When it comes to gut health, there's a lot of information out there to... digest. It's hard to discuss the secrets to a healthy microbiome without mentioning probiotic supplements, but with so many options on the market, how do you know the best probiotic for you?

We're breaking down the ins and outs of probiotics, such as the best probiotic supplements available and what to look for in a high-quality probiotic, including the different strains, number of CFUs, and the benefits that these dietary supplements may have on your overall health.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are good-for-you living organisms and beneficial bacteria that thrive in your digestive system. Contrary to popular belief, not all bacteria are bad for us. In fact, probiotic strains contribute to digestive health, which in turn supports your immune system and overall health.

Our bodies need probiotics to maintain the right balance between good and bad bacteria within the gut. This balance keeps our digestive systems operating normally. In particular, probiotics stimulate the nerves responsible for moving food through the digestive system. This helps alleviate certain health issues, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, and even eczema and allergies.

Some probiotic strains help your gut absorb medications more effectively and turn elements of the food you eat into vitamins that your body needs to thrive. In this way, a well-fed and active gut microbiome is key to a healthy immune system and metabolism.

So how do the tiny organisms do all this work? Again, it's all about balance. If bad bacteria enter your body and threaten to make you sick, the probiotics you eat or consume in a supplement counteract these bad actors to keep you healthy. Likewise, beneficial gut bacteria fight inflammation, which is a factor in many leading chronic diseases in the U.S., including diabetes and heart disease.

So how can you support your microbiome with plenty of probiotics? First, you can eat foods that naturally contain probiotics. These natural sources include fermented foods, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, miso, kefir, kimchi, kombucha, and tempeh.

However, if you want to maximize the good bacteria in your gut and reap the health benefits of probiotics without drowning in miso soup, then a probiotic supplement might be right for you. The key is to find the best probiotic for your needs.

Potential Benefits of Probiotic Supplements

Why should you add a probiotic supplement to your daily routine? For starters, if you don't enjoy eating a lot of fermented foods, taking a daily supplement of live bacteria can ensure that you enjoy the health benefits of probiotics without majorly altering your diet.

By taking a daily probiotic product, you may reduce the risk of serious and uncomfortable digestive concerns. And some studies, including a six-week study on 70 petrochemical workers, suggest a link between regular probiotic supplementation and a reduced risk of depression and anxiety.

Then, there are the weight-loss benefits of probiotics. Probiotics can help increase satiety by increasing fullness hormones, leading you to eat less and experience fewer cravings. Some types of bacteria, such as Lactobacillus gasseri, are linked to a reduction in belly fat and BMI in human studies.

Now that you know a little more about the wellness advantages a probiotic supplement has to offer, take a look at these top five highly-recommended probiotic supplements.

5 Best Probiotic Supplements

Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

Physician's Choice

Physician's Choice

We like that the Physician's Choice product is shelf-stable and includes an organic probiotic blend in addition to 60 billion CFUs and 10 probiotic strains. The prebiotics contains gut-healthy fiber that works in tandem with the microbes to foster a healthy microbiome.

Shelf-stability is another important benefit, as many of the best probiotics require refrigeration. This makes Physician's Choice great for frequent travelers or anyone who prefers to keep their supplements somewhere other than the kitchen.

In addition, Physician's Choice makes vegan capsules that are soy-free, gluten-free, peanut-free, and preservative-free. Their supplements are also third-party lab-tested and made in the USA.

Why Buy: Organic prebiotic blend; Shelf-stable; Third-party lab tested; Vegan

Strength: 60 billion CFU and 10 probiotic strains

$22

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Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Once Daily Women’s Probiotics

Amazon

Like Physician's Choice, Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics for Women are also shelf-stable and contain an organic prebiotic fiber blend. We like that this product boasts a whopping 16 probiotic strains, including Lactobacillus rhamnosus.

This product is specifically made for women to support immune and vaginal health, and provide relief from gastrointestinal issues like constipation, bloating, and IBS. Plus, their once-daily capsules are free of dairy, gluten, and soy. The blend was formulated by microbiome expert Dr. David Perlmutter, a neurologist and Fellow at the American College of Nutrition.

Why Buy: Organic prebiotic fiber blend; Specially formulated for women's health; Shelf-stable; Gluten-, soy- and dairy-free

Strength: 50 billion CFU and 16 probiotic strains

$28

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Culturelle Daily Probiotic

Amazon

Culturelle Daily Probiotics are great for the budget-conscious or new probiotic user. This more affordable option offers 10 billion CFUs of a single strain: Lactobacillus rhamnosus. L. rhamnousus is the most-studied probiotic strain and is clinically proven to aid digestion. This lower-dose probiotic supplement is great for kids and can help settle short-term digestive issues, especially related to travel.

If you're concerned about potential side effects like gas and bloating, this Culturelle product is an excellent place to start.

Why Buy: Free of gluten, milk, soy, wheat, and preservatives

Strength: 10 billion CFUs and 1 probiotic strain (Lactobacillus rhamnosus)

$15

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NewRhythm Probiotics

Amazon

The time-release feature in NewRhythm Probiotics ensures that the vegetarian capsules make it all the way to your digestive tract before releasing the live microorganisms. In addition, this shelf-stable product is made in the USA in a GMP-Certified facility and tested by third-party labs for quality and effectiveness.

While the price seems like an absolute steal compared to the other probiotics in our list, it's important to note that one dose is two capsules. Nevertheless, NewRhythm probiotics are a fantastic affordable option that still packs a serious punch with 50 billion CFUs and 20 probiotic strains.

Unique features: Shelf-stable; non-GMO; third-party lab-tested and made in the USA; free of gluten, sugar, soy, preservatives, and peanuts; 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee within 30 days

Strength: 50 billion CFUs and 20 probiotic strains

Price: $14.44 for 60 capsules

Nutrition Essentials Probiotic for Women and Men

Amazon

The Nutrition Essentials probiotic offers the most CFUs per dose, at a staggering 900 billion. But what really sets this brand apart is the company's commitment to satisfaction. They offer a full money-back guarantee if you don't see results. Nutrition Essentials also guarantees that their tablets contain potent probiotic strains until expiration. While it can be hard to know what to believe in probiotic product labels, guarantees like this help give some peace of mind.

Why Buy: Made in the USA; Gluten-, dairy-, and preservative-free; Strains are guaranteed potent until the expiration date

Strength: 900 billion CFUs and 1 strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus)

$18

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What to Look for In a Probiotic Supplement

How can you know that you're selecting the best probiotic for you? There are a few important things to look for when choosing a supplement.

First, the best products are third-party lab tested. This means that an independent scientific lab has assessed the product for effectiveness and to ensure that it meets claims outlined on its packaging, including the number of CFUs and potency.

Secondly, opt for a supplement that contains multiple bacterial strains. Brands offer everything from one to dozens of probiotic strains, and studies suggest that multi-strain supplements offer more health benefits than single-strain.

Each organism in a probiotic supplement is called a colony-forming unit, or CFU. First of all, ensure that your product lists a specific CFU count, which can range from 1 to over 900 billion per dose. Supplement manufacturers are only required by the FDA to list the total weight of bacteria in their products. However, this weight can include living and dead bacteria. Since you can only reap benefits from live microorganisms, CFU count is the best measure of a supplement's potency.

In addition, bacteria die off over time. So after checking the CFU count, ensure that the product lists CFUs at expiration, not at the time of manufacture.

That being said, more CFUs does not always equal better results. Because everyone's microbiome is different, there's no rule for selecting the right number of CFUs for you. The best probiotic supplements will be somewhere around 50 billion, and remember that more is not always better, but is usually more expensive.

At the end of the day, there's a lot of information to dig through to choose the best probiotic supplement for your lifestyle. But with a better understanding of the jargon and what to look for on packaging, you can be a better-informed consumer and find the right product to help your microbiome thrive.

Lizzy Briskin is the founder of Earthen Food Co. She is a chef, food writer, and recipe developer who helps people eat more mindfully for themselves and the environment, without overthinking it.