Illustration about Probiotics with soft Pen on old Paper. Illustration about Probiotics with soft Pen on old Paper.

What are the Top Probiotic Strains for Gut Health?

Probiotics have a variety of health benefits. They are used as supplements. There’s a debate about their effectiveness though. Probiotics 1have skyrocketed in sales over the years. They’ve taken the world by storm. However, as all probiotics are not equal in their effectiveness you need to find out the right ones to use. They are also used for the reduction of symptoms of several medical conditions. Experts suggest that they are also used for weight loss. In this article, we’ll look at the top probiotic strains for gut health.

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Photo by Nastya Dulhiier on Unsplash

What are Probiotics 

These are living microorganisms 2that exist in a body and offer health benefits to the body of the host. They exist in a variety of foods and even in your stomach. Although probiotics exist naturally in some foods, they can also be added during the processing phase. They are bacteria that fester in the intestines and are a part of several important processes. They take part in producing vitamins, regulating mood, and also the digestion process. 

The Concept of CFUs

CFUs stand for Colony Forming Units. They are used to depict the number of bacteria for dosage purposes. For example, if a probiotic strain is said to be 1×10^9, it means that this strain has 1 billion bacteria per dose. The majority of supplements have CFU 3counts ranging from 1 to 10 billion per dose. However, to take advantage of probiotics, you need to ensure you intake large doses. Experts suggest that for a probiotic to be beneficial for the body, the bacteria count should be 1 million per gram. 

The Top Probiotics for Gut Health

Now, based on CFU count, dosage and certain other factors let’s look at the top probiotics. There are several websites and online platforms that provide these products. You can find the best probiotic brands on the web at reliable resources. Ensure that you factor in price and check the strain being used. Below are a few of the top probiotic strains.

Culturelle Digestive Daily

The CFU count for this probiotic is 10 billion. It means a single dose or capsule has 10 billion CFUs presents in it. The strain used in this product is Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG4. It has several benefits such as helping with diarrhea and can also be very effective for irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, the addition of 200 mg of inulin is very advantageous for gut bacteria. The company is verified so the product is up to the mark. Their packaging is also exquisite. Moreover, you don’t have to refrigerate it and it’s gluten-free. It’s also dairy-free and has been tested by third-party companies.

Gut Instinct 

Gut Instinct is another great probiotic supplement. It is also very advantageous for the stomach and is affordable. The best part about this product is that you can take it on an empty stomach and it’s gluten-free. It contains approximately 10 strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. These are renowned strains for gut benefits. 

Ultimate Flora Adult 50+ Probiotic

If you’re getting old then this probiotic is perfect for you. It’s not that costly and is gluten and soy-free. As we grow older, the Bifidobacterium 5starts to decrease in our gut. This probiotic is used to fulfill the quantity reduced. It boosts the production of both Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium strains. However, users say that it varies in results. Nonetheless, it’s still beneficial for older adults.

How to Choose The Right Probiotic

The first thing to look for while selecting a probiotic is the strains. All strains don’t have the same effectiveness or benefits. The CFU count always plays a pivotal role in the selection of a strain. Moreover, ensure it’s a good brand and storage of the product is easy. Also, focus on your intended use and requirement so you can choose the right one for you. Keep in mind that tall probiotics’ temperature changes and shelf-life are not the same. Some can handle varying temperatures while others can’t. For this purpose, choose a product that has an optimum number of CFUs at the end of the shelf life. 

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There are so many products in the market and choosing one can be very hectic at times. The probiotic strains have varying effectiveness so they should be the primary deciding factor in choosing a product. All probiotics have their pros and cons. Some have a higher CFU count but poor storage options. Others are gluten-free and soy-free but are costly. Therefore, with so many products to choose from, ensure that you know your requirements and don’t empty your wallet on a single product. 

  1. Wieërs, Grégoire, et al. “How probiotics affect the microbiota.” Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology 9 (2020): 454. ↩︎
  2. Lovley, Derek R., and Dawn E. Holmes. “Electromicrobiology: the ecophysiology of phylogenetically diverse electroactive microorganisms.” Nature Reviews Microbiology 20.1 (2022): 5-19. ↩︎
  3. Parnell, Laura KS, et al. “Elevated UTI biomarkers in symptomatic patients with urine microbial densities of 10,000 CFU/ML Indicate a lower threshold for diagnosing UTIs.” Diagnostics 13.16 (2023): 2688. ↩︎
  4. Owens, Joshua A., et al. “Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG orchestrates an antitumor immune response.” Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology 12.4 (2021): 1311-1327. ↩︎
  5. Sharma, Muskan, Arunima Wasan, and Rakesh Kumar Sharma. “Recent developments in probiotics: An emphasis on Bifidobacterium.” Food Bioscience 41 (2021): 100993. ↩︎

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Icy Health Editorial Team

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