Probiotic supplements are blends of millions of different microorganisms that benefit your digestive system and immunity.

80% of your immune system is located in your digestive track (1). Probiotics are a great solution to make sure you’re staying on top of your digestive and immune health.

Taking a probiotic supplement is one of the most effective preventative measures you can take to promote overall digestive and immune system health.

So how do probiotic supplements work and are they really worth it?

We’ll get to this, along with the benefits, possible side effects, and details on how to take probiotics.

First, we’ve ranked the best probiotic supplements, according to price, product quality, and customer reviews.

So what’s the overall best probiotic supplement in 2020?

1- 1MD Complete Probiotics

Buy 1MD Complete Probiotics Online

Dr. David Kahana, MD is the gastrointestinal doctor behind this relatively new probiotic offering 51 billion live cultures per capsule.

This supplement also contains a unique Nutraflora prebiotic fiber that helps fuel the active cultures to make them more effective.

11 robust, potent probiotic strains are offered in this powerful blend.

No unhealthy fillers, this is one of the cleanest probiotic supplements you can find.

1MD’s company website has a ton of information about probiotics and they do a great job breaking down the process of how probiotics work – check it out here.

2- Vita Balance Probiotic 40-Billion

Buy Probiotic 40-Billion Online

Did someone say 40 billion? That’s right.

Definitely one of the most potent and effective probiotic supplement on the market. Most other leading brands contain less than a quarter of what this particular supplement offers.

Made from 100% natural ingredients, with premium quality assured.

Containing over 40 billion different organisms per serving, no other product can compete with the potency of Probiotic 40-Billion. It’s also one of the more affordable options, making it a win-win for someone looking for top quality at a great price.

Made in the USA in and FDA approved facility.

3- Dr Tobias Deep Immune Optimum Probiotics

Buy it on Amazon

Contains a whopping 4.4 billion CFU with four different strains.

One of the most potent probiotic supplements on the market, and one of the most popular.

This particular supplement has a targeted release, meaning it waits to release deeper in your intestines to be more effective. Pretty sweet.

The capsules are vegetarian safe and have little to no after taste at all.

4- Vitamin Bounty PRO-25 Probiotic

Buy it on Amazon

Over 25 billion organisms per capsule – that’s a lot. One of the highest dosages on the market.

Also contains over 13 different strains, each with their own benefits to provide a wide variety of support. This supplement contains a delayed release for targeted efficacy.

This supplement contains fermented greens, an ingredient not commonly found in competitors.

5- NatureWise Maximum Care Probiotic

Buy it on Amazon

30 strains, 30 billion CFU. That’s a pretty potent probiotic right there.

Also comes in a targeted time release capsule for maximum efficacy.

This supplement is proud to be 100% non GMO, vegetarian, and gluten free. This is very important for some people that like to avoid certain ingredients that are sometimes found in other similar supplements.

One of the more expensive products on the market, has been deemed overpriced in many reviews.

What are probiotic supplements?

Probiotic supplements are microorganisms that have health benefits when taken orally. 

They originated back in the 1980’s where it was introduced by Élie Metchnikoff, a Nobel Laureate, who examined that the peasants in Bulgaria who had taken yogurt lived longer because of a certain custom.

It’s a relatively new kind of health supplement, where colon cleansers and fiber supplements have been around for decades.

Further studies were made and the results indicated that these microorganisms indeed had health benefits and there was a need for probiotic supplements (2).

Most probiotics are live bacteria and yeast which are good for the body, especially the digestive system.

Though the word bacteria usually is shed in a negative light, probiotics are actually “good” or “helpful” bacteria that help keep your stomach or gut healthy. Probiotics can either be attained by eating certain foods, like yogurt, or by taking a supplement, usually in the form of a tablet (2).

How do probiotic supplements work?

Our stomaches contain both harmful and helpful bacteria – about 85% of the bacteria are helpful while the remaining are mostly bad.

Probiotics work to feed your gut with helpful bacteria to help you keep a good balance.

Sometimes, conditions like dysbiosis occur where there is an imbalance of bacteria in your gut and it starts to affect the rest of the body. Consuming probiotics, either from the different foods you eat or from probiotic supplements, can help bring your desirable ratio back to normal.

There are different types of probiotics and each of them have different benefits, some that even work together. When reading the labels of probiotic supplements, pay attention to the kind of bacteria involved as well as the CFUs, or the colony forming units, in the product (3). 

The good gut bacteria can help in production of vitamin B-12, butyrate and vitamin K2. It also helps in eliminating bad bacteria, fungi and yeast.

The good bacteria also help in stimulation secretion of IgA and regulatory T cells, as well as producing enzymes that will eliminate bad bacteria in the body.

With the different kinds of probiotics, the most common one is Lactobacillus. This is mostly found in yogurts and other fermented food. This probiotic can help relieve diarrhea and aid those who are lactose intolerant and cannot digest lactose.

Another type of probiotics is Bififobacterium. This is found in dairy products and is believed to help relieve problems like irritable bowel syndrome.

Also, those suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diarrhea or antibiotic-related diarrhea can find immediate relief by taking a probiotic supplement.

Aside from the gut, it helps with other problems such as eczema (like chamomile), oral health, urinary and reproductive health (like coconut oil), and even helps prevent allergies and colds.

What are the benefits of probiotic supplements?

There are a ton of benefits to taking a probiotic supplement, but the most popular reason is to stay on top of your overall immune health, meaning you fight off bacteria and disease and sickness more efficiently.

Some benefits of taking a probiotic supplement:

  • improves digestive health
  • stronger immune system
  • increases energy from vitamin B12
  • fights off colds and flus better
  • better breath (destroys candida)
  • healthier skin (destroys eczema and psoriasis)
  • heals irritable bowel disease and leaky gut syndrome

You can get some probiotics by eating foods like yogurt or sauerkraut, but the best way to ensure you are getting plenty of probiotics in your system is to regularly take a probiotic supplement.

What are the possible side effects of probiotic supplements?

Taking probiotic supplements can have a lot of benefits, but if you take too much, your body might experience side effects like diarrhea (just like green coffee bean, green tea, or camu camu).

If you’re just starting out, start with a smaller dosage and slowly increase depending on the suggested instructions on the label.

If you are taking any other medications, it is best that you check with your doctor before taking a new supplement.

How to take probiotic supplements?

It is recommended that you take a probiotic supplement at bedtime or in the morning, as these are times when the digestive system is less active which keeps the pH low.

The less acidic your stomach is, the better your probiotics will survive. Stay away from high acidic food and drinks before taking probiotics (this includes energy drinks).

Try to get a probiotic supplement that has a few different strains, preferably at least 10-20 different strains, so they can all work together and be the most effective.

Recap

If you are looking to stay on top of your digestive health, taking a probiotic supplement is one of the best ways to do it.

Check out the rankings at the top of the page and see which one best fits your style, whether it be a cheap deal, or a top quality product.


The HealthRanks Team

The HealthRanks Team is composed of like-minded health experts who share a passion for sharing their health knowledge for the benefit of others. Check out our about page for more information.

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