These days, probiotics are becoming increasingly popular, and there is a compelling explanation for this trend. They are revered by medical professionals and those interested in wellness since they are associated with many health benefits.
A high-quality probiotic supplement is particularly beneficial for women. The best probiotics for women can increase energy levels, improve gut health and immune health, alleviate stress by lowering cortisol levels, lessen the symptoms of illnesses such as autoimmune diseases, and much more.
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In this article, we will be highlighting the 5 best probiotics for women based on various criteria, including ingredients, price, and more. We will discuss the benefits of taking probiotics for women and answer some of the frequently asked questions. Continue reading if you want to learn more.
Here is a first look at the best probiotics for women:
- YourBiology – Best Probiotic Supplement Overall
- Probiotic 40 Billion – Best for a Money-Back Guarantee (100 days)
- Microbiome Plus – Best Combination of Prebiotics and Probiotics
- Omni-Biotic Life – Best for High-End Ingredients
- Biome MD – Best for High CFUs Count
5 Best Probiotics for Women
YourBiology – Best Probiotic Supplement Overall
One of the most powerful and effective probiotic supplements is YourBiology. The company claims its prebiotics formula has a survival rate 250 times higher than its principal rival. Its formulated probiotics consist of high-quality strains of good bacteria that can be found in the gastrointestinal tract, and they achieve remarkable benefits.
| Overall Rating | 5 out of 5 star rating |
| Form | Capsule |
| CFU count | 40 Billion |
| Formula/Ingredients | • Brown seaweed serves as the source material for the patented MAKtrek® Bipass Technology. • There are four live and potent strains of beneficial gut bacteria that collectively deliver 40 billion CFUs in a risk-free manner. • The prebiotic component is fiber. • Fructooligosaccharides • Bifidobacterium Lactis • Lactobacillus Acidophilus • Lactobacillus Plantarum • Lactobacillus Paracasei |
| Dosage | Take 1 capsule in the morning and 1 capsule before bed (always ask a healthcare professional for advice before starting a new supplement). |
| Cost | • Starter (Good for 1 month): $59.99 • Most Popular (2 months supply + 1): $119.99 • Biggest Savings (3 months supply + 2): $179.99 |
| Pros | ✔️YourBiology Gut+ is a product of scientific research. ✔️Increases the total number of microbiomes (gut bacteria) found in the gut. ✔️Facilitates the passage of normal bowel movements and improves overall gut health. ✔️Enhances one’s energy levels and ability to concentrate throughout the day. ✔️Reduces digestive health problems such as bloating and gas. |
| Cons | ❌When someone stops using the supplement, they may once again experience digestive issues. |
| Buyers’ Feedback | The buyers` reviews for YourBiology gut+ are generally favorable, with many customers claiming to have consistently accomplished extraordinary results after using this supplement. Users reported experiencing improved bowel motions, digestion health, mental focus, and weight loss due to using the product. Most reviewers expressed relief that their gastrointestinal problems and digestive symptoms were no longer a concern. |
Probiotic 40 Billion – Best for a Money-Back Guarantee (100 days)
An all-around health supplement, Probiotic-40 is designed to operate from the inside out to support gut health and the body’s natural defenses of the digestive tract and the digestive process. Lactobacillus Paracasei, Bifidobacterium Lactis, and Marine Polysaccharide Complex are some of the live bacteria and organisms included in Probiotic-40 to improve the user’s overall health. The formula for Probiotic-40 does not contain any “hidden” or “filler” substances.
| Overall Rating | 5 out of 5 star rating |
| Form | Capsule |
| CFU count | 40 Billion |
| Formula/Ingredients | • Lactobacillus acidophilus • Bifidobacterium lactis • Lactobacillus plantarum • Lactobacillus paracasei • Marine Polysaccharide Complex • Fructooligosaccharide |
| Dosage | 2 capsules per day |
| Certifications | Made in FDA-regulated facilities |
| Cost | • One-time purchase: $39.99 • With Subscription: $31.99 |
| Pros | ✔️Helps to support immune health and function ✔️Aids digestive and vaginal health ✔️Helps to bring back good bacteria |
| Cons | ❌Different users may get different results |
| Buyers’ Feedback | Users experienced significant benefits from this probiotic blend, including improved gut health and digestive health, better immune function, and a healthy vaginal microbiome. |
Microbiome Plus – Best Combination of Prebiotics and Probiotics
A series of products called Microbiome Plus+ is available to customers looking to enhance their immunity, cardiovascular health, and general wellness by focusing on gastrointestinal and digestive health. Their primary product includes the probiotic strains known as Lactobacillus Reuteri NCIMB 30242.
| Overall Rating | 4.5 out of 5 star rating |
| Form | Capsule |
| CFU count | 3.5 Billion |
| Formula/Ingredients | • Lactobacillus reuteri NCIMB 30242 • Silicon dioxide • Magnesium stearate • Microcrystalline cellulose • Vegetable capsule (hypromellose, titanium dioxide) |
| Dosage | 2 capsules per day |
| Certifications/Awards | • GMP-certified US facilities • Both Kosher and Halal certifications have been awarded to the production facility |
| Cost | • With Subscription: $31.99 • One-Time Purchase: $39.99 |
| Pros | ✔️Maintains a healthy state of your heart ✔️It helps to preserve normal levels of vitamin D ✔️Enhances the health of the gastrointestinal tract ✔️Contributes to the upkeep of the bile acid balance |
| Cons | ❌Not intended for use by anybody younger than 18 |
| Buyers’ Feedback | Many buyers found relief from bloating, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and other poor gut health issues. |
Omni-Biotic Life – Best for High-End Ingredients
OMNi-BiOTiC® STRESS is a dietary supplement consisting of a combination of high-value intestinal cultures of bacterial strains native to the human digestive system. It’s a probiotic for stress relief. Stress can cause inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to a “leaky gut”, brain fog, changes in mood, and weaker immune health. OMNi-BiOTiC® STRESS Release improves the body’s resilience to stress and promotes a healthy gut biome.
| Overall Rating | 4.8 out of 5 star rating |
| Form | Powder |
| CFU count | 7.5 Billion |
| Formula/Ingredients | • Lactobacillus casei W56 • Lactobacillus acidophilus W22 • Lactobacillus paracasei W20 • Bifidobacterium lactis W51 • Lactobacillus salivarius W24 • Lactococcus lactis W19 • Bifidobacterium lactis W52 • Lactobacillus plantarum W62 • Bifidobacterium bifidum W23 |
| Dosage | Once or twice daily |
| Certifications/Awards | Probiotic Of The Year” At The NutraIngredients USA Awards 2021 |
| Cost | • Single Purchase: $68 • With Subscription: $61.20 |
| Pros | ✔️Highly effective probiotic supplement that was scientifically developed. ✔️Promotes healthy gut microbiome barrier function. ✔️Reduces the overall severity of symptoms experienced by people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). |
| Cons | ❌Pricey ❌Different users may get different results. |
| Buyers’ Feedback | Customers enjoy the flavor of the supplement and report a stronger gut barrier and reduced inflammation in the gut. |
Biome MD– Best for High CFUs Count
BiomeMD® restores the healthy probiotic bacteria to your gut’s microbiome while simultaneously supplying potent prebiotics. The stomach can sometimes become imbalanced due to abnormal quantities of “bad” bacteria. This results in the food being incorrectly digested, leading to diarrhea, bloating, and gas. To promote healthy digestion and immune system function, BiomeMD® assists in reestablishing and preserving a healthy balance of “good” bacteria in the digestive tract.
| Overall Rating | 4.8 out of 5 star rating |
| Form | Capsule |
| CFU count | 62 Billion |
| Formula/Ingredients | • Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 • Lactobacillus acidophilus La-14 • Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 • Lactobacillus reuteri 1E1 • HMO CARE4U |
| Dosage | 1 capsule per day |
| Certifications/Awards | GMP-certified |
| Cost | • 1 month supply: $31.49 • 3 month supply: $27.19 per bottle • 6 month supply: $23.19 per bottle |
| Pros | ✔️It aims to promote digestion and the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. ✔️It controls bowel motions, which leads to a reduction in diarrhea. ✔️Suitable for vegetarians and anyone who has sensitivities to certain foods. ✔️It improves the lining of the digestive tract. ✔️Supports immune function. |
| Cons | ❌During the first few days, there is a possibility of experiencing moderate stomach distress. |
| Buyers’ Feedback | After using BiomeMD for several months, customers notice a difference in gut lining and overall gut health. |
What Are Probiotics for Women & How Do They Work?
The term “probiotic” refers to a combination of living, good bacteria and yeasts already in your body. To put it simply, probiotics are made up of beneficial microorganisms that aid in keeping your body healthy and functioning correctly. This beneficial bacteria is helpful to you in many different ways, including protecting you against bad bacteria when you have an excessive amount of it and making you feel better overall. Probiotics for women can be taken as a supplement.
What is the Gut Microbiome & How Does It Work?
The gut microbiome refers to the microorganisms in your digestive tract. Probiotics are a component of the microbiome. Imagine a microbiome as a diverse community of organisms that all work together to keep your body healthy. The community as a whole is called the microbiome and the things that live in this community are referred to as microorganisms. There are trillions of different bacteria living there, including:
- Bacteria
- Fungi
- Viruses
- Protozoa
Everyone’s microbiome is unique. There is no such thing as two people that share the same microbial cell. Even identical twins have distinct microbiomes.
Common Ingredients Containing Good Bacteria
Here are the most common foods and ingredients that contain good bacteria:
- Kimchi: Fermented foods, like kimchi, help to promote digestive health. This fermented and spicy side dish originates in Korea. Although cabbage is almost always the primary component, this dish can also be cooked with various vegetables. Lactobacillus kimchi and other types of lactic acid bacteria are included in kimchi. These bacteria are beneficial to digestive health. Additionally, vitamin K, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and iron are some vitamins and minerals found in high concentrations in kimchi prepared from cabbage.
- Yogurt: The fermentation of milk results in the production of yogurt, perhaps one of the most well-known sources of probiotics. Look for yogurt labeled with “live and active cultures.” This label indicates that the yogurt contains many microorganisms beneficial to the intestines.
- Kefir: Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that may affect one’s health, and kefir is loaded with millions. Additionally, kefir contains a low amount of lactose and plenty of healthy vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients for your body. Kefir offers numerous potential health benefits, including lower cholesterol levels, better control of blood sugar, and enhanced gastrointestinal health.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is an excellent source of probiotics. In addition to lowering cholesterol levels, controlling blood pressure, facilitating weight loss, and enhancing insulin sensitivity, apple cider vinegar (ACV) can also help one fulfill their required daily intake of probiotics.
- Pickled Cucumbers: Pickled cucumbers that have been preserved in a solution of water and salt are an excellent source of healthy probiotic bacteria, which helps digestion and improves overall health. Cucumbers that have been pickled contain a significant amount of vitamin K and minimal calories.
Ranking Criteria for Best Probiotic for Women
Here are the main factors we used to choose the best probiotics for women:
Reputation & Reviews
Reviews left by customers are beneficial, especially when it comes to complex supplements like probiotics. We narrowed our selection of the best probiotics by analyzing the reviews and ratings of various customers and selecting the products with the highest number of positive responses. Every one of the probiotic supplements on our list comes with a substantial number of positive testimonials from consumers who have tried and appreciated the dietary supplement. We also checked each company to ensure that the advertised reviews originated from actual purchasers, so we screened them all for validity.
Ingredients
All the products listed in this article are created without fillers, preservatives, or artificial ingredients and only use high-quality, natural ingredients.
Live Probiotics
Before purchasing a supplement, it is essential to research the number of live probiotics. This represents the total number of viable bacteria present in the mixture.
Beneficial Strains
Keep an eye out for strains such as Acidophilus and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus if you’re concerned about your gut health. These have been demonstrated to be advantageous for the health of the gastrointestinal tract.
Amounts of Colony Forming Units (CFUs)
A daily dose for an adult should typically fall between 1 billion and 10 billion CFUs, and the minimum amount of CFUs that should be provided by a probiotic is 1 billion. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. In certain circumstances, doses of as much as 100 billion CFUs or even more may be administered.
Dosage
The manufacturer will decide the appropriate dosage for you, which includes how much you should take and when you should take it. The vast majority of probiotics only need to be taken once per day. Specific instructions may dictate whether they should be taken with or without meals and whether more than one capsule should be taken at once.
Price
If you cannot afford to buy probiotic pills every month, taking them once will not benefit you. The affordable supplements on our list include just as many (if not more) strains and CFUs, even though they are not the most expensive options on the market. The supplements on our list find the sweet spot between quality and cost, allowing you to get results without breaking the bank in the process.
Dietary Restrictions
If you have any dietary restrictions, you should verify whether the supplement contains animal by-products or gluten, or is manufactured in a facility that processes allergens on the same equipment.
Benefits of Probiotics For Women
Here are some of the benefits that probiotics for women provide:
Vaginal Health
Probiotics for women support vaginal health and reduce the likelihood of vaginal infections. Even when consumed orally, probiotic strains can potentially affect the microbiome of the vaginal tract. One of the essential organisms in preserving a normal vaginal pH is called Lactobacillus acidophilus (also written as L. acidophilus). Lactobacillus species make up most of the organisms in the vaginal microbiome. Protecting yourself from yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis is easier when your vaginal pH is healthy.
UTI Prevention
The vaginal microbiome can also affect urinary tract health. The growth of bad bacteria sometimes causes infections of the urinary tract. E. coli and Candida albicans are two examples of common strains that are capable of infecting the urethra. Pain during urination, pain in the pelvis, blood in the urine, and a putrid odor are all symptoms that UTIs can cause. The bacteria around your urethra can be brought back into balance with probiotics, which will help you avoid such unpleasant conditions.
Gut Health Benefits
As you are probably aware, the primary purpose of probiotics is to maintain the health of the gastrointestinal tract and ensure that it functions normally. Therefore, if you suffer from an illness affecting your digestive tract, taking a probiotic supplement might help you.
Reduced Weight Gain
Even though probiotics aren’t a magic pill to help you lose weight, they can keep your body from storing fat in excess. Bacillus probiotics, for example, can protect you from various metabolic disorders by limiting the formation of fat cells within the liver.
Aids in Digestion
Good bacteria will aid the body’s digestion. The ability of the organism to digest particular foods may decrease over time due to changes in dietary patterns. Alterations in hormone levels, alterations in diet, and more stress on the body can all hinder the body’s digestive function and make it challenging to process particular foods.
Beneficial bacteria can be conveniently ingested by taking probiotics in supplement form. This allows one to introduce new items into their diet while reaping the benefits of using probiotics. It will assist you in “feeding” your body what it needs when you discover changes regarding how your digestive tract reacts to various foods.
Best Probiotic for Women FAQs
What Do Probiotics Do For A Woman?
Probiotics can give a woman more energy, improve her digestive health, help her deal with stress and fatigue by lowering her cortisol levels, and reduce the symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
What Are The Signs That You Need A Probiotic?
Here are some common signs that you need a probiotic:
- Digestive problems
- Poor vaginal health
- A higher-than-normal amount of stomach acid
- Food allergies
- A slow metabolic rate
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Poor skin health
- Mood swings
- A recent case of food poisoning
Should A Woman Take A Probiotic Daily?
Yes, most women should take a probiotic daily. It’s important to know that probiotics are natural supplements and are generally safe to take.
Should I Take Probiotics In The Morning Or At Night?
You can take probiotics either in the morning or at night. Most recommend taking probiotics at least half an hour before a meal, so a greater number of bacteria can make it through the GI (gastrointestinal) system.
How Long Should You Take Probiotics For?
You should take probiotics anywhere from a few weeks to a few months depending on the condition you’re trying to treat with probiotics.
How Soon Do Probiotics Start Working?
It typically takes two to three weeks for probiotics to work and for a person to experience considerable benefits. That’s because it takes time for probiotics to increase the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut, decrease the number of harmful bacteria, and lessen inflammation.
Who Should Not Take Probiotics?
You should take probiotics if you are:
- Suffering from gut health or vaginal health issues.
- Suffering from allergies.
- Currently taking antibiotics.
- Trying to maintain a healthy digestive system.
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Conclusion
Women can benefit from taking probiotic supplements in various ways. Problems including bacterial vaginosis, urinary tract infections (UTIs), digestive disorders, dietary allergies, and low energy levels are just some of the conditions that may benefit from their use. Daily consumption of probiotics is recommended for most women, ideally on an empty stomach or just before bed.
The CFU count of these probiotic supplements discussed in this article is greater than 1 billion. When you initially start taking probiotics, remember that it might take anywhere from two to three weeks before you notice their beneficial effects. Additionally, the benefits of probiotics will change based on the individual and the ailment being treated.
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Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease or condition. Its primary function is to provide information. If you have any health concerns, please consult a qualified medical practitioner.
References
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9024219/