For the longest time, probiotics have served as a valuable supplement for aiding digestive health and providing bloating relief for women. They contribute significantly to various aspects of your body, including skin health, mood regulation, and bowel movement regularity.
These supplements contain live microorganisms that, when consumed, can enhance and maintain gut health. Typically referred to as "good bacteria," probiotics help balance your system. They are commonly found in fermented foods such as tempeh, kimchi, yogurts, and kefir.
In recent years, the popularity of probiotics for improving gut health in women has soared. However, selecting the right probiotic supplement for your body can be challenging due to the abundance of brands on the market.
In this article, you will discover how to choose a probiotic supplement that meets your health needs. Additionally, you'll find in-depth reviews of the best probiotics for women, tailored for weight loss, vaginal health, and women over 60.
How to Choose the Best Probiotics for You?
The market offers hundreds of probiotics in pill, powder, or liquid form, making the task of finding the right one a bit daunting. To help you make a well-informed choice, here are some essential factors to consider:
- Strain Selection: Different types and strains of probiotics yield varying effects. Identify strains that target your specific symptoms. For instance, strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1, Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14, or Lactobacillus crispatus are recognized for supporting women's health by aiding vaginal well-being and preventing infections.
- Colony Forming Units (CFUs): CFUs show you the quantity of viable bacteria in each probiotic dose. While higher CFU counts aren't universally superior, they're necessary. For general maintenance, a probiotic containing 1-10 billion CFUs may suffice, while specific conditions may require higher counts (e.g., 10-50 billion). To make sure you’re on track, seek guidance from a healthcare professional.
- Viability Guarantee: Ensure the probiotic guarantees the viability of its strains until the expiration date. This ensures that the bacteria remain alive and active upon your purchase until the said date.
- Combination of Good Bacteria Strains: For overall well-being, opt for probiotics containing a variety of strains targeting different aspects, such as gut and vaginal health, instead of focusing solely on one area.
- Reputable Brand: Choose brands that adhere to good manufacturing practices, and undergo third-party testing for quality and purity. Look for products that do not have unnecessary additives, artificial colors, and excessive fillers.
- Dark Packaging: Moisture, heat, and light can impact probiotic viability. Favor options packaged in dark, opaque containers, shielding them from excessive light exposure.
- Consider Your Lifestyle and Habits: Determine whether probiotics requiring refrigeration or those shelf-stable would suit your lifestyle better, especially if you travel frequently or need on-the-go convenience.
What are the Best Probiotics for Women?
Biofema probiotics fit all the common criteria for choosing the best probiotic supplement. It is uniquely formulated to address multiple aspects of women's health, making it a versatile choice. It has a healthy balance of bacterial strains that repair your gut health. You can be certain that you know exactly what you're putting into your body because the ingredients have been carefully listed out and aren't filtered unnecessarily.
It is commonly recommended that women take supplements containing 20–50 billion colony-forming units (CFUs), and Biofema probiotics also feature these criteria.
Each Biofema pill organizer contains:
- 4 proven probiotic strains;
- Special dark-glass bottle (Dark packaging);
- 40 billion CFUs;
- 60 easy to swallow capsules;
- Plus prebiotics for complete care.
Probiotics for Women Over 50
Women over 50 can confidently take Biofema probiotics. This probiotic helps to maintain gut health, which benefits women's energy levels, weight loss, digestion, relief from bloating, vaginal health, and menopause symptoms, particularly for those in their 50s and 60s.
The fundamental strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, which are excellent and naturally occurring in the gastrointestinal system, are included in its constituents. It has been clinically demonstrated that the entire, carefully chosen list of ingredients is particularly healthful for women over 50.
The complete list of the ingredients is as follows:
- 40 billion CFUs blend of Probiotics and Prebiotics
- Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14)
- Bifidobacterium lactis (BI-04)
- Lactobacillus plantarum (Lp-115)
- Lactobacillus paracasei (Lpc-37)
- Marine Polysaccharide Complex
- Fructooligosaccharide
Here's what a 56-year-old Barbara from Chicago has to say:
“Struggling with a high-stress job, managing my household, and tackling unexpected health issues felt like an uphill battle. My body seemed to be fighting against me.
However, after a friend suggested Biofema probiotics, I decided to give it a try. Within a month, the transformation was noticeable — my symptoms started subsiding, my energy levels were rejuvenated, and my overall health seemed to be on an upswing. I feel like I’m 26!”
Prebiotics and Probiotics
Prebiotics and probiotics are completely different, despite their similar names.
Prebiotics | Probiotics |
Indigestible food ingredients that can serve as a food supply for good bacteria. | Living microbes that when taken can have health advantages |
Essentially support and encourage the growth of probiotics. They are not required for probiotics to function but they can help them be more successful. | Synbiotics, or a more diversified microbiome, are supported by the combination of prebiotics and probiotics. |
Are present in foods including fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains. Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) and galactooligosaccharide (GOS) are two common examples of prebiotics. | Found in fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut |
Digestive Enzymes with Probiotics and Prebiotics
Digestive enzymes are vital proteins responsible for breaking down food into smaller molecules that the body can absorb for nutrients. They are also available as supplements, supporting optimal digestion.
Prebiotics and probiotics are essential for maintaining a healthy digestive tract, just like digestive enzymes. They play crucial roles in the digestion and absorption of food. Normally, a well-functioning digestive system produces sufficient digestive enzymes, with probiotics providing additional support.
For example, species within the Lactobacillus genera, such as Lactobacillus casei, can enhance the production of specific enzymes like amylase and lactase. Amylase aids in the breakdown of carbohydrates, while lactase facilitates the digestion of lactose found in dairy products. Together, these enzymes work in harmony to ensure effective digestion.
Therefore, it is common to find probiotic supplements infused with digestive enzymes, as they complement each other's functions, promoting overall digestive health.
Unlocking Gut Health Secrets
The delicate balance between advantageous and detrimental microbes must be preserved. It is also important to take care of your gut because it houses 80% of your immune system. Numerous causes might result in distortions in your gut health. These may include:
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Medication like long use of antibiotics and antacids
- Chronic constipation
- Weight fluctuation
- Frequent heartburn
- Brain fog
- Hormonal imbalance
However, your immune system can function optimally when your gut is content and in balance, and there are several common simple practices you can follow to help achieve this.
- Eat a balanced diet that includes foods like grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and healthy fats. They maintain a varied microbiome and give gut microorganisms vital nutrients.
- Probiotic-rich foods: You should think about including foods like kimchi, kefir, and yogurt in your diet. Probiotics help to maintain a healthy balance by bringing good bacteria into the stomach.
- Reducing chronic stress is crucial for maintaining gut health. Try to relax with activities like yoga, meditation, and getting enough sleep.
Achieving total well-being requires a thorough understanding of gut health. Probiotics support your robust immune system and are essential for preventing chronic inflammation and preserving excellent mental health.
The content is intended to augment, not replace, information provided by your clinician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Reading this information does not create or replace a doctor-patient relationship or consultation. If required, please contact your doctor or other health care provider to assist you in interpreting any of this information, or in applying the information to your individual needs.