating. Culturelle Ultimate Strength Probiotic contains 20 billion CFUs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus. It also minimizes digestive issues while traveling.

Persona Daily Probiotic

The Persona Daily Probiotic is one of the most budget-friendly offers. It is also a subscription model, meaning you don’t have to remember to buy your probiotic every month. It helps:

• Promote digestion.
• Strengthen immunity.
• Support mood.

Probiotic Power

A healthy gut improves one’s overall well-being and health. Taking a probiotic supplement may improve your gut health and relieve the symptoms of certain conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis and diarrhea.