Dietary supplements are increasingly popular, but none more so than probiotics. Probiotics contain live organisms that are meant to repopulate your microbiome, the healthy bacteria that live in your gut and help you to effectively digest and metabolize your food. These healthy bacteria are crucial not just for regulating digestive health, but potentially for enhancing your mood, your energy level, and more. Thus, the best probiotics aren't just about alleviating symptoms of constipation and IBS, though they can certainly do so. Probiotics can actually provide an all-around holistic health boost.
The problem is, there are just so many probiotics to choose from: Options for men, for women, for athletes, for non-athletes, and beyond. So which probiotics are right for you? We compiled a list of the best probiotics that address all sorts of needs—everything from bloating to constipation.
Why Trust Us?
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The Best Probiotic - Our Top Picks
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- Best Overall Probiotic: Ritual Gut Health Synbiotic+
- Best Budget Probiotic: NOW Supplements, Probiotic-10™, 25 Billion
- Best Probiotic for Gut Health: HUM Gut Instinct - Probiotics for Digestive Health & Immunity
- Best Probiotic Yogurt: Activia Light Strawberry Peach Blueberry Probiotic Yogurt
- Best Probiotic for Constipation: Culturelle Advanced Regularity Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber
- Best Probiotic for Weight Loss: Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic
- Best Probiotic for Bloating: Zenwise No Bloat Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes for Bloating and Gas Relief
- Best Probiotic Gummies: OLLY™ Purely Probiotic Gummies
- Best Probiotic for Athletes: Thorne Research FloraSport 20B Probiotic Supplement
Best Overall Probiotic - Ritual Gut Health Synbiotic+
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 Capsule
- Strains: LGG, BB-12
- Best for: General gut health
For comprehensive microbiome support, it's tough to beat the Ritual Gut Health Synbiotic+. These amazing capsules give you prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics—all of which help you enjoy better gut health. We recommend these to anyone looking to alleviate symptoms of regular gas, bloating, and diarrhea. Additionally, by fortifying your microbiome, you may enjoy improved immune health overall. Though a little bit on the pricey side, we think these capsules are totally worth it.
What We Like
- Prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic support
- Vegan, non-GMO, and free of allergens
- Great for promoting immune health and fortifying your gut barrier
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
BUY: Ritual Gut Health Synbiotic+
Best Budget Probiotic - NOW Supplements, Probiotic-10™, 25 Billion
SPECS
- Dosage: 1-2 capsules daily
- Strains: Lactobacillus acidophilus, plantarum, and rhamnosus
- Best for: Easier digestion, immune health
Buying probiotics can get pricey, but thankfully there are some high-quality options that won't break the bank. The NOW Supplements, Probiotic-10™, 25 Billion product includes a number of clinically verified bacterial strains, chosen to support easy and smooth digestion while improving your gut health. The price point is reasonable, and as if that's not appealing enough, these capsules are also dairy-, soy-, and gluten-free.
What We Like
- Modest price point
- No dairy, soy, or gluten
- Huge number of CFUs spanning several clinically verified strains
What We Don't Like
- Very general in its purpose; you may want to look elsewhere if looking to remedy specific symptoms
- One container will last you just a month
BUY: NOW Supplements, Probiotic-10™, 25 Billion
Best Probiotic for Gut Health - HUM Gut Instinct Probiotics for Digestive Health & Immunity
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 capsule daily
- Strains: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium
- Best for: General gut health
To create a healthier microbiome and alleviate any digestive health symptoms you experience, look no further than HUM Gut Instinct Probiotics for Digestive Health & Immunity. Made with 10 potent probiotic strains, these capsules are clinically proven to support immunity and overall gut health. Additionally, they're vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and made without any unnatural colors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
What We Like
- 10 different, high-potency strains
- Clean-verified
- Especially well-suited for promoting women's digestive health
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
BUY: HUM Gut Instinct Probiotics for Digestive Health & Immunity
Best Probiotic Yogurt - Activia Light Strawberry Peach Blueberry Probiotic Yogurt
SPECS
- Dosage: 4 fl. oz.
- Strains: N/A
- Best for: Blood glucose, blood pressure
Prefer to eat your probiotics with a spoon rather than take a capsule? This smooth, buttery, yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics, and works well even for those who struggle with lactose intolerance. It tastes great, is an easy addition to smoothies, and helps balance your blood glucose levels. And, it's made with non-GMO ingredients, meaning no artificial preservatives, gelatin, or high fructose corn syrup.
What We Like
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Great flavor
- Works well for breakfast, for smoothies, with fruit, or with granola
What We Don't Like
- Somewhat pricey
- High sugar content
BUY: Activia Light Strawberry Peach Blueberry Probiotic Yogurt
Best Probiotic for Constipation - Culturelle Advanced Regularity Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 Capsule
- Strains: Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Best for: Constipation
Looking to stay regular? The Culturelle Advanced Regularity Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber is our pick for the best constipation relief. A capsule a day helps fortify your diet with prebiotics, fiber, and a generous quantity of bacterial colonies. It's well-priced, gluten-free, and clinically proven to be safe and effective.
What We Like
- Decent price point
- Contains probiotic and prebiotic support
- Gluten-free
What We Don't Like
- Not the top option for supporting immune health
BUY: Culturelle Advanced Regularity Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber
Best Probiotic for Weight Loss - Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 capsule
- Strains: Lactobacillus gasseri
- Best for: Weight Loss
Can taking probiotics help you lose weight? The Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic is designed to promote a balanced gut, allowing you to manage your weight as well as your waist size more effectively. It's also a good option for anyone who deals with occasional bouts of indigestion, including diarrhea.
What We Like
- Good for weight management and for soothing common GI afflictions
- Vouched for by some reputable medical organizations
- Can help you maintain a healthy BMI
What We Don't Like
- Higher price point
- Only 5 billion bacteria per capsule, lower than most probiotics
BUY: Thorne FloraMend Prime Probiotic
Best Probiotic for Bloating - Zenwise No Bloat Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes for Bloating and Gas Relief
SPECS
- Dosage: 2 capsules
- Strains: Bacillus subtilis
- Best for: Bloating
If poor digestive health leaves you reeling from regular gas and bloating, you may be a prime candidate for Zenwise No Bloat Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes for Bloating and Gas Relief. Bargain-priced, these capsules hardly scrimp on potency. On the contrary, they contain bacterial cultures carefully chosen to eliminate bloating, gas, and water retention, and even come with cinnamon to help with your absorption rate.
What We Like
- Good for gas and for water retention
- Reasonable price point
- Vegan
What We Don't Like
- May cause more frequent urination
BUY: Zenwise No Bloat Probiotics, Digestive Enzymes for Bloating and Gas Relief
Best Probiotic Gummies - OLLY™ Purely Probiotic Gummies
SPECS
- Dosage: 2 gummies
- Strains: Bacillus coagulans
- Best for: Immune health, improved digestion
Prefer your probiotics in gummy form? Not only are the OLLY™ Purely Probiotic Gummies tasty, but they come with a billion CFU per serving, helping you to maintain better balance in your gut. This is an especially convenient option for those who travel or may need to take probiotics on the go.
What We Like
- Good flavor
- Reasonable price point
- Convenient and very portable
What We Don't Like
- Some sugar, gelatin, and other artificial ingredients
- Just a billion CFU, much lower than average
BUY: OLLY™ Purely Probiotic Gummies
Best Probiotic for Athletes - Thorne Research FloraSport 20B Probiotic Supplement
SPECS
- Dosage: 1 capsule
- Strains: Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Best for: Digestive tract and immune function
The last thing any athlete wants is to have their performance (or their travel plans) compromised by digestive health problems. Enter the Thorne Research FloraSport 20B Probiotic Supplement, which is designed specifically with athletes in mind, and made with a high CFU level to promote digestive tract and immune function. A capsule a day may significantly minimize your risk of being sidelined by GI concerns.
What We Like
- Good for digestive health and immune function
- Made specifically for athletes
- High CFU count
What We Don't Like
- High price point
BUY: Thorne Research FloraSport 20B Probiotic Supplement
Benefits of Probiotics
Probiotics have been proven to be effective in a number of different ways. Some of the main benefits include:
- Lasting relief from certain gastrointestinal conditions, including common and chronic conditions like IBS.
- Lessens your frequency of constipation and diarrhea.
- Improve urinary health, and reduce your risk for urinary tract infections.
- May improve immune health.
Probiotics vs. Prebiotics
It's important to note the distinctions between probiotics and prebiotics.
Probiotics contain live bacteria that can improve your gut health. Prebiotics, on the other hand, are substances from carbs (typically fiber) that help to feed those gut bacteria. By having a sufficient quantity of prebiotics in your system, your body can more effectively multiply its healthy bacteria while also safeguarding you against harmful bacteria. Ultimately, every diet should include probiotics and prebiotics, whether you get them from regular nutrition or from supplements.
How to Choose the Best Probiotic Supplement
There are a few factors to consider when shopping for the best probiotic supplement.
Dosage
Probiotic potency is measured in colony-forming units, or CFUs. Basically, this is a reflection of the number of viable bacteria in each dose. If a product is labeled 1 x 109 CFU, that denotes about a billion viable bacteria per dosage. You can anticipate one to 10 billion CFU in the average probiotic.
Strains
Which types of bacteria are included in the probiotic? And how many different types of bacterial strains will you get from each dose? Keep in mind that some strains are more effective than others at addressing particular symptoms or digestive health needs.
Best For
Some probiotics will be earmarked for particular concerns; for instance, some probiotics support general digestive or immune health, but others may be more laser-focused on addressing constipation or bloating.
FAQs About Probiotics
Should I take probiotics in the morning or at night?
Researchers show that the two best times to take probiotics are either first thing in the morning, before you eat breakfast, or right before you go to bed at night. Pick the time that's most convenient for you!
Do probiotics raise blood pressure?
There is actually some preliminary research to suggest probiotics as a way to modestly reduce your blood pressure, though further study is needed to confirm this.
What is the most healthy probiotic?
In terms of healthy foods that naturally contain probiotics, we recommend yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kimchi, miso, pickles, and kombucha.
What are signs you need probiotics?
Some of the most common signs that you should be taking a probiotic include regular constipation, bloating, excess gas, or stool changes. Additional symptoms that may be addressed via probiotics include brain fog, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mood disruptions.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Josh is a journalist and writer whose work has appeared in magazines and local newspapers such as Christianity Today, IMAGE Journal, Relevant Magazine, FLOOD, The Nashville Scene, True Tunes, Rise Up Daily, and Looking Closer with Jeffrey Overstreet. Josh is an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast.
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