The 11 Best Probiotics for 2024 – Reviews & Buyer Guide

In this new guide on supplements, we will deal with a very topical topic: the use of probiotics. These supplements can be found in the supermarket, pharmacy, herbalists and are often recommended for people suffering from intestinal disorders, such as abdominal bloating and flatulence. Do you know how they really work?

Probiotics promise to restore the balance of the microbial “flora” of people under stress, who follow inadequate diets or who abuse antibiotics. However, these supplements are particularly delicate and require some knowledge to be used successfully.

Here we had listed out the 11 best probiotics that are present below.

Buyer Guide to Choose Probiotics

Which and How Many?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that exert a positive effect on the health of the person, strengthening the intestinal ecosystem. They can be found directly in food or can be taken in the form of supplements, to make your immune system even more valid.

Since the intestinal bacterial flora colonizes with the first feed, when you are newborn, its constitution is very subjective: for this reason, it is good to choose a multipurpose probiotic, which contains many different strains.

Only in this way will you be sure to integrate the missing ones and that the unsuitable ones will be repressed by your immune system.

In the same way, it is good to opt for supplements that contain very high dosages (we are talking about billions and not millions), given that the percentage of bacteria that manages to survive and reach the intestine is less than 40%.

Their Properties

If you are used to comparing prices, you always want to make a purchase that takes into account your wallet. Then consider that taking probiotics for a week or two will not solve the situation: the cure must last at least a month.

For such a short time, the share of microorganisms that would reach the colon would not be enough to give it the right amount.

In addition to adding them to normal nutrition, it is good to use them in conditions where the body is subjected to stress: when taking antibiotics, for urinary tract infections, for irritable bowel syndrome and candida.

In particular, it is good to focus on lactobacilli in case of diarrhoea caused precisely by antibiotic therapy, while on bifidobacteria for other gastrointestinal disorders not due to external factors.

These supplements should not be ingested with hot liquids, which would cause them to die before they reach the intestine. They must also be taken on an empty stomach to prevent gastric juices from interfering with their composition.

Who is vegan may not want to take substances derived from milk: no problem, because on the market they are also present in the lactose-free variant, to meet the needs of all users.

If you are undecided between one brand and another, consulting the reviews of other buyers can be helpful in understanding which format and type is best suited to your situation.

Excellent Composition

The number of active strains inside the capsules has 50 billion lactic ferments and, considering that one billion UFC is enough to produce results, the quantity contained in this product is definitely above average.

You won’t have to be afraid to spend a few euros more, but considering the reviews left by users with a verified purchase, these probiotics are among the best on the market. Made in the UK, they are GMO-free and rich in beneficial enzymes to rebalance the intestinal flora.

For Vegans and Gluten-Free

A great advantage of these lactic ferments consists of being suitable also for vegans and intolerant to gluten and soy, therefore a versatile product that adapts to all needs. They are also free of artificial colours and flavours and without the addition of yeasts.

One capsule a day for a month of treatment and the results are seen and heard, according to what users who have tried them declare.

They strengthen the immune system and support the proper functioning of the bacterial flora, alleviating ailments such as colitis or gastritis. Their intake is also indicated after antibiotic treatments.

Good Value for Money

We have said that they are not the cheapest probiotics on the market, but considering the high dosage of ferments derived from different strains within them and the composition of the product.

We value their value for money very well. Inside the bottle, there are 30 capsules that allow treatment of about a month, therefore sufficient for those who do not have big needs. On the contrary, if you need a longer cure you will have to buy two or more boxes according to your needs.

How to Use Probiotics?

Probiotics are microorganisms capable of promoting the balance of the intestinal bacterial flora, helping to prevent gastrointestinal disorders, with numerous beneficial effects on the immune system.

Commonly known as lactic ferments, they are already present in our intestine from the first months of life, thanks to breast milk that contributes to the formation of the intestinal microflora of the newborn.

They are also contained in many fermented milk-based foods (such as yoghurt, kefir, cheese, sourdough, etc.) and also available in the form of supplements whose intake, often associated with pharmacological treatments, helps to combat all those symptoms caused by attack of pathogens.

What They Are for And when To Take Them?

Probiotic-based therapy is especially useful for strengthening the immune system and for treating multiple diseases, such as constipation, diarrhoea, excess cholesterol, intestinal swelling, cystitis, and so on.

By virtue of the fact that the bacterial flora of each individual has different characteristics depending on genetics, lifestyle or nutrition, it is always better to seek advice from your pharmacist or family doctor, who will be able to show you the product suitable for the symptoms that you present.

In addition, it is advisable to always take them on an empty stomach, so that they do not undergo excessive alterations caused by gastric acids, and for a period of at least three weeks, to guarantee the body sufficient quantity to obtain the necessary benefits.

Why Supplements?

If probiotics are already naturally present in our body, why should we take supplements?

In reality, modern lifestyles, associated with poor nutrition, often lead to the destruction of a good part of the “good” bacteria present in our intestine, making it necessary to reintegrate them through specific products in the form of capsules, ampoules or sachets.

These supplements are particularly recommended during antibiotic and cortisone therapies, since many drugs significantly alter the balance of the intestinal bacterial flora, causing additional symptoms to be added to those of the flu, such as joint pain or diarrhoea.

However, these supplements can also be used simply to strengthen their immune defences, thus preventing seasonal influences and other common ailments, such as fatigue, abdominal bloating and constipation.

Which to Buy

In recent years, science has made significant progress in the field of food supplements, so much so that many products with different characteristics and benefits are available on the market today.

First of all, it is always good to opt for multi-purpose products, that is, containing different species of bacteria, so as to always be sure to ingest the strains that are missing from our intestines; and which contain a number of microorganisms of not less than one billion CFU (colony-forming units).

It is also important that the bacilli are able to overcome the gastrointestinal barrier and that they are able to survive the action of any bactericidal drugs (if the supplements are taken during or immediately after antibiotic therapy), thus arriving intact in the intestine, without losing their properties.

Finally, probiotics must be available in bottles or packages that favour their natural storage conditions and, before taking them, it is good practice to carefully read the package leaflet, which must always be available inside the package.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are Probiotics and What Do They Do?

Probiotics are nothing but bacteria defined as “good”, that is, capable of helping and rebalancing the intestinal flora.

Their main function is to reduce phenomena such as abdominal bloating, speed up digestion and even strengthen the immune defences thanks to their resistance to gastric acid and bile juices, which are used to break down food.

In Which Foods Are Probiotics Found?

If you do not want to take medicines that contain probiotics, you can include foods that contain them naturally in your diet.

Among these are mainly oriental foods that go through a period of fermentation which leads to the development of such bacteria as kombu tea, seaweed consumed in China and Japan with a very strong flavour but considered a real cure-all or even miso, a fermented paste soy-based, usually used for making soups.

In Europe too, however, we have some products, the result of fermentation, which contain probiotics, first of all, sauerkraut, deriving from the fermentation of cabbage.

Inserting these foods into your diet, without naturally exaggerating, can lead to benefits for the body and especially for your intestinal flora. Be careful though, if you have problems of a very serious nature it would still be better to contact your GP to discuss the issue in more depth.

What Is the Most Suitable Probiotic to Prevent and Treat Candida?

Candidiasis, commonly called candida, is a fungal infection that mainly affects women, causing vaginal mucosa disorders whose microflora is altered by the proliferation of the bacterium.

The best method to combat the infection is through a pharmacological treatment prescribed regularly by your doctor, however, this may be associated with an intake of probiotics that could prevent recurrence in the future.

The most effective way is not the oral one, in this case, but the application of capsules on the spot to make the lactobacilli act immediately.

When Should You Not Take Probiotics?

Probiotics can also have side effects, especially if you have allergies or intolerances of various kinds. In general, it would be better to avoid the casual intake of these microorganisms and always evaluate together with your doctor which strains and which doses to take.

In fact, only an expert in the medical sector can decide which are the cases in which it is necessary to adopt probiotics and which instead could cause more harm than good.

What Is the Difference Between Probiotics and Prebiotics?

Probiotics should not be confused with prebiotics at all, they are in fact two different things. The first are living microorganisms that already live in our body and are considered “good” bacteria, capable of rebalancing the intestine.

Prebiotics, on the other hand, are the elements necessary to guarantee the life of these bacteria, therefore they are found on the market in the form of supplements or even in various foods such as dried fruit, garlic and legumes.

If you do not have intestinal problems, it is good to introduce a right source of prebiotics into your diet, in this way you will give support to the bacteria of your body without necessarily having to take probiotics.