Taking probiotics on a regular basis is an essential part of our overall health. Stress, antibiotics, eating poorly, and excessive sugar intake all take a toll on the good bacteria in our gut. That’s why it’s necessary to supplement with probiotics. Click here to learn more about the 6 Amazing Things our Gut Flora Does.
While you can get probiotics from kefir, yogurt, kombucha, and fermented foods it can sometimes be difficult to eat enough of these foods to make a difference. If you don’t like fermented foods or have a picky child, you know what I’m talking about!
For many people, it may be easier to take a daily probiotic. But what kind should you take? And what brands are good? Read below to learn more about selecting the BEST probiotics to support healthy gut, immune, and brain function.
The best probiotics contain multiple strains of lactobacillus and bifidus species. In general, 10 to 14 (or more) different strains are ideal.
One of the biggest obstacles for people taking probiotics is to remember to take it if it’s kept in the fridge. Once it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. That’s why I recommend brands that are stable at room temperature.
Those that are stable at room temperature are either in “spore form” like MegaSporeBiotic or Energetix Florasynergy or “enteric coated” like OrthoBiotic.
ProFlora 4R by Bio Botanical Research is similar to MegaSporeBiotic, but also has quercetin, aloe, and marshmallow root to reduce inflammation and restore healthy gut ecology.
If your probiotic requires refrigeration, check with the seller to see how it was kept cool while it was in transit to ensure maximum potency.
If you live in a hot or humid climate, you may want to store your probiotics in the refrigerator to prolong their shelf life.
Just like in food, you want to avoid probiotics that contain artificial colors, flavor, and fillers, like magnesium stearate.
The gut contains trillions of bacterial cells! When taking probiotics, whether for maintenance or health support, select a probiotic that contains billions of Colony Forming Units (CFU). Probiotics with millions of CFU are like adding a drop in the ocean. To have the biggest and most positive impact on the gut, choose a probiotic with billions of CFU.
According to Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride, author of Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, ADHD/ADD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Depression and Schizophrenia:
“A wide range of dosages for Lactobacillus sp. and other probiotics have been studied in clinical trials, ranging from 100 million to 1.8 trillion CFUs per day… Most studies examined dosages in the range of 1 to 20 billion CFUs per day, although exact dosages for specific indications varied within this range. Generally, higher dosages of probiotics (i.e., more than 5 billion CFUs per day in children and more than 10 billion CFUs per day in adults) were associated with a more significant study outcome. There is no evidence that higher dosages are unsafe; however, they may be more expensive and unnecessary.”
NOTE ON SPORE FORM DOSAGE: If you're buying the spore form of probiotics, you don't need as high of a dosage since the spores survive stomach acid. They reach the intestines nearly 100% of the time, compared to 1-3% expected in commonly used probiotic strains. Thus, a dosage of millions or small billions will suffice.
Please check with your own health care provider to choose the right dosage for your particular circumstances.
Below you’ll find the recommended brands of probiotics. This is a collection of recommendations from my own experience, from the practitioners in the Pediatric Acupuncture Community, and from the book A Definitive Guide to Gut Bacteria & Probiotics by Rick Gold:
Probiotic supplements work best when you take them on a regular and consistent basis! Take the probiotics as directed on the bottle. Some recommend you take the probiotics with food and others away from food. How you take it depends on the type and brand you’ve selected.
Learn how to use the ancient wisdom of the Five Elements to find simple solutions for modern health and behavioral issues many children suffer from.
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