From a stronger immunity to clearer skin, the gut and its health has a lot to answer for. And probiotics for gut health are one of the must-have supplements for women, men and even kids - especially at this time of year.
Probiotics and gut health are always buzzwords in the wellness world, most recently, linking the health of your gut to an increase in certain diseases and illnesses, like cancer. The research is still happening, but there's never a bad time to improve your gut health. Through food is the first port of call, but if you're struggling to get your gut health tip-top, there's plenty of gut health supplements that can give it a boost. Enter the probiotic.
Wondering what exactly probiotics are? Probiotics are a live bacteria or yeast that lives in and on the body and promotes tons of benefits, but there are factors which can destroy our natural probiotics - hence why probiotic supplements are necessary to give our bodies, and gut, that needed boost to function at optimum level.
According to the NHS website, probiotics can "help restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut (including your stomach and intestines) when it's been disrupted by an illness or treatment".
Certain foods contain probiotics, but for those looking for another alternative, there are plenty of supplements to shop online. We have all the details on probiotics, from what they are, their health benefits, as well as the best forms to consume probiotics.
What are probiotics?
Symprove dietician Dr Sammie Gill explains that probiotics are a form of supplement, which contain live microbes and provide various health benefits.
Dr. Gill told HELLO!: "Probiotics are live microbes that when consumed, support the gut microbiome and offer health benefits. "They are often packaged as supplements, in liquid, powder or tablet form. While probiotics come in different forms, they also come in different strains and strengths too. Importantly, not all probiotics are equal and different strains do different things."
What are the benefits of probiotics?
There are multiple benefits to probiotics, from supporting your immune system, to gut health, and other health benefits. In recent months there has been growing conversations around gut health and your skin, as a bad diet or intolerances, as well as hormone imbalance, can sometimes show in the form of breakouts on the skin.
Speaking about the pros of probiotics, Dr. Gill said: "Probiotics can work in several ways when they reach the gut – for example, release of beneficial molecules (such as short-chain fatty acids), supporting the immune system (of which 70% sits along the gut), helping to weed out potentially harmful microbes and improving the gut lining.
She added: "There is good evidence for taking probiotics in certain scenarios, so it’s important to take a prescriptive approach. If you’re considering taking a probiotic, do your homework and choose one that is evidence-based."
How do probiotics improve gut health?
The main benefits of probiotics work to target gut health, which can speed up metabolism, calm inflamed gut that could leave you bloated and constipated.
Dr. Gill explained: "Currently, much of the research on probiotics lies in gut disorders, such as IBS. Although research is limited to date, people will often choose to take a probiotic as a type of 'insurance policy', almost as a preventative measure to support gut health."
She recommends following a plant based diet when taking the supplement. "For general gut health, there are other many things we can do. Work from the inside out is my advice – our gut health is central to overall health so target the gut microbiome with a nutrient-dense plant-based diet. Variety is key - a hallmark feature of a healthy gut microbiome is diversity. Focus on wholegrains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, beans and legumes.
"But, it’s not just diet, there are other key things we should be paying attention to. For example, sleep. It is underrated but so important. Driven by our internal body clock, our gut microbes have their own circadian rhythm, and this changes the shape of the microbial landscape over a 24-hour period.
"Therefore, it’s key to prioritise quality and quantity of sleep – aim for 7-9 hours per night, keep timings consistent, limit screen time in the few hours before bed and keep the room cool at night to mimic the drop in body temperature. Also, if you’re feeling mentally stressed, the gut will feel physically stressed and this can manifest as gut symptoms. This is because the gut and brain are intrinsically connected (labelled the ‘gut-brain axis’)."
How I chose the best probiotics
- Personal reviews: The team at HELLO! have personally tried some of the leading probiotics on the market, and we've included personal reviews where possible.
- Trusted brands: All of the brands included are ones we're familiar with or have seen the research and science to back up what they're claiming.
- Price: You can easily spend over a lot on a probiotic, and we've included as many price variations as possible.
Shop the best probiotic supplements
1/8
Heights Probiotics
Editor's Note:
"This is a high-impact, vegan formula of seven highly researched strains, plus zinc, for the gut, immunity, and mind.
"These powerful little capsules are designed to survive thanks to their delayed-release capsule and acid-resistant strains, that guarantee the good stuff actually gets to your gut.
"I recently fell into a cycle where my gut (and health) was noticably taking a hit. After trialling Biotic+ for three months, I was genuinely amazed at how quickly I felt like myself again. I feel far less lethargic, my formerly brittle nails are long and strong, and my hairdresser commented on a noticeable difference in the thickness and shine in my hair."
Reviewed by Georgia Brown, Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
2/8
Seed DS-01 Daily Synbiotic
Editor's Note:
"The Daily Synbiotic is a two in one capsule in capsule supplement with probiotic and prebiotic.
"This unique creation has a prebiotic outer capsule, and probiotic centre, which works to target digestive health issues, skin health, as well as cardiovascular benefits. Need further proof? Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan."
3/8
JSHealth Vitamins Probiotic (Multi-Strain)
© JS HealthEditor's Note:
"From supporting your digestive system to relieving constipation, these JSHealth Vitamins Probiotics+ get glowing reviews across the board.
"Shoppers have praised them for helping to relieve a bloated stomach to feeling "so much better" since taking them."
4/8
Bio-Kult Probiotics
© BootsEditor's Note:
"Bio-Kult contains live bacteria to complement the existing gut flora naturally present in a healthy person’s digestive system, containing 14 live bacterial cultures to target the digestive system."
5/8
Advanced Nutrition Skin Youth Biome™
© Advanced NutritionEditor's Note:
"The gut and your skin are closely linked, and Advanced Nutrition's incredible range includes the Skin Youth Biome, an award-winning supplement that supports the gut-skin connection and targets ageing skin for a youthful complexion.
"Includes six skin-friendly bacteria, including two new compounds and vitamin C."
6/8
Solgar Advanced Acidophilus
Editor's Note:
"Solgar has a whole host of probiotics on offer, including daily wellbeing supplements, immunity, beauty and shape, digestion and much more.
"But it's the Solgar Advanced Acidophilus that has been recommended by Dr. Marie Drago as each capsule contains 500 million cultured strains to target gut health."
7/8
NOW Foods Probiotic
© NOW FOODSEditor's Note:
"You can choose the potency of these probiotic supplements, which contain 10 probiotic strains. The promise is that they deliver 100 billion live organisms to help restore healthy flora to the gut."
8/8
Artah Enhanced Synbiotic
© ArtahEditor's Note:
"This award-winning supplement is designed to balance and support the gut, thanks to the scientifically studied live bacterial strains, digestive enzymes, and polyphenolic prebiotics from cranberry and pomegranate. Their biggest draw? They help with digestion."
Editor Verdict:
I'm a big fan of taking a probiotic and at the moment, my top are the Advanced Nutrition Skin Biome, as they seem to make a difference to how I look and feel. I love Seed too, a fave of Gwyneth Paltrow and they feel 'clean' in terms of their production. Plus, Seed has some slightly less common strains within it which makes it stand out from the rest.
