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There are many health supplements on the market these days, and a wealth of ‘alternative’ medicines that make some very strong claims. Health is, of course, an important part of life for each and every one of us, and eating healthily, clean living and well-being are all high on the agenda in the 21st century. We lead busy lives, both at home and at work, so making sure we are healthy and fit is something we often have to fit in during what little down-time we actually have. This is why supplements and additives are big business, but do they work, and are they worth looking at and trying? The answer is – as with all such products – some work, and some don’t, and while those that work will be great for some users, they may not be for others.
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Among the most popular of supplements are probiotics; we’ll go a little deeper into what they are, how they work and why you may need them in a moment, but first let’s look at why they are popular. Probiotics are natural products – many are bacteria, but don’t let that worry you – and are found in many foods naturally too. They take the form of bacteria and yeasts, and are active in the body when taken. They help in a variety of ways and you can find them in forms such as pills and drinks. Before we get too complex, let’s move on to an explanation of what they are and how they work.
Best Probiotic
1: Nu U Nutrition Vegetarian Multi Strain
As with all foods it is helpful if probiotics can be taken by vegetarians; these capsules – rather than pills, please note the difference – are suitable for vegetarians, and are also very popular. What you get is a multi-strain probiotic; that means you have both the Lactobacillus and the Bifidobacterium elements, plus other bacteria too, and hence you get the full effect in terms of what you expect from your probiotics. The claim with these capsules is for a considerable amount of bacteria per capsule – many millions in fact – but all you need to know is how effective it is. As an aid to the stomach and the immune system – which is largely stomach based – customer reports are very favourable in deed. This package is for 180 high-strength capsules, which is a six-month supply, and it is a UK made product if that sways you. The price makes this a good deal, too.
- Multi-strain
- High strength
- 180 capsules
2: Lindens High Strength 100 Pack
It’s perhaps sensible for us to say at this point that you should consider carefully whether to give probiotics to young children. The manufacturers recommendations will help you, but we suggest you seek medical advice if you want to go down that route. These capsules, from Linden – a brand with a wide range of such products – are high-strength Lactobacillus, and are marketed as being there to support the digestive system. They come as a pack of 100 capsules and are also UK-made, and they have many excellent customer reviews. They are not multi-strain but do contain a prebiotic; this is essentially food for the probiotic that keeps the bacteria healthy and alive. This is a typical product of this type and offers the usual health benefits, and is not at all expensive.
- Lactobacillus only
- Prebiotic
- Capsules
- 100 pack
3: Natures Aid Pro-100 Ultra Ultimate Strength Probiotic Complex
Pro-100 Ultra from Natures Aid is the next on our list and it is important to note that not only is it suitable for vegans but has been fully approved by the Vegan Society, so you know it’s not just an empty promise. Natures Aid have been involved in the manufacturing and supplying of high-quality nutritionally-rich supplements for over 30 years, so are a trusted name in the health industry. Each of the 30 capsules feature a guaranteed 100b bacteria that have been formulated to provide the ultimate in daily support, particularly during and after an intensive course of antibiotics.
The formula has been created with the guidance of nutritionists and based fully on scientific research, so you know that it has been made with your health and safety in mind. The eight strains of probiotics included are Bifidobacteria Bifidum, Bifidobacteria Longum, Bifidobacteria lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus acidophilus. This is a great choice if you are looking to increase your body’s good bacteria and won’t cause any harm as it is antibiotic resistant, gastric acid resistant and bile resistant. Unlike some on the list, it is also more convenient as it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
- No artificial preservatives, flavours or colours
- Bile and gastric acid resistant
- 100b live bacteria found in each capsule
- Eight strains of good bacteria
4: ObtiBac Probiotics
As many of the products in this review are very similar it is difficult to find too much to say, but this one gives us a little bit to talk about in that it includes no fewer than six probiotic strains. These include the ubiquitous Lactobacillus – which appears to be the essential ingredient for a successful probiotic – as well as acidophilus, which is another bacterium that has been found to have health benefits when taken in this form. OptiBac offers a range of such products in different quantities and with varied ingredients. These capsules are offered in a pack of thirty for one-month’s use – although they can also be bought in larger quantities – and promise all the usual health benefits that come with probiotics. They also include prebiotics, so will stay active for longer. Not the cheapest, but a known brand.
- 30 pills
- Six probiotics
- Includes prebiotics
5: NutriZing Multi Strain
NutriZing offers this as one of its range of products, and it is vegetarian and also comes with free eBooks about how to use them and why they work. What you get is a multi-strain probiotic; that means you have both the Lactobacillus and the Bifidobacterium elements, plus 14 different other strains of bacteria too, and hence you get the full effect in terms of what you expect from your probiotics. The claim with these capsules is for a considerable amount of bacteria per capsule – many millions in fact – but all you need to know is how effective it is. As an aid to the stomach and the immune system – which is largely stomach based – customer reports are very favourable in deed. This package is for 60high-strength capsules, which is a two-month supply, and it is a UK made product if that sways you. The price makes this a good deal, too.
- Multi-strain
- High strength
- 60 capsules
6: Nutribioticals Advanced Multi-Strain
Nutribioticals enters the frame with this product, which is a multi-strain probiotic – it contains no fewer than 5 strains of bacteria – which is carefully researched and concocted. This is a UK-made product, so you have all the regulatory reassurances that come with home-grown products, and it has garnered many favourable comments from satisfied users. It’s a typical probiotic in every way, with the major difference being in the formulation. You get 180 high-strength capsules – the claim if 10billion CFU – which is a six-month supply, and it suitable for vegans and vegetarians, as well as being gluten and lactose-free. There’s not a lot more to add given that it is – once again – a similar product to those already reviewed, but that for the quantity it is a sensible price so worth checking out.
- 5 strains
- UK made
- 180 capsules
- 6 month supply
7: Natures Zest 50 Billion CFU
As we said in our intro, there is continued research ongoing as to what probiotics actually do, and how they do it. It is known – and proven – that they aid the processes in the digestive system and as the immune system is largely based around the stomach, to the tine of 80%, it follows that this area of the body may also be positively affected. This one is a 50-billion CFU multi-strain – that’s the strongest you will find – so is a very powerful probiotic. The manufacturer makes the sensible claim that this product is for adults only, as it may be too powerful for children. It contains a variety of probiotics including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium – the two main elements of the process – and comes in a pack of 180 capsules, which is a 6-month supply. In those terms, it’s a very competitive price.
- Multi-strain
- 50billion CFU
- 180 capsules
- Not for kids
8: Mayfair Nutrition 10billion CFU
With a fine range of such products, Mayfair Nutrition deserves inclusion with this which includes four strains of proven probiotics, including the essential Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. This is a UK-made product, so you have all the regulatory reassurances that come with home-grown products, and it has garnered many favourable comments from satisfied users. It’s a typical probiotic in every way, with the major difference being in the formulation. You get 180 high-strength capsules – the claim if 10billion CFU – which is a six-month supply, and it suitable for vegans and vegetarians, as well as being gluten and lactose-free. There’s not a lot more to add given that it is – once again – a similar product to those already reviewed, but that for the quantity it is a sensible price so worth checking out.
- 4 strains
- UK made
- 180 capsules
- 6 month supply
9: General Biotics Equilibrium Probiotic Supplements with Prebiotic
It is claimed by General Biotics that this Equilibrium line of probiotics contains the highest strain count in the world of the good bacteria, with 115 strains. Even more impressive is the fact that it is claimed that 85 of those are not offered in other probiotic supplements available on the market. When you consider that most people who are interested in taking probiotics are interested in taking completely natural products that are free of allergens, it’s good to know that these do not contain any artificial preservatives, wheat, dairy or gluten.
Probiotics have several great uses and this formula has been devised to help aid your digestive system, mood general wellness, weight management and immune system. So, whether you are looking to take probiotics for relief, to bolster your nutritional intake or to increase your focus and concentration, Pure Naturals Equilibrium 115 Strain Formula is the supplement for you. As an additional bonus, like many others on our list, they do not have to be refrigerated, so are perfect if you need to take them with you while you travel.
- 115 strains of probiotic
- 85 strains of bacteria unique to Equilibrium
- Does not need to be refrigerated
- Allergy free
10: Naturello Probiotic Supplement
Our final example is this one from Naturello, and it’s a nicely presented probiotic with many excellent qualities. This one is suitable for vegetarians, and is the best-selling probiotic in the USA, so has proven credentials. You get the usual Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotics as the base, with no fewer than nine further strains in the ingredients, and it provides a 50million CFU capsule every time. Naturello offers a range of such products in different quantities and with varied ingredients. These capsules are offered in a pack of thirty for one-month’s use – although they can also be bought in larger quantities – and promise all the usual health benefits that come with probiotics. They also include prebiotics, so will stay active for longer. Not the cheapest, but a known brand.
- 30 pills
- Known brand
- Six probiotics
- Includes prebiotics
That’s our selection of the best probiotics available right now, and we hope we have given you an idea of what you can buy and what they do, but before we go on to give you our verdict, let’s check out some of the important features to consider.
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Important Features to Look For
When you are buying a probiotic, what you are primarily interested in are the health benefits. The idea is that these products help your digestive system and immune system – there are also claims for weight loss and other areas of health concern – and it is known that probiotics do provide help in the stomach processes and immunity. Let’s have a quick checklist of things to look for: Ingredients – you are looking for the two most popular ingredients - Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium – as the basis, and any others you should check out with the maker’s specifications to see what they add to the process. Strength – often cited as CFU, the higher this is, the more bacteria are released when you swallow the capsule. The highest is 50billion, the norm around 10billion, so the choice is yours. Quantity – how many capsules you buy at once may influence the price; the packages on offer range from 30 to 180 capsules per bottle – and these are all one a day capsules – so check out the prices for comparison. You may also want to check out other claims from manufacturers on an individual basis, but the above are the standard issues to look for. Also, bear in mind that you should seek medical advice before taking if you suffer any known conditions or are taking medicines, and they are generally not recommended for children.
How It Works
Probiotics are largely bacteria; this should not alarm you, as you have likely seen the TV adverts that mention ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. Good bacteria exists naturally in our bodies – it is there to aid digestion and other processes – but can easily be lost during illness, when taking antibiotics, and when attacked by bad bacteria, which can be ingested from outside the system. This is where the best probiotics help, and they really do make a difference. There are generally two types of probiotics: Lactobacillus is the most common form, and is found naturally in yoghurt, for example, and other fermented foods. It helps with eth digestive system and is available in a variety of forms. Bifidobacterium is another probiotic, and is found in a number of dairy products. This also helps with bowel problems and some other conditions. Some probiotics also contain a yeast which is equally helpful. Research is ongoing into what probiotics can do for is, and why and how they do so, but we do know that the digestive system gains the most benefit from the substances involved. There are also indications that they can help with skin problems, oral hygiene and other areas, and that there may be yet more benefits to probiotics. Probiotics are regulated as food products, rather than medicines. This means there are a few small concerns about their use. We recommend that, if you are suffering from any diagnosed conditions, you consult your doctor before you start taking probiotics. So, let’s have a look at the top 10 probiotics on the market right now, and see if we can find one that is right for you.
Let’s Wrap It Up!
With some products it is difficult to offer advice, and this is certainly one. The reason is that some probiotics will work with some people but not others, so it is worth trying one to begin with to see what the results are, and then settling on the one that sits best with you. What we will say is that the final one on the list – from Naturello – is the best-selling such product in the USA, so with many satisfied customers it is clearly a quality product. It’s not the cheapest, but may be a good way to start your journey to a healthier lifestyle. We hope we have helped you find the best probiotic.