Buy Probiotics Online – Which Products Should you Purchase?

When buying probiotic supplements, you may be overwhelmed by the wide range of products and formats available. The number of probiotics sold in stores and online has significantly increased in recent years.

But not all probiotics are the same. There can be significant differences in product quality, ingredients and in the viability of different formulations. This makes it important to be an informed consumer before you buy probiotics online or in your local health product store.

What should you look for when purchasing a probiotic supplement? First, it is important to select a product with the right strains of beneficial bacteria to address your health needs. Secondly, only buy products that provide a sufficient dosage of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) to promote health benefits.

Finally, you should look for probiotics that are formulated to protect the viability of these live organisms throughout the shelf-life and during the transit through the acidic environment of the stomach.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

Top Probiotics Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

Probiotics Buyers Guide

Probiotic supplements are differentiated from each other based on the strains of bacteria used and the number of live cells provided per serving.

The human gastrointestinal tract is home to more than 400 different strains of friendly bacterial organisms that support digestive functions, immunity and well-being.

These bacteria are considered “probiotics” because they confer a health benefit on us – the host – when they are present in large enough numbers.

The gut is also home to many strains of harmful bacteria. We can also pick up pathogens from foods that we eat or from the environment, which can result in infection, digestive disturbances, or more serious conditions, like stomach ulcers and even stomach cancer.

Having a healthy microbiome requires there to be a favorable balance between these good bacteria and the harmful disease-causing bacteria. The probiotic bacteria work to protect us from harmful bacteria in a number of different ways, forming a significant part of our immune defenses.

When we use probiotic supplements – either as a preventative measure or to address specific health conditions – we are seeding the gut with these friendly microorganisms to restore balance to the microbiome, thereby boosting both the digestive and immune system.

But not all of the probiotic bacteria in the gut work in the same way. Furthermore, different strains colonize and protect different parts of the gastrointestinal tract.

For this reason, it is important to buy a probiotic supplement that provides a blend of several different strains of organisms in sufficiently large doses. Dosages of between 1 – 10 billion CFUs per serving are recommended for most applications.

Which Strains of Probiotics are Best?

A number of probiotics supplements sold today include only a single strain of bacteria, designed to address specific health conditions. These supplements may be helpful for acute conditions, but are not the best option for promoting general digestive and immune function.

Instead, it is recommended to buy probiotics that combine strains from the Bifidobacterium genus and Lactobacillus genus. Each of these genera are further divided into several species, such as Bifidobacterium Bifidus and Lactobacillus Acidophilus.

Buy Lactobacillus Probiotics

Lactobacillus probiotics colonize the small intestine and help to break down foods, such as dairy products, and convert them into lactic acid. They are important for maintaining the acidity of the gut so that pathogenic bacteria cannot colonize.

Within the Lactobacillus family, different strains help to support nutrient absorption, combat the growth of bacteria that cause infections, and support digestive regularity.

Lactobacillus Rhamnosus is a strain that has been linked to reduced duration of diarrhea caused by viruses or antibiotic use. This strain has also been linked to weight loss and cardiovascular health.

Lactobacillus Acidophilus is used both for digestive health and for vaginal health. It has been shown to help maintain an appropriate pH balance in the urogenital tract and to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause bacterial vaginosis and other infections.

Lactobacillus bulgaricus is a probiotic strain that has been linked to improved symptoms of lactose intolerance. Other strains have been shown to improve IBS and IBD symptoms, as well as reducing the permeability of the intestinal membrane.

Buy Bifidobacterium Probiotics

Probiotics from the Bifidobacterium family tend to colonize the large intestine or colon. These probiotics help to maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall, further break down foods and scavenge toxins and free radicals created during the digestion process.

Bifidobacterium longum has been shown to reduce the occurrence of influenza and may support the immune system. This strain has also been shown to reduce abdominal discomfort and stool frequency in patients with diarrhea.

Bifidobacterium breve has also been shown to improve constipation and digestion in several studies. This strain may also reduce disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 was found to reduce symptoms of IBS, such as bloating, stomach pain and irregular bowel movements. Another strain, Bifidobacterium bifidum was shown to reduce the incidence of diarrhea caused by rotovirus infection.

Each of these strains may have benefits on their own, but in most cases you will see greater positive effects when combining these and other strains together. For this reason, we recommend that you buy a probiotic with many different strains of bacteria, representing a balance of friendly microorganisms naturally found in the gut.

Which Probiotics Should you Buy?

Another key differentiating feature is the product packaging and delivery mechanism. Probiotics exert a positive effect on the digestive system by colonizing the gut, breaking down foods and synthesizing important chemicals.

In order for these benefits to occur, the probiotic bacteria must be alive and viable when they reach the small and large intestine. This means that a sufficient number of Colony Forming Units (CFUs) must be transported through the acidic environment of the stomach, and delivered alive to the gut.

This is easier said than done. If you buy a poorly formulated probiotic supplement, the majority of the bacteria may die off before you even consume the supplement or once the supplement comes in contact with stomach acid.

Probiotics manufacturers have come up with a number of techniques to protect the viability of their supplements. This can include using freeze-dried products, enteric coated tablets that are protected from stomach acid, or controlled release softgels.

Another technique is to add prebiotics to the supplement. These are indigestible fibers that act as substrates for probiotic bacteria to grow on in the gastrointestinal tract. Using a prebiotic with your probiotic products may improve results.

You should also make sure that any probiotic supplement you buy provides a high enough number of CFUs that remain viable until the end of the expiration date. Even the best-designed probiotics will see some decline in the population of living cells from the time of manufacturing to the end of the shelf-life.

To make sure this does not affect product efficacy, high-quality brands will overdose their supplements at the time of manufacturing.

For example, a supplement that guarantees 5 billion live CFUs per serving may actually provide 15 billion CFUs per capsule, with the recognition that 2/3rd of these could die off before the end of the shelf-life.

When comparing probiotics for sale online, find out whether the dosage stated is based on the number of colonies guaranteed at the time of manufacturing or at the end of the shelf-life.

Types of Probiotics for Sale

There are a large number of probiotic complex products available to buy on Amazon.com and from other online retailers. Some of these products are general supplements which are appropriate for most healthy adults, while others may be formulated for specific groups of people or for specific needs.

The range of products sold today includes probiotics for women, elderly individuals, children, vegans, people who do not like swallowing pills and even animals. Specialty formulas for those traveling, individuals with chronic conditions such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), or people who want to boost their immunity are also available.

There is also a growing number of brands selling organic certified probiotics, soy and gluten free options, Kosher and Halal certified as well as hypoallergenic supplements.

In addition to oral dietary supplement formulations, there are also liquid drinks, gummies, vaginal suppositories, and topical application products like soaps and skin creams available. There are also a number of new food-enriched probiotic products being introduced to the market, in addition to yogurts and milks with have been sold for many years.

Before buying any probiotic supplement, it is recommended to check with your doctor to help you decide when product is best for your needs. If you are taking probiotics to address a specific medical condition, your doctor can give you product recommendations as well as tell you about other treatment options.

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