
Confused about which are the best probiotic supplements? We can help you to decide.
If you've never heard of probiotics before, all you need to know is that they are completely natural, and you should have trillions of these friendly bacteria living in your gut! Collectively these populations of bacteria are known as the gut microbiome. But science is revealing more and more about these tiny passengers and how they interact with our bodies. Some of the most important revelations are that different types of bacteria do different things, and that it's very easy for the balance in the gut microbiome to be disrupted. Not all of the bacteria in the gut are 'good', and we need to keep the baddies in their place! This is why many people like to take a probiotic supplement. But which one should you choose?
Microbiologist, Dr. Kate Stephens, and gut health expert, Nutritional Therapist Kerry Beeson, answer the Top 5 Questions our Nutrition Team are asked by confused customers. Let us help you to choose the perfect probiotic supplement for your needs:
Jump straight to the end if you have a question that's not answered here or are just not sure where to start?
It’s quality not quantity that matters when choosing a live cultures supplement. You don’t need to keep switching brands to try lots of different products or choose multi-strain probiotic supplements containing large numbers of different friendly bacteria. Many renowned probiotic strains, such as Bifidobacteria lactis BB-12® or Saccharomyces boulardii,1,2, are typically researched alone. So just choose a probiotic supplement containing high-quality strains, proven to reach the gut or vaginal flora, and researched in for the health concerns you wish to support, such as digestion3, immune health4, or mood and wellbeing5. If you buy from expert companies, the strains will always be shown on the packaging, not just the species, so you can make an informed choice.
In the same way that you don’t need to look for probiotic supplements with lots of strains, you don’t always need one with a high number of billions. You will pay more for these high-strength supplements, and you may not need all those extra billions6! Live cultures specialists use the same number of billions used in the supporting clinical trials, so you never pay for more than you need. It’s better to choose a supplement containing high quality probiotic strains researched for your individual needs rather than a generic high-strength formula.
Live cultures supplements come in capsules, sachets, liquids, and gummies, which can be very confusing! Many people think that liquid supplements are absorbed better or reach the gut more quickly. But this is not the case - if you choose a high-quality, well-researched probiotic supplement, you can be confident that the friendly bacteria strains are tested to reach the gut6, whether they're in capsules, liquids, or any other format. Probiotic specialists only use highly researched live cultures, so you can opt for the format which suits you best, safe in the knowlege that they're all equally as effective.
Not all friendly bacteria strains have the same properties6,14, so it’s important to choose a probiotic supplement containing strains researched for your individual requirements. Friendly bacteria specialists always include the strain names in the ingredients. Once you know the strain name, you can see what it’s been researched for. For example:
For free advice about how to use the rest of our range, contact our Nutrition Team.
With so many different options available in the UK, deciding which is the best probiotic supplement can be very confusing. Ideally, look for a trusted specialist brand with products backed by sound science. At Optibac Probiotics we have decades of experience and specialise only in live cultures supplements, which is probably why we're the UK's most recommended brand of probiotics+. We always use strains backed by credible science and prioritise natural ingredients, and we think ours is the best range of UK probiotic supplements available!
If you now feel fully informed, go ahead and choose your ideal probiotic supplement in our US Shop.
If you’re still confused about which is the best probiotic supplement for you, and don't have any specific health concerns to support, then why not just start with this daily product for all-round digestive support and see how you feel:
Try taking this with your breakfast every day and let us know how you get on! Or look at this FAQ to find out more about our other daily probiotic supplements.
Alternatively, if you need further guidance, contact our team of experts for free advice.