Vegan Probiotics Supplements and Food Sources

Balancing the bacteria within the digestive tract is an important part of a daily health regimen.

However, for many vegans and vegetarians, it can be difficult to find an appropriate source of probiotic supplements online.

Many supplements may be packaged in gelatin capsules or may contain milk products which are not suitable for vegans and some vegetarians. Although some strains of vegan probiotic supplements can be found on the websites of large manufacturers, others can be quite difficult to source.

This is because many probiotic bacteria prefer to digest lactose, which is found, almost exclusively, in dairy products. And dairy products are not a vegan option.

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* ❯

Vegans Naturally Get It Right But May Still Need Help

Inside the digestive tract of every mammal are trillions of microorganisms fighting for space and dominance.

Collectively, these microbes are referred to as the gut microflora, and the balance of friendly and unfriendly flora is important for good digestive health, proper immune function and overall good health.

Probiotic bacteria are the good guys and supplementation is often needed to make sure the scales don’t tip in the wrong direction.

While many vegans find they do not need to supplement with probiotic supplements, other vegans chose the vegan lifestyle because they are experiencing digestive problems or disorders. When this is the case, vegans will need to supplement with non-dairy based supplements.

Probiotic bacteria thrive in foods which have been fermented such as soy sauce, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh and kimchi.

But even vegans, who eat more of these than most people, may not be able to consume enough of these foods to help restore a digestive tract which has experienced a disruption.

Intestinal disruption can occur for a variety of reasons like taking antibiotic medications, diet, stress, age or illness. When this happens, pathogenic bacteria are able to gain the upper hand and healthy bacteria may require help to out-compete them for space and dominance. Supplementation with these essential bacteria to restore the microflora back to an optimal balance is important.

The vegan diet is very rich in grains, vegetables and many fermented foods which already provide a myriad of probiotic bacteria each day. For vegans experiencing digestive problems or disorders, supplementation with specific strains of these helpful microorganisms can be an important part of the healing process.

Even kefir, a high-quality probiotic-rich drink traditionally made using milk can be made using coconut water instead.

What to Expect with Vegan Probiotics

Modulation of the gut microflora suppresses the growth of pathogenic bacteria which cause illness or disease.

Also, maintaining a healthy intestinal microbiome promotes better immune function, helps in the absorption of good nutrients, and creates and maintains a proper barrier to keep pathogens from passing out through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream.

By reading labels carefully, probiotics can be sourced which do not contain any animal products, including those with dairy-based lactose consuming bacteria.

A major concern is to look for probiotics that do not come in gelatin capsules or chewable forms. Gelatin is an animal product that most vegans and vegetarians will not want to consume.

However, consumers can look for “veggie capsules” or buy the bulk powder instead to avoid this ingredient.

Another issue for some vegans is that vegan probiotic supplements are often manufactured using the same equipment and processes used for supplements which contain animal-based products. There are a few companies who leave nothing to chance by manufacturing nothing but vegan probiotics.

One of these is GoodBelly, which was founded by the same person who originated the Silk Soymilk brand. GoodBelly products use a well documented strain of Lactobacillus Plantarum in all of their products.

Other vegan probiotic supplements are available from companies like NOW Foods, Renew Life, Jarrow and New Chapter.

What to Look For in Vegan Supplements

Products containing the various Lactobacillus bacteria are usually grown on a dairy-based medium.

Read labels carefully searching for key words and terms.

Manufacturers who make the effort to grow probiotic bacteria on non-dairy mediums will make sure consumers know it by adding it to the label information.

The following ingredients often are indicative of animal products and should be avoided:

• Magnesium Stearate – look instead for Vegetable Magnesium Stearate
• Bee-related products like Honey, Bee Pollen, Royal Jelly, Propolis and Beeswax
• Gelatin capsules are made with hoof remnants from horses, cows and sheep
• Casein is a milk-derived protein
• Cholecalciferol is extracted from lanolin found in sheep’s wool
• Vitamin A is derived from fish or animal livers

Review of Vegan Probiotic Pills

Although most manufacturers of probiotic supplements provide vegan options, it isn’t always clear whether the product is truly a vegan supplement.

Many vegans learn to watch for labeling which is clear and precise as to whether the product contains any ingredient which was originally derived from a non-plant source. Savvy manufacturers who cater to vegans and vegetarians make certain to clearly label their products and to note whether their supplement was produced in an environment free of animal sources.

Vegan probiotics usually don’t cost more than regular probiotics and are just as beneficial as those products which contain animal sources. Most often all it requires to make certain you are not consuming animal products is a bit of research on the product and some label-savvy decoding skills.

Vegan probiotics are readily available online and at better health food shops, making it possible to feel both ethical and healthy, all at the same time.

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