2024 Probiotic Supplement Guide

Discover the Best Probiotic Supplements on the Market Today + Why to Avoid Amazon Reviews

Updated 04/16/2024

Probiotics 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. 

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

With so many probiotics on the market today, it can be difficult to make the right choice. The following 5 criteria will help you tell the difference between an effective supplement and yet another inferior product.

Our research and analysis has shown that for a probiotic supplement to be effective, it must meet these criteria: 

• Doctor Formulated

  It takes specific expertise to form an effective probiotic formulation. More is not necessarily better. 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.

• 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 of CFUs per serving.

• 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 a diverse set of strains (8-12) for the most comprehensive approach to your digestive and immune health.

• 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-14^TM)

• 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.

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:

• Bowel Assistance:

  • L. acidophilus. This strain boosts the treatment of respiratory infections, helps relieve IBS, decreases the frequency of yeast infections, reduces the growth of pathogens in the digestive tract and produces lactase which helps break down the sugar in milk.
  • L. casei. This assists with digestion issues including Crohn's disease, ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.
  • L. plantarum. Plantarum helps treat IBS, Crohn's disease and colitis. It preserves critical nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants.
  • L. salivarius. Salivarius makes enzymes that kill bad bacteria, including the kind that causes bad breath. It also helps with flatulence and bloating.

• Digestion Help:

  • B. longum. This strain pauses bad microbes and prevents them from growing. Longum also breaks down carbohydrates and reduces the symptoms of seasonal allergies.
  • Bacillus Coagulans. This helps to stop the growth of bad bacteria. It also prevents various digestive issues (IBS, diarrhea in both children and adults and stomach ulcers).
  • L. rhamnosus. This strain aids in the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI), especially those caused by antibiotics. It also helps to build the immune system, assists in digestion of dairy products and helps to fight intestinal tract illnesses.

• Immune Function:

  • B. lactis. This increases immune function, helps to fight off infections, makes faster recovery times possible, and helps to prevent diarrhea in both adults and children.
  • B. bifidum. Bifidum helps to stop the increase of bad bacteria, heightens the immune system, and aids in the digestion process, specifically of dairy products.
  • L. bulgaricus. Bulgaricus works in your intestinal lining as an enforcer by getting rid of any toxins. This strain also creates its own natural antibiotics.

• Weight Loss:

  • L. gasseri. A number of clinical trials and studies have shown gasseri reduces abdominal fat and supports weight loss. This also helps with easing the pain of menstruation. It can also assist in lowering cholesterol.

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.

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 3 Picks.

Top Picks are updated monthly based on testing and analyses

---