The Best Probiotics for Gut Health

Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for your body. There are many types of probiotics available in products on the market. So which is the best probiotic for your gut ? Let's find out!

Your gut is home to trillions of microbes – bacteria, yeast, and archaea. In fact, there are more microbes in your gut than there are people in the world. The more we learn about the role of the gut microbiome in our overall mental and physical health, the more we realize how important it is to cultivate it.

Therefore, in addition to choosing foods to provide energy for the body, you should also supplement foods that help maintain the correct balance of beneficial bacteria and other bacteria in the intestines. Probiotics are live microorganisms that are beneficial when consumed in food or as supplements. This article will summarize for you the best Probiotics for the intestines today.

For the common man

No two people are alike or have the same probiotic needs, but for most people, it's hard to go wrong with Lactobacillus acidophilus. This beneficial bacteria is the most commonly used probiotic strain and can be found in the gut, vagina, saliva, and in many foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, and sauerkraut. Benefits
of Lactobacillus acidophilus include balancing the vaginal microbiome, promoting relief from digestive discomforts including bloating, intermittent constipation, boosting your immune system, and more.

For women

There's no one probiotic solution that works for all women, but there are some strains that can support vaginal health and combat occasional digestive discomfort.

1. To support vaginal health, look for probiotics that contain Lactobacillus strains (including crispatus, jensenii, gasseri, hamnosus, or reuteri species). You may see these probiotics with descriptions like 'for women' or 'feminine blend.'
2. For temporary constipation, look for products containing Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium longum, or Lactobacillus plantarum.
3. For digestive health, choose Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus acidophilus or Lactococcus lactis.

For men

If you've seen probiotics labeled as 'for men' or 'formulated for men', you might think that men have special needs for a particular probiotic formula. However, this is not true – what's good for your gut is gender-neutral! However, that doesn't mean that some men won't get special benefits from looking after their gut health.

Overall, probiotic strains in the Lactobacillus genus are most effective in supporting GI symptoms, with Lactobacillus plantarum showing the strongest results, although other strains such as Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactococcus lactis have been equally effective.

Kareem Winters

Update 20 December 2024