Probiotics FAQ

Q: What are probiotics?

Your intestines are filled with trillions of bacteria- in fact, there are more bacteria in your gut than cells in your body! Most of these bacteria are good for you, helping you break down and digest food, protecting you from infection, and regulating your waste.

Unfortunately, though, there are also "bad" bacteria, which can cause disease, contribute to weight gain, and rob you of energy. Ideally, you want a balance of about 85% good bacteria to only 15% bad, and when that ratio gets unbalanced, your health suffers.

Probiotics, then, are doses of "good" bacteria that repopulate your intestines, helping to fight off the bad bacteria and promote wellness. They can be extremely beneficial for anyone taking antibiotics, or for anyone just looking to maintain peak total-body health.

Q: Why should I take probiotics?

Because it's so difficult to consistently eat a balanced, organic diet, our digestive tract can suffer, leading to an imbalance of bad bacteria. This can cause digestive issues, like gas, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation, and it can also create an environment for diseases to grow and spread to the rest of your body.

Also, many medications (such as antibiotics) kill off good and bad bacteria equally, which can upset your intestines. A probiotic supplement restores balance and wellness, enabling you to live a more energetic, healthier life.

Q: Are all probiotic supplements the same?

No. There are many different strains of probiotics, and some supplements have only one or two, while others have many more. Since different strains address different needs, you want a supplement that contains a large variety.

Also, the potency of a probiotic is measured by its number of colony-forming units (CFUs). The more CFUs you get, the greater the impact on your health. CFUs are measured by the billion, and some supplements only contain a few billion, while others can have 25 billion+.

Of course, the number of CFUs is only relevant if all the bacteria are alive. However, due to poor manufacturing and storage processes, many probiotics sell pills in which almost all the CFUs are already dead, rendering them worthless.

Q: What should I look for?

You want a probiotic that has had its contents verified by an independent third party. Third-party verification ensures that each capsule has the amount of CFUs advertised, and that the majority of the bacteria are still alive and potent.

Q: Don't I get probiotics from the foods I eat?

You do get some probiotics from certain foods, like yogurt, cottage cheese, and fermented vegetables. However, the amount of probiotics in foods like these can't compare with those found in probiotic supplements. These few bacteria offer little reinforcement to those already fighting for your health in your gut.

Additionally, because the bacteria in these foods are more exposed than those in a specially-designed probiotic capsule, many of the organisms die in your harsh stomach acids, never reaching your intestines.

Q: How do I take them?

Simply take them with food, like you would any vitamin or supplement. Recommended dosages vary from company to company, so read the labels to find out how many to take per day. We recommend taking enough to get at least 25 billion CFUs per day.

Q: How long does it take to work?

Everyone reacts differently, but with a quality probiotic you should start feeling the effects in anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.

Q: Can I take probiotics with my other medications? What about other supplements?

Probiotics are typically safe to take with any medication. In fact, some medications, especially antibiotics, throw your intestinal balance off, opening you up to a host of digestive problems. For this reason, we often recommend probiotics especially if you're on other medications. However, be sure to check with your physician first, just in case.

Probiotics should be safe to take with vitamins or other supplements as well. You may even notice that your other supplements work better when you add a probiotic, as your digestive tract will be operating at peak efficiency.

Q: Can I take probiotics if I'm pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant?

Again, probiotics are not only typically safe, but recommended. Check with your physician first, though.

Q: How much should I expect to pay?

The cost of products varies, but price alone is not enough to determine value. Some probiotics retail for as little as $20, but these usually have miniscule amounts of CFUs. Check the label to determine how many cultures are in each serving, and how that equates to a daily cost.

Our top rated product retails for about $39.99 for a one-month supply, or slightly more than a dollar a day.

Q: Are there any side effects?

Some people experience gas or bloating when first taking probiotics. Strangely enough, though, this can be a good thing, as it means you're using a probiotic that's actually powerful and effective!

If you do happen to experience these side effects, simply reduce your dosage at first until the effects stop, then resume normal dosing.

Q: Are probiotics suitable for people with dietary restrictions?

Depends on the product. Some probiotics have trace amounts of lactose or soy, which can actually worsen digestive issues for some. However, many probiotics are vegan, as well as lactose- and gluten-free.

Q: Are probiotics safe for pets?

Absolutely! Probiotics have many of the same incredible benefits for pets as they do for humans, making it a healthy addition to your pet's diet.

Q: What’s the best product to use?

In our tests, we saw the best results with Keybiotics from Whole Body Research. This product had 25 billion CFUs per dose, and ten different strains of probiotics. It was also very reasonably priced at $39.99

Additionally, this probiotic has been 3rd-party verified, so the quality and effectiveness of the product is assured.