2024 Probiotic Supplement Guide
Discover the Best Probiotic Supplements on the Market Today + Why to Avoid Amazon Reviews
Updated 12/03/2024Probiotics continue to rise in popularity as new studies prove the importance of gut health to every single aspect of our our well-being.
Unfortunately, this growing trend has created a breeding ground for many fly-by-night “brands” making false claims and selling inferior, ineffective products.
With so many different brands, we decided it was time to perform a comprehensive review. Watch the video below to learn what to look for and avoid in probiotic supplements.
Is Your Gut Killing You?
Take a look at your hand. While it appears to be completely human, it's not. In fact, 90% of your body is made up of bacteria. There are trillions of them living inside us, and most are located in our gut. This ecosystem is made of both good and bad bacteria that are in a constant battle for resources. The good bacteria regulate hormones, produce vitamins, and fight off infections. That said, we want to maintain the right balance of good and bad bacteria to stay healthy.
Our gut becomes unbalanced when the bad bacteria begin to outnumber the good bacteria. This doesn't just effect our digestion. Our gut is intimately connected to other bodily systems, so if an imbalance is left unchecked, problems begin to spread throughout our bodies.
There are several signs of an unbalanced gut that also signal whole-body problems.
5 Signs Your Gut Health Is In Danger
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Digestive Issues:
bloating, gas, abdominal pains, diarrhea, upset stomach, constipation, cramps, IBS, or food poisoning. -
Weakened Immunity:
the common cold, flu, coughing, certain allergies, or sinus congestion. -
Mental Illness:
depression, brain fog, mood swings, irritability, or "senior moments". -
Medication Use:
taking antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medication, or birth control. -
Skin Problems:
acne, skin blemishes, breakouts, dry/dull skin, Psoriasis, Rosacea, or Eczema.
As you can see, having an unbalanced gut leads to more serious health issues. But why suffer when there's an obvious solution? Millions of people have already revolutionized their health with probiotics. Unfortunately, the market is flooded with ineffective and dangerous products, so it's critical to find a supplement with everything on the checklist below:
The 5 Keys to Choosing an Effective Probiotic
Because it can be daunting to dig through all the clutter on the market, we give you 5 things to look for when choosing a quality probiotic:
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Number of CFUs
Probiotics are measured in CFUs (Colony Forming Units). The quantity of CFUs has a huge impact on the product's efficacy. Look for 40-50 billion CFUs per serving.
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Strain Diversity
Many probiotics on the market only contain 1-2 strains, which are not nearly enough to make a difference. Look for a probiotic formula that has at least 8-12 separate strains for the most comprehensive approach to your digestive and immune health.
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Substrains
Listed next to strains on the label, they indicate that a particular probiotic strain has been clinically studied and proven effective (e.g. L. Acidophilus La-14TM)
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Prebiotics
Probiotics that use fiber-based prebiotics like NutraFlora® Fiber nourish the good bacteria so that it thrives in the gut and increases overall effectiveness.
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Doctor Formulated
It takes specific expertise to form an effective probiotic formulation.. The exact combination of strain type, quantity and prebiotics determines the product's quality. Look for real doctors specializing in gut health backing the product.
What You Should Avoid
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Refrigerated Probiotics
Probiotics that require refrigeration often contain strains that are not stable and tend to be ineffective. They will often lose their potency in transit or shipping. Look for probiotics formulated to withstand room temperature.
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Chemicals or Irritants
You want a product that is free of chemicals and other ingredients that could potentially upset your gut. The probiotic you choose should have a listing of all potential irritants it is free of in order to ensure no side effects. Look for a probiotic that is Gluten, Soy and Dairy Free, and does not contain preservatives or fillers.
- Amazon Reviews
Up to 65% of Amazon reviews are written by paid individuals, and some of them might not have tried the product. Relying on fake reviews is a dangerous game to play with your health.
WARNING: Hidden label quantities: Many dishonest companies will not show the actual quantities of the specific strains or ingredients on their label. They do this so they can save money on the more expensive strains listed, and put cheaper strains in their place. This essentially renders the probiotic product ineffective. Always look for exact quantities listed next to each strain.
The Importance of Clinically-Studied Strains
Sometimes probiotic supplements will contain a multitude of different strains in hopes to look appeasing to a consumer who thinks they will be benefiting from all of this diversity.
Sadly, there are only a handful of strains on the market that have been proven effective when packaged and introduced to your gut. When you see probiotics with upwards of 12 strains, keep in mind that only a small portion of those strains will actually survive your stomach acid, reach your gut and be beneficial to your health.
Below is a list of strains with the most clinical studies backing their effectiveness
Top Strains By Category:
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Bowel Assistance:
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Digestion Help:
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Immune Function:
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Weight Loss:
Our Unique Research Procedure
We conducted in-house research to verify that the ingredients in the supplement itself were the same as claimed on the label. We surveyed our readers who have tried the product over time in order to learn from their experiences. We surveyed consumers in the biggest online marketplaces, like Amazon, eBay, Shopzilla, and PriceGrabber.
We analyzed all of these factors to determine the best probiotic supplement out there.
Probiotics We Tested
- 1MD Nutrition™ Complete Probiotics Platinum
- Align Probiotic Supplement
- Advanced Probiotics
- Bifidus Best Advanced Probiotic
- Probiotic-40 Supplement
- Nexabiotic Probiotic
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Bio K Plus Acidophilus Capsules - BIOPRO-50 Ultimate Probiotic
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Bioprotics Probiotic - Pro-X10 Probiotics
- Bowtrol Probiotics
- Culturelle Probiotics
- Digestive Advantage Probiotics
- Dr. Axe Probiotics
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Probium Probiotics Multi Blend 12B -
Many more...
The Results Are In...
After surveying over 8,000 user reviews and then carefully reviewing 74 brands, only a select few passed our strict testing criteria listed above. Users reported enhanced health—from boosted immune responses and solid digestion to positive mood effects, sharper mental clarity, and more. Here are our Top 5 Picks.
Top Picks are updated monthly based on testing and analyses
Top Pick
Consumers Survey
Recommended
- 51 Billion CFUs
- 11 distinct strains
- Third-party tested
- All-natural formula
- Formulated by a doctor
- No artificial additives
- A+ customer service
- 90-day return policy
Call 1MD Nutrition™
888-393-4030
#1: 1MD Nutrition™ Complete Probiotics Platinum
In our research of the best probiotic supplements on the market today, 1MD Nutrition™'s "Complete Probiotics" won our #1 Best Choice Award for a variety of notable reasons. First, it is the only product of all brands we tested that completely answered all of our strict criteria.
We verified that 1MD Nutrition™'s Complete Probiotics contains over 50+ billion CFUs with 11 strains clearly labeled with their clinically tested substrains and respective quantities.
The product is formulated by a medical doctor specializing in intestinal health. It contains all-natural ingredients, no fillers or additives, NutraFlora® prebiotic fiber to boost absorption, and veggie capsules.
It is non-dairy, non-GMO, gluten free, soy free, preservative free, and vegan-friendly.
Users reported a slew of positive results, including better digestion, mood, and cognitive functioning. The product uses
1MD Nutrition™ offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, which shows us that this company stands behind its products. For all of these reasons, 1MD Nutrition™ is our #1 top choice.
Buy Now > >#2: Pro-45 Probiotics by LIVE CONSCIOUS
By the thinnest margin, Live Conscious ranked #2 in our top picks with their premium Pro-45 probiotic supplement. The probiotics contained 45 billion CFUs across 11 different strains, just shy of the performance of 1MD Nutrition™, our #1 choice.
Live Conscious's Pro-45 uses vegetarian, delayed release capsules, and offers a 365-day unconditional return policy, but it was not endorsed by an
Users gave this product high marks in the categories of customer service, returns, and overall effectiveness. All of this made Pro45 the obvious choice for our #2 pick.
Order Now > >Rating
Call Physician's CHOICE Toll Free:
877-395-2707
#3: 60 Billion Probiotic by Physician's CHOICE
Taking our 3rd spot is 60 Billion Probiotics by Physician's CHOICE. 60 Billion Probiotics features an impressive 10 probiotic strains with 60 Billion CFUs. However, on further investigation, none of the strains are clinically studied substrains — all are generic. As mentioned in our article, you’ll always want to look for substrains on the label, which are indicated by a combination of numbers and letters after the main probiotic stain (eg. L. gasseri L22G). Unless this is clearly indicated, there’s no way to gauge the quality of each strain.
However, because of the overall number of CFUs, it has won our coveted 3rd place designation.
#4: Align Probiotic by P&G
Align Probiotic by P&G comes in fourth place, still having bested dozens of other probiotic products on the market. Users rated the probiotic highly, though it contains only one strain of probiotic — Bifidobacterium infantis 35624.
We are also not happy that the formula includes almost nine fillers, binders, and synthetic ingredients, which serve absolutely no purpose other than to fill space in the capsule. However, because consumers continue to rate this probiotic highly, it places fourth in our ranking.
Order Now > >#5: Digestive Daily Probiotic by Culturelle
While Digestive Daily Probiotic is very popular on the market and Culturelle is a trusted brand, unfortunately its formula lacks the potency and diversity that our other products feature. In fact, it has only 1 probiotic strain with 10 billion live cultures, which is far lower than the 11 diverse strains and 51 billion Colony Forming Units that our #1 pick has.
However, due to the consumer loyalty this brand enjoys, it made our Top 5 list this year.
What We Do
ConsumersSurvey uses a unique three-step approach to reviewing the most popular products in the online marketplace
1. Research First we conduct in-house research with a highly qualified editorial team comprised of individuals who specialize in various fields.
2. SurveyWe survey our readers who have tried the product over time in order to learn from their experiences.
3. OpinionWe monitor public opinion in the world’s most popular marketplaces, from Amazon and eBay, to Bizrate and Pricegrabber.