9 min
What is the Best Probiotic? Our Advice and Opinions (2024)
Probiotics are one of the food supplements associated with many benefits , and not only at the intestinal level !
Indeed, the comfort of our gut is closely linked to our general well-being, including our mental well-being. As is often said, the gut is considered our "second brain", highlighting the crucial importance of having good intestinal balance.
But, among all the probiotics available, how can you make the right choice to make the most of their benefits? How to find the best probiotics for you? Here are some criteria that can help you find the best product for your well-being.
What is a probiotic?
That's right, what are probiotics and how do they act on our body?
Probiotics are a set of microorganisms naturally present in our body, which are beneficial to us.
The term probiotics includes non-pathogenic bacteria, but also more complex yeasts and fungi. Probiotics, as a whole, form the microbiota .
The largest microbiota in the human body is that present in the digestive system . It brings together approximately 100,000 billion bacteria. It is also called intestinal flora . But, there is also a microbiota in the mouth , on the vaginal walls and on the epidermis . These microorganisms act in symbiosis with our body to guarantee its proper functioning.
Thus, the intestinal microbiota has many functions.
Here are some examples :
- It helps the digestive system function properly by digesting certain nutrients, thus facilitating their assimilation by the intestinal wall.
- It participates in the synthesis of certain vitamins that the human body is incapable of producing on its own.
- It synthesizes three essential amino acids: leucine, valine and isoleucine.
- It forms an effective barrier against pathogenic bacteria, and therefore participates in the functioning of the immune system.
Probiotics are therefore present in quantity in our intestine and their benefit is essential for our health .
Another of our articles details all their benefits .
Probiotics and prebiotics: what is the difference?
As we said above, probiotics are part of our intestinal flora, also called microbiota.
But, for these good bacteria to act in the best possible conditions, they need a substrate as well as nutrients adapted to their needs.
These elements are prebiotics . It is essential to differentiate these two components of our intestinal flora to understand its functioning as a whole.
- Probiotics = live microorganisms.
- Prebiotics = nutrients that allow them to develop.
The different types of probiotic bacteria
Of course, there is not just one type of beneficial bacteria.
A healthy individual carries around 160 species of bacteria according to an Inserm study .
Each individual has a specific microbiota, sometimes very different from one person to another. Among all these species, some are nevertheless present in all human beings. These are the types of bacteria found in probiotics in food supplements .
These beneficial strains for our intestine are generally classified into 4 large families. There is :
- lactobacilli;
- bifidobacteria;
- streptococci;
- and lactococci.
We recommend you
Probio Formula
Formula with clinically proven effectiveness on intestinal flora.
- ✅ 60 Billion CFU per dose
- ✅ Synergy of 6 microbiotic strains
- ✅ DRcaps® gastro-resistant capsules
- ✅ Prolonged effectiveness
Lactic acid bacteria
This term includes lactococci and lactobacilli . These are the bacteria naturally present in dairy products and kefir (fermented drink).
These microorganisms have the advantage of maintaining an acidic pH within the intestine, thus preventing the development of pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria protect our body from intestinal infections 2.
Bifidobacteria
Bifidobacteria are already present in quantity in the infant's intestine . They have a vital role from birth by facilitating digestion and preventing possible allergies to certain foods or other intolerances.
In addition to their key role in digestion, bifidobacteria may also provide additional benefits. These bacteria can help contribute to a healthy immune system, preventing bacterial and viral infections.
Additionally, these bacteria may also play a role in regulating mood and reducing stress.
Streptococci
Under this term, which most often evokes negative notions, there are in fact several groups of bacteria, some of which are harmless. This is the case for streptococci living in the digestive tract . Streptococcus thermophilus , which is a commensal species (which does not harm its host), is commonly used as a probiotic. It is also used for making yogurt.
Additionally, this probiotic bacteria could help improve lactose digestion in people with lactose intolerance, by increasing the production of lactase, the enzyme responsible for digesting lactose.
The criteria for selecting the best probiotic
Now that we know the beneficial effects of probiotics , it is important to choose the best probiotic for your body. Indeed, we all have a different microbiota. To supplement with probiotics effectively, you need to understand your needs as best as possible.
What inconvenience do you want to alleviate?
The benefits of probiotic supplementation
Numerous studies have been carried out to define the benefits of probiotic supplementation on the body.
Indeed, probiotics can alleviate certain inconveniences, and make life easier for people specifically wishing to:
- avoid digestive disorders;
- support their intestinal immunity (and not only that!) to protect themselves from possible winter problems
The diversity of bacterial strains
To find the best probiotics , it is better to turn to well-identified strains of bacteria. We know that each strain has a well-defined activity in our intestine.
It is appropriate to select those which will be best for our problem.
As part of a treatment, the best probiotics seek above all to restore a balance to the intestinal microbiota , which is why they contain a broad spectrum of friendly bacteria.
In certain situations, the provision of only one type of bacteria may be advisable. But, for this, it is better to seek advice from health professionals.
The quantity of CFU
To choose the best probiotic as a food supplement, the quantity of CFU is a criterion that should not be neglected.
But what does UFC mean? This is the acronym for “ Colony Forming Unit ”. This represents the number of strains ingested in a single dose that will be able to develop. Studies have been carried out to define the minimum quantity below which the intake of probiotics is less effective. They recommend at least 10 billion strains per dose.
In order to maximize our results without having to swallow capsules all day long, we have developed our Probiotic Formula with 60 billion CFU .
We recommend you
Probio Formula
Formula with clinically proven effectiveness on intestinal flora.
- ✅ 60 Billion CFU per dose
- ✅ Synergy of 6 microbiotic strains
- ✅ DRcaps® gastro-resistant capsules
- ✅ Prolonged effectiveness
Stability to temperature and acidity
One of the criteria for defining the best probiotic for you is also its stability. In fact, probiotic supplements are administered orally. They make a long journey through the entire digestive system before attaching to the intestinal wall (which is at the end of the path). To remain effective, they must therefore resist the acidity of the stomach, its gastric juices and body temperature.
Opting for gastro-resistant capsules is then a safe choice, protecting the microorganisms during their passage into the stomach, from the gastric juices present in quantity in the stomach. For optimal effectiveness, our gastro-resistant capsules are labeled DR Caps® .
The duration of treatment
Probiotic supplementation is recommended as a treatment.
This is not about taking a miracle pill that will solve all your problems in a single dose. A cure aims to rebalance your intestinal microbiota through the regular intake of new strains of probiotics.
With this in mind, we advise you to supplement for at least a month, and ideally for 3 months. This treatment can be renewed during the year according to your needs. You can also consume our Probio Formula over a period of at least 7 days during a “crisis period” or if necessary.
The brand
Pay attention to the brand of your probiotics when purchasing.
As before purchasing any ingredient or food supplement, choose a brand recognized for its reliability and traceability.
Once again, it's about your body, you owe it to yourself to choose a reliable wellness partner. At Novoma, our products are made in France. To be as transparent as possible with you, our certificates of analysis are accessible and downloadable from our product page . Our probiotics are guaranteed to be free of coloring and preservatives. We are working to provide you with quality probiotics.
Certifications and labels
A label guarantees the quality of a product.
Concerning probiotics, the patented strains guarantee a certain quality and a certain guarantee of confidence.
The six probiotic strains included in our Probio Formula are patented by SynBalance® , a laboratory that has been an expert in probiotics for decades. They are clinically recognized and have demonstrated their effectiveness in improving intestinal flora and digestive well-being.
Clinical studies have also demonstrated the effectiveness of our product on several common disorders such as bloating, abdominal pain, constipation, abdominal cramps and flatulence in just 10 days of use.
The probiotic strains contained in our Probio Formula have been shown to have the ability to colonize and remain active in the body for an extended period of up to 30 days after the end of intake, thus guaranteeing long-lasting effectiveness.
The price
Price is of course important in choosing the best probiotic to meet your needs. This is about not breaking the bank to take care of your health.
The price of your supplement may vary and will mainly depend on all the criteria listed above, and how you prefer them.
Capsules, powder, tablets: which form to choose for the best probiotic?
The choice of dosage form to find your probiotic is important. Indeed, the shape will influence the criteria seen previously, in particular resistance to acidity, the number of CFU and probably the price.
Among the existing pharmaceutical forms, you can find probiotics in capsules, powder or tablets.
Powdered probiotics
✅ Advantages : This form is more recommended for people with swallowing difficulties.
⛔ Disadvantages : Low resistance to stomach acidity, dosage to be monitored at each dose.
👨👩👧👦 For whom : Children, elderly people who have difficulty swallowing pills.
Probiotics in tablets
✅ Advantages : Easy dosage, because the tablets are formed before their administration.
⛔ Disadvantages : Less resistance to stomach acid than capsules but better than powder.
👨👩👧👦 For whom : All adults.
Probiotics in capsules
✅ Advantages : The probiotics are protected by the capsule during their digestive journey. In addition, the quantity of CFU per dose is pre-dosed at the time of manufacturing the product. This extends the shelf life of probiotics.
⛔ Disadvantages : May be more difficult to swallow than tablets or powders.
👨👩👧👦 For whom : All adults.
This is the pharmaceutical form that we prefer because it alone resolves a number of difficulties.
So, what is the best probiotic?
To find the best probiotic , we can summarize a few significant criteria:
- take into account your real needs to target your probiotic needs;
- check the daily dose and methods of administration;
- trust a brand with impeccable traceability to have a quality and truly effective product.
Discover, without delay, our Probio Formula among our range of food supplements. It’s time to restore your gut well-being, right? Start your probiotic treatment!
And to give you an extra boost, remember to maintain a healthy lifestyle , which includes a healthy diet rich in fiber , which will reinforce the action of probiotics, helping to balance the intestinal flora. Also remember to drink enough water to avoid dehydration, and to reduce your consumption of alcohol, fatty and sugary foods. Finally, regular physical exercise can help stimulate digestion and improve your digestive comfort. Think about it 🏃
Lucas PINOS
Co-founder of NOVOMA
Passionate and expert in micro-nutrition, Lucas founded Novoma in 2012. It is with conviction that he develops food supplements with effective, carefully chosen and 100% clean active ingredients, to best meet the body's needs.
