Are you ready to address your digestive health, but aren’t sure where to start? Taking a probiotic supplement is a good place to start, although choosing the best one for your situation can be confusing. From selecting the beneficial flora (the good bugs) to choosing the CFU count (CFU, or colony-forming units, is the number of good bugs per capsule) – there are a lot of things to consider.

So which probiotic supplement is best for you? In this article, we’ll discuss why probiotic supplements are important, common questions, and how to choose the best probiotic supplement for your needs.

The importance of probiotics

The human digestive tract is filled with a diverse and complex community of bacteria and other microorganisms. This collection of bacteria, other microorganisms, and all their genetic material is referred to as the gut microbiome. The gut microbiome is responsible for several important functions in the body, including nutrient absorption, the elimination of waste, and proper immune function.

Although not all types of bacteria in the GI tract are good, in a healthy individual the types and number of the “good” bacteria outnumber the “bad” bacteria. Various factors, including a poor diet, can lead to the proportion of good to bad bacteria being out of balance. This imbalance can lead to adverse health conditions, such as weight gain, constipation or diarrhea, and various chronic conditions.

What are probiotic supplements? Probiotic supplements are comprised of live strains of beneficial bacteria or yeast. Although some of these strains are identical to the microbes that are already living in the gut, some strains can exert a beneficial effect in the GI tract even though they aren’t normal gut inhabitants.

Frequently asked questions about taking a probiotic supplement

1. What's the difference between a prebiotic supplement and probiotic supplement?

Prebiotics – usually different kinds of fiber – are what feed the gut bacteria, thus increasing the population of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Probiotics are the bugs themselves – a variety of beneficial live organisms provided in supplement form or found in various fermented foods, such as yogurt. A probiotic supplement is usually comprised of one or more gut-supportive bacteria and/or beneficial yeasts; for example, Saccharomyces boulardii.

2. Do probiotic supplements need to be refrigerated?

Although some probiotic supplements do require refrigeration, that could be an indication of their potential instability. Thorne’s probiotic supplements are provided in forms that are viable at room temperature and thus they require no refrigeration.

3. Can children take probiotic supplements?

Dietary diversity plays a significant role in the health of everyone’s microbiome – the more diverse a person’s diet is, the more diverse their microbiome is and the healthier their gut is.1 Because most children’s diets lack the variety of foods that are present in an adult diet, children can benefit from taking a probiotic supplement.*

4. Can taking a probiotic supplement help with weight management?

Studies demonstrate that lean individuals have different types of, and more diversity in, their GI microflora than do obese individuals. This suggests that supplementing with a high-quality probiotic can support the effort to maintain a healthy weight.*

What's the best probiotic supplement for me?

Although probiotic supplements support your health in a variety of ways, not all probiotic strains are the same, which means they don’t all have the same effect on your GI tract. With so many options, choosing the right probiotic supplement can be overwhelming. So, what are the best probiotics for gut health?* Are you looking for nutritional support because you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)?*  What is the best probiotic to take for weight management?* Perhaps you’re just looking for an effective way to naturally support your immune health or are in search of better digestion.* Don’t worry, Thorne has you covered.

To help you find the best probiotic supplement, the following is a list of common questions to help you find a probiotic supplement best suited to your individual needs.

"I’m looking for a probiotic that helps manage occasional GI upset, such as intestinal cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation."

  • Thorne’s Bacillus Coagulans is an everyday, all-ages probiotic supplement that promotes optimal GI function and bowel regularity.* It’s ideal for individuals with occasional GI upset. Studies support its use for occasional intestinal cramping, gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.2*

"I’m a frequent traveler and would like a probiotic that supports immune function."

  • From unfamiliar foods to disrupted sleep patterns, travel can put stress on an individual’s immune system and gut health. Thorne’s FloraSport 20B® is a unique blend of four clinically studied bacterial strains – Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, and Bacillus subtilis – that help maintain immune function and bowel regularity,* which can be compromised during travel.
  • Each capsule of FloraSport 20B contains 20 billion active cultures at the time of expiration, which means the bacteria are not dying as they are sitting on the shelf at room temperature. FloraSport 20B is provided in individually sealed blister packs for humidity and temperature control, which makes them a perfectly portable supplement to toss in your suitcase.

"I’m looking for a probiotic to support me during allergy season."

"I’m a professional athlete looking to support the high demands placed on my gut due to training and competition." 

  • FloraSport 20B, which is NSF Certified for Sport®, is an ideal probiotic blend for athletes. The specific strains benefit exercise recovery and support the digestive tract and immune function.* Because FloraSport 20B is provided in individually sealed blister packs, it’s a convenient way to supplement when traveling for a competition.

"I’m looking for a probiotic for my child who gets occasional diarrhea."

  • Thorne’s Sacro-B contains Saccharomyces boulardii, a yeast species that supports immune function in the gut by increasing sIgA, the first-line defense immunoglobulin of the gastrointestinal tract.* It can be beneficial for occasional diarrhea.*

"I’m looking for a probiotic to assist my weight management efforts."

  • For adults looking for support with weight management, Thorne’s FloraMend Prime Probiotic is an ideal choice.* This proprietary blend contains Lactobacillus gasseri, which has been shown to improve body mass index and waist circumference.*

"I’m looking for a probiotic supplement formulated specifically for women."

To find out what makes your gut tick, check out Thorne's Gut Health Test, an easy, at-home test. Find the best probiotic supplement for you today! 

References

  1. Heiman M, Greenway F. A healthy gastrointestinal microbiome is dependent on dietary diversity. Mol Metab 2016; 5(5):317-320.
  2. Majeed M, Nagabhushanam K, Natarajan S, et al. Bacillus coagulans MTCC 5856 supplementation. . . : a double blind randomized placebo controlled pilot clinical study. Nutr J 2016 Feb 27;15:21. doi: 10.1186/s12937-016-0140-6