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The Most Effective Probiotic Supplements In 2022

Discover which probitioic supplements are worth buying, and which ones to watch out for.

Linda is our resident health and wellness editor. As a long time health and nutrition enthusiast, she spends her time researching scientific studies and keeping up with the latest health and wellness trends to provide top nutrition tips.

Believe it or not, not all bacteria is bad. Our bodies are made up of both good and bad bacteria, and collectively, they form a very delicate microbiome that keeps our bodies running smoothly. Probiotics are the “good” bacteria that live in our bodies and help our bodies maintain a healthy balance1.

Our bodies are made up of about 39 trillion bacteria, and together, they help to protect our bodies and keep us healthy. Most of this bacteria lives in our gut and helps to expel bad bacteria, break down fibre, and produce vitamins like B12 and K2.

Research has determined that as much as 70% of our immune health lies in our gut, which is why maintaining our gastrointestinal health is essential for overall wellness3. However, our body’s gut flora is a delicate microbiome that is easily disrupted.



Sometimes our bodies’ balance may be thrown off by an increase in bad bacteria due to a number of environmental factors or lifestyle choices, for example pollution and unhealthy foods. One of the easiest and most effective ways to restore this balance is by taking a probiotic supplement.

Due to their many benefits, probiotics have become some of the most popular supplements in the world. Studies have shown that probiotics can improve immune health and help prevent numerous health conditions, including diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, symptoms of Crohn's disease and more4.

Below, we will explore how probiotics work, how you can benefit by taking them, and which are the best probiotic supplements available on the market.

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are simply the good bacteria that lives in our bodies. Typically, our bodies take a few of these good bacteria to reestablish a healthy gut and a neutral microbiome. Yet, sometimes when these reserves of good bacteria get emptied, we end up with too many harmful bacteria, and the balance of our microbiome is thrown off5.

When the bad bacteria overtakes the good bacteria in our bodies, our gut health and immune system become compromised. This makes us more prone to developing a number of health issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), urinary tract infections, colitis, high cholesterol, and more6,7.



The job of probiotics is to counteract the bad bacteria that enters our bodies by boosting the number of good bacteria in our gut, helping us stay neutral and healthy.

The effectiveness of probiotics lies within the different strains of bacteria. The varying strains of probiotics have vastly different impacts on your health, and some of them have more health benefits than others8. The most popular and effective strains of good bacteria are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.

Several studies suggest that the best way to restore your body’s gut flora and boost your immune system is by taking a quality probiotic supplement every day9.

Choosing the right probiotic supplement

With so much choice on the market, finding the right probiotic supplement can be challenging. We’ve done extensive research to determine what criteria you should look for when choosing your probiotic supplement.

Finding a quality probiotic supplement starts with choosing one that contains the best probiotic strains. When buying your supplement, you should seek one that has strains of both Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Not only are they two of the most researched species, but different strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus also offer extensive health benefits, including:

Bifidobacterium:
  • Supports digestion and alleviates symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases
  • Helps to heal certain intestinal infections
  • Prevents you from catching the flu and common cold
  • Supports respiratory and heart health
  • Improves lactose digestion10

Lactobacillus:
  • Improves lactose digestion
  • Prevents you from catching the flu and common cold
  • Supports digestion and alleviates symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases
  • Promotes healthy weight management
  • Supports women’s health, such as preventing yeast infections and urinary tract infections11.

There are numerous probiotic supplements you can take for gut health, however, the only real way to reap the benefits from them is to choose the right one. Keep reading to see our picks for the top 5 best probiotics on the market.

What should I look for?

Considering all of the attributes listed above, we’ve compiled a list of the three essential criteria you should look for when choosing your turmeric curcumin supplement.

The probiotic supplement you choose should have at least two strains. As mentioned above, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus are two of the most effective probiotic species found in probiotic supplements. Moreover, research has shown that they are both highly beneficial for immune and gut health. Both of these species have several strains that are clinically proven to help with digestion and immunity.

It goes without saying, but it’s essential that the supplement you take contains strains that are clinically-studied. There are hundreds of probiotic strains, but not all of them work. Make sure the supplement you buy has strains that have proven to be beneficial.

Numerous studies have shown that most people feel the benefits of probiotic supplements when they take a capsule that contains between 5 and 10 billion CFU (colony forming units).

CFU simply refers to the number of live microorganisms that are found in each dose of your probiotic supplement12.

When purchasing a probiotics supplement, choose one that has between 5 and 10 billion CFUs and contains quality strains.

Look for a product that offers a money-back guarantee on all purchases. Offering a money-back guarantee is a sign that a company is confident in the quality of the products they are providing.

What should I avoid?

Labels with too many strains and high CFU count

As we established previously, not all probiotics strains have been deemed effective by researchers. Just because the label on a supplement says there are a dozen strains, it doesn’t make the product more effective. A product with 7 quality probiotics strains will deliver better results than a product with 12 strains that have fewer benefits13.

The same can be said about the number of CFU on a label. According to the National Institute of Health, higher CFU counts in products do not translate to greater health benefits. Again, the type of microorganisms a product contains matter more than the number of microorganisms it contains.

Beware of online reviews (especially on Amazon)

Before purchasing any product, one of the first things we do when researching it is check its online reviews. Unfortunately, these are not always a trustworthy way to measure the quality and effectiveness of a product. Companies often pay for reviews on popular online retailers, like Amazon, to try and trick their way to a five star rating. While you should definitely consult these reviews before purchasing, do your own research as well.

How we evaluated the top 5

Over the last few years, the demand for probiotic supplements has surged as scientists and researchers continue to discover their many health benefits. While this means you have many options to consider when choosing your supplement, it can also be difficult to narrow down which ones will deliver the best results.

We researched the top rated probiotics on the internet to find the best ones available on the market and evaluated them based on product quality, customer service, and pricing.

Here are our top 5 probiotic supplement picks for 2020.

9.7 / 10 452 Votes TOTAL RANKING

A+

Overall Grade
INGREDIENT SAFETY
100%
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
97%
VALUE
93%
RETURN POLICY
98%
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
98%

10

/10

9.7

/10

9.3

/10

9.7

/10

9.8

/10

PROS

  • Contains 3 species: Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus
  • Includes 7 clinically studied probiotic strains
  • 10 billion CFU per capsule
  • Vegan-friendly.
  • Money-back guarantee.
  • Recommended by healthcare professionals.
  • Product is reasonably priced.
  • Made in the UK.

CONS

  • Only available online

  • Express delivery is only available in the UK and European countries.

The Bottom Line

Of all the probiotic supplements that made our list, we find HeyNutrition Probiotic Complex to be the best quality product. Firstly, their supplement contains 3 essential bacteria species: Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus.

Also, the product contains 7 live strains, which are: Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Streptococcus thermophilus. All of these strains are clinically proven to support gut health, immune heath, women’s health, weight management and more. These strains are also easily absorbed by the body.

HeyNutrition probiotics have 10 billion CFU in each capsule, which is the dosage doctors and scientists recommend.

Their capsules are all made with vegan-friendly ingredients, so they are suitable for everyone. Additionally, they include a prebiotic, which promotes better digestion and overall health by increasing the effectiveness of probiotics by fuelling the good bacteria.

Hey Nutrition offer a money-back guarantee, and so this really is a no-brainer. We believe they provide the best probiotic on the market, and they make it risk-free for you to try it and see if it works for you.

Why HeyNutrition Is The Clear Winner

Not only do they include great bacteria strains in their product at the optimal concentrations, but they also go the further mile unlike a lot of different brands that simply "cheap out". Things that actually mater, such as:

Contains Prebiotic: Hey Nutrition include a prebiotic in their complex. This prebiotic allows the good bacteria from the probiotic to thrive, and grow further. This means a much better result for you.

Time Delayed Capsules: If you take your probiotic in a normal capsule shell, then unfortunately most of it is destroyed on your stomach acid and only around 5% actually makes it to your gut.

Hey Nutrition use a special delayed-release capsule that makes sure the majority of the probiotic is released directly into the gut (which is exactly where you want a probiotic to be released!), which means you see far superior results compared to their competitors.

Click Here To Get HeyNutrition Probiotic Complex

2. Nutravita Bio Cultures Complex

8.6 /10 312 Votes TOTAL RANKING

B

Overall Grade
INGREDIENT SAFETY
91%
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
87%
VALUE
90%
RETURN POLICY
78%
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
90%

9.1

/10

8.7

/10

9.0

/10

7.8

/10

9.0

/10

PROS

  • Free from artificial colours and flavours
  • GMO-free & vegan-friendly
  • Certified organic
  • Made in the UK

CONS

  • 40 billion CFU
  • 15 strains of bacteria

The Bottom Line

Nutravita’s probiotic supplement includes 15 different probiotic strains and three species of bacteria. 

Many studies recommend a daily consumption of 10-20 billion, where-as this supplement contains 40billion. Several reviewers stated that due to this high amount, it caused them prolonged stomach pains

There is also no prebiotic contained within this product, which would have further helped the good bacteria to thrive.

This brand also offers no money-back guarantee, which makes the purchase more risky.

3. Nu U Bio-Cultures Complex

8.5 /10 269 Votes TOTAL RANKING

B

Overall Grade
INGREDIENT SAFETY
90%
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
85%
VALUE
83%
RETURN POLICY
78%
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
87%

9.0

/10

8.5

/10

8.3

/10

7.8

/10

8.7

/10

PROS

  • 10 billion CFU
  • Made in the UK

CONS

  • Brittle coating on capsules
  • No money-back guarantee

The Bottom Line

Nu U is a popular probiotic products on the market, however we don't believe it is the most effective. Although their product contains the recommended CFU per capsule, it contains only five active strains and therefore is missing some strains that have been shown to be very effective. 

Their product also lacks any prebiotic, which means the good bacteria will struggle to thrive inside your body.

Unfortunately, some reviews also reported that their capsules have been produced with a brittle coating, which is not something you expect from a high-quality supplement, especially a probiotic which can be tempurature sensitive. If the capsule doesn't stay intact, that will certainly lower the effectiveness of this product.

4. Bio-Kult Advanced Multi-Strain Formulation

8.4 /10 301 Votes TOTAL RANKING

B-

Overall Grade
INGREDIENT SAFETY
90%
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
82%
VALUE
82%
RETURN POLICY
78%
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
95%

9.0

/10

8.2

/10

8.2

/10

7.8

/10

8.5

/10

PROS

  • Contains Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium longum
  • Reasonably priced
  • 2 billion CFU

CONS

  • Contains 14 different strains
  • Side effects

The Bottom Line

Bio-Kult Advanced Multi-Strain Formulation is sold in major retailers across the UK, including Boots and Superdrug. The product very popular however we believe this is simply due to a good marketing strategy, rather than them having a great product.

After evaluating Bio-Kult’s formula, we believe that this popular probiotic supplement is perhaps not as effective as the label leads you to believe. The product has 14 different strains of bacteria, but only 2 billion CFU. This means that the probiotics are most likely not forming complete colony units, and therefore, will not be as effective. Not to mention, many of Bio-Kult’s customers have reported unpleasant side effects, including bloating, gas and stomach cramping.

This is the weakest probiotic on our list, and we recommend choosing one with a higher CFU.

5. Lindens Pro Bio Live Max

7.9 /10 207 Votes TOTAL RANKING

C

Overall Grade
INGREDIENT SAFETY
79%
PROJECTED EFFECTIVENESS
70%
VALUE
76%
RETURN POLICY
78%
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
70%

7.9

/10

7.0

/10

7.6

/10

7.8

/10

7.0

/10

PROS

  • Made in the UK
  • No preservatives
  • Vegan-friendly

CONS

  • Packaging
  • Not vegan-friendly
  • Only 1 probiotic strain

The Bottom Line

Lindens Pro Bio Live Max is the only probiotic supplement on our list that contains just one strain of bacteria. The product has high potency Lactobacillus Acidophilus, which has been proven to treat various problems with digestion.

Although this product does contain Lactobacillus Acidophilus (which is recommended), it would be a much more effective formula if it also had strains of Bifidobacterium.

They also do not offer a money-back guarantee, or contain any prebiotic in their formula. We would not recommend this product.

In addition, Lindens probiotics are packaged in a pouch, which does not protect the capsules very well. Many customers have reported that the capsules were damaged when they received them.

Final Thoughts

The Bottom Line

When it comes to choosing a great probiotic supplement to improve gut health and alleviate gastrointestinal discomfort, a higher cfu count does not necessarily mean it will be a better product. In fact, we believe that the best probiotic supplements are the ones that have carefully selected clinically-studied bacteria strains with the recommended 10-20 billion cfu per dose.

After searching the internet to find the best probiotics and evaluating them based on their customer service, ingredients and pricing, we believe HeyNutrition Probiotic Complex is the best supplement on the market.

HeyNutrition Probiotic Complex provides a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Click Here To Get HeyNutrition Probiotic Complex

CITATIONS

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14598-probiotics

2. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-probiotics-really-work/

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2515351/

4. https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-of-taking-probiotics

5. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-probiotics-really-work/

6. https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-of-taking-probiotics

7. https://uaslabs.com/the-best-probiotic-strains-and-what-they-do/

8. https://www.health.harvard.edu/vitamins-and-supplements/health-benefits-of-taking-probiotics

9. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14557292

10. https://uaslabs.com/the-best-probiotic-strains-and-what-they-do/

11. https://uaslabs.com/the-best-probiotic-strains-and-what-they-do/

12. https://www.culturelle.com/resources/culturelle-cfu-count

13. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-Consumer/

14. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-Consumer/