Best 5 Probiotic Supplements

There are several benefits of taking probiotics, either as food or supplement. They include boosting the immune system and improving the health of your gut microbiome.

People with various health conditions can also benefit greatly from probiotics depending on the type of bacteria strain present. Let’s take a look at some of these benefits.

1.      Reduces cholesterol levels.

A review conducted in 2017 showed that probiotic foods containing Lactobacillus can reduce the bad cholesterol in your body, and ultimately reduce the total cholesterol levels.

The effects of probiotics on cholesterol levels have been studied on over 2,000 people and researchers have concluded that it is effective in reducing blood cholesterol levels.

However, the results vary depending on the type of supplement and dosage taken.

2.      Prevents diarrhea.

One of the main functions of probiotics is to improve your digestive system by balancing your gut microbiome.

A review published in 2011 showed that probiotics may help treat or prevent different types of diarrhea such as acute watery diarrhea, diarrhea caused by rotavirus, and sporadic infectious diarrhea.

The effects of probiotics on diarrhea also depend on the type of supplement and the amount you consume.

3.      Treats Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

In a 2019 review, researchers concluded that a multi-strain probiotic may help treat or relieve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.

The researchers decided to do more research to determine if the strains of Bacteroides, Akkermansia, and Faecalibacterium can achieve this feat.

But, another study performed in 2019 showed that probiotics are not consistent in the treatment of IBD, except you’re treating ulcerative colitis.

4.      Lowers high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can be caused by various reasons including foods high in cholesterol, salt, and fat.

A scientific review concluded that fermented milk containing Lactobacillus may help lower blood pressure.

In this review, we can see that the probiotic also increases the level of vitamin D, which results in lower blood pressure levels.

5.      Helps people with psoriasis and chronic fatigue syndrome.

In 2013, researchers discovered that bacteria used to strengthen the digestive system (Bifidobacterium infantis) can also help people dealing with health conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome and psoriasis.

6.      Prevents microbial infection.

You’re surprised, right?

How do these microbes prevent other microbes from attacking you?

Scientists performed lab tests on the probiotic bacteria Lactobacillus paracasei and discovered that this bacteria may protect you from Listeria infections.

Another review published in 2017 proved that probiotics can help prevent and treat dangerous Listeria infections. It even seems like a better treatment method for Listeria infections because it is less likely to disturb the balance of the microbiome like the regular antibiotics used to treat them.

7.      Improves your mental health.

Some researchers have studied the relationship between the central nervous system and the gut microbiota. They call this relationship the gut-brain axis.

These scientists suggest that bacteria in the gut can affect the way you think and feel.

However, further findings still need to be carried out to determine if probiotics can be used to deal with mental health issues like anxiety and depression by improving the health of your gut microbiota. 

Other benefits of probiotics include:

• Prevents wrinkle formation.
• Helps relieve skin conditions.
• Improves athletic performance.

Improves digestive functioning.                                 

There are various types of probiotics out there, and they are all different. There is no universal probiotic supplement that solves all your problems.

There are thousands of species of beneficial bacterial strains, and each strain has its unique benefit on human health. Every specific strain has been tested and proven to act on a particular challenge.

For instance, probiotic supplements containing Lactobacillus Plantarum help to prevent vulvovaginal candidosis, Lactobacillus gasseri helps boost the intestinal bacteria, and supplements containing Lactobacillus rhamnosus work son prevention of antibiotic-caused diarrhea.

So, because each bacterial strain plays a unique role, many decide just to get anyone even without knowing what it does.

We’ve gathered the best criteria you should follow when buying your probiotic supplement to ensure it works for you.

1. Ensure it contains identified strains.

Only buy probiotic supplements with known strains. Many bacterial strains have not been tested, so nobody knows if they work.

To get the best results, only buy supplements with bacterial strains that have been scientifically proven to give results.

2. Buy only supplements you can trace.

You have no idea how many fake probiotic supplements are out there. Some manufacturers release fake products and make money off it because you most likely won’t try to confirm.

Traceability makes sure that the products are properly registered and safe to consume.

Choose only probiotics made by known companies in the pharmaceutical industry. Don’t get a product from a company no one has heard about.

The company behind the supplement must have years of significant experience working with living materials and are regulated by the right authorities.

3. Proven gastro-resistance.

Sounds complex right?

It isn’t.

When you take in a supplement, it goes through your throat (esophagus) to your stomach and other parts of your digestive system.

These areas are extreme environments containing bile salts, acids, and enzymes.

So, if the strains in your supplement cannot survive these environments, then you wouldn’t see any changes to your health.

You’ll keep taking the probiotics, believing that it is working, but it isn’t.

So, how do you know if the strains have gastro-resistance?

You can ask your physician/doctor to tell you more about the supplement and its composition or even recommend a better one for you. Or, you can get a list of the strains your supplement contains and perform small research.

The former is faster and more preferable.

4. Only get supplements with stable strains.

This is very similar to the gastro-resistance features, but they differ.

While gastro-resistance talks about the strength of the bacterial strains in your digestive tract, strain stability is about the strength of your strains under normal conditions (room temperature and humidity).

Getting a stable strain guarantees that your supplement will be effective for a long period.

Strain stability depends on various factors including the characteristics of the strain used, the type of packaging used (for protection from air and humidity), and the type of ingredients used to create the supplement.

5. Adhesive properties of the strains.

You must have observed that all the properties you should watch out for when getting your probiotic supplements are related to the strains themselves.

This is because the strains are the most important parts of the probiotics. Without bacterial strains, you only have a placebo.

The strains in your probiotics have to adhere to the cells in the intestines. If they only go into your body and come right out without adhering to your cells, then they’ve done no job.

With strong adhesive properties, the strains will be able to act on the targeted systems such as the digestive or immune system.

These things sound a bit technical and scary, but you don’t need to have scientific knowledge before you get your probiotic supplements.

All you need to know are these characteristics that make a good probiotic supplement. This way, you can make informed decisions before purchasing a product.