What Are the Best Probiotics for Women?
Published Dec 6, 2021
Even though all of us can benefit from a dose of good bacteria, there are certain probiotics that are especially beneficial for women. But as with most supplements, the best probiotics for women depends on your health needs and goals.
Probiotics, as we know, are a type of beneficial bacteria. We usually get it from the foods we eat but there are some that naturally live within us. They’re called “good bacteria” because they help keep the balance in our gut microbiome and keep the bad bacteria in check. This, in turn, helps us avoid certain diseases.
If you’re looking to start a daily probiotic regimen, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll walk you through the benefits of probiotics for women as well as how to pick the best probiotics for you.
Are Probiotics Good For Women’s Health?
Yes, probiotics are good for women’s health – or anyone’s health for that matter.
The health benefits of probiotics are wide and varied, especially for women. From skin health to vaginal health, there are women’s probiotics for a wide variety of health concerns.
Yet, what most people don’t know is that there are hundreds of probiotic strains out there. Each of them has a specific function. Some strains are best for cosmetic purposes while others are of great use for food manufacturers.
So if you’re looking for a probiotic supplement, make sure to get the one with the strains suited to your needs. You cannot expect to get rid of your acne if your probiotic supplement is specially made for gut health.
The Best Probiotics For Women
With hundreds (or thousands) of probiotic brands in the market, it can be hard to pick a good one. Especially since they are all claiming to be the best.
To help you pick the right probiotics for you, we’ve scoured the web for reviews and recommendations. Here are the highest rated probiotics for women:
1. Swanson Lactobacillus Rhamnosus Veg Capsules (5 billion CFU)
Recommended for: Digestive Health
If you’re a vegetarian and have digestive health issues, this probiotics might be right for you. Wrapped in acid-resistant vegetable capsules, it’s 5 billion live microorganisms have a higher chance of reaching your digestive tract. This makes them more effective in addressing digestion issues like diarrhea, and IBS.
Learn more about it here.
2. Renew Life Adult Probiotics (30 Billion cfu)
Recommended for: Digestive Health
Made specifically for people aged 50 and up, this probiotic supplement is formulated with 12 probiotic strains and has 30 billion live active cultures. It contains bifidobacteria – a type of good bacteria that decreases as you age. This helps restore digestive balance which helps regulate digestion.
Learn more about it here.
3. Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Women’s Probiotics (50 billion cfu)
Recommended for: Digestive Health, Vaginal Health, Immune Health
A probiotic blend specially formulated for women’s health, Garden of Life Women’s Probiotics contains 16 strains. But aside from addressing various women’s health issues, it’s also a shelf stable probiotic. Meaning, the 50 billion colony forming units (CFU) will still be viable even if without refrigeration. So even if you just put it in your kitchen counter or even your gym bag, they will still be effective.
Learn more about it here.
4. Bio Schwartz Extra Strength Probiotics (65 Billion cfu)
Recommended for: Digestive Health, Weight Management
Aside from probiotics, this supplement also has prebiotics – compounds that help bacteria grow. They provide food for the probiotics and help them multiply in your guts. This helps in the faster colonization of your gut and for better absorption of nutrients.
Learn more about it here.
5. Renew Life Ultimate Flora Women’s Care Probiotic (25 Billion CFU)
Recommended for: Vaginal Health, Digestive Health, Immune Health, Urinary Health
With its acid-resistant vegetarian capsules, this probiotic supplement is vegan-friendly too. Not only that, it also contains 12 clinically-studied strains that help maintain healthy vaginal pH and yeast levels among other benefits.
Learn more about it here.
6. Probiotic Pearls Acidophilus Daily Probiotic Supplement (1 Billion cfu)
Recommended for: Digestive Health
Formulated with two of the most studied strains for digestive health, this probiotic supplement is excellent for maintaining digestive balance. It’s also great at preventing bloating, constipation, and other digestive discomfort.
Learn more about it here.
7. Physician’s Choice Probiotics for Women (60 Billion CFU)
Recommended for: Digestive Health, Vaginal Health, Immune Health, Urinary Health
Another supplement that uses veggie capsules, this women’s probiotics aren’t just great for digestive and vaginal health. It also contains natural ingredients that help prevent urinary system infection in women. It also comes in probiotic capsules that are specially designed to protect the live cultures from sunlight and oxygen without needing refrigeration.
Learn more about it here.
How to Choose the Right Women Probiotics for You
The above list are just suggestions of probiotic brands that are beneficial for women. But if none of those brands work for you, here are our tips on how to choose the right probiotics for you.
1. Pick the Right Strain
As mentioned, there are thousands of probiotic strains out there – each with their own benefits. So if you want to get the most out of your supplement, choosing the right strain is essential.
Before choosing a strain, however, you first need to identify your health goals and needs. For instance, if you’re bloated or suffer from frequent bouts of diarrhea, you need to pick a strain that’s clinically proven to address digestion issues. Or if you have a mild case of bacterial vaginosis, you need a strain that helps boost your immune system and restores balance to your vaginal flora.
So how do you know which strain is right for you? We’ve listed below some of the most recommended strains for women’s health. But of course, the most effective trick is to do your own research. There are lots of available studies on the web that will give you an idea what a particular strain is good for. Better yet, ask your doctor.
2. Look at the CFU
CFU stands for colony forming units. It refers to the number of viable probiotics in a sample. For a probiotic to be considered viable, they must reach your gut alive. The more live probiotics that will reach your gut, the faster the colonization process will be. In short, the higher the CFU count, the more effective a supplement is.
3. Consider the Delivery System
Aside from the strain and CFU count, the probiotic’s delivery system will also affect a supplement’s effectiveness. Delivery system in probiotics refers to how the probiotic bacteria is delivered to your guts.
Most probiotic supplements are in capsules while others are available in tablets or lozenges. But if the capsule or tablet isn’t designed to protect the live bacteria culture within them, only very few of them will reach your guts alive. Many probiotic supplements today have enteric coatings and are shelf stable though so choosing a good one will be easy.
The Best Probiotic Strains for Women
If you have no idea which strains you should look for, these are the best probiotic strains for women’s health as per studies:
1. Lactobacillus Rhamnosus
This particular strain has been widely studied and is particularly associated with digestive health. It’s well-suited to survive in the acidic environment of your gut and adheres to your intestinal walls.
This helps them reduce gut permeability thus preventing inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS).
Several studies have also found this strain to have promising effects on mental health. Evidence demonstrates that it helps reduce anxiety and depression. A randomized 2001 study also orally administered L. rhamnosus to forty-two women for 28 days. Results confirm its potential efficacy in restoring and maintaining a normal vaginal flora.
2. Lactobacillus Fermentum
As its name suggested, this probiotic strain causes fermentation and is widely used in food manufacturing. It’s also abundant in cheese products. Like L. rhamnosus, this strain is also effective in maintaining a normal vaginal flora.
Several studies have also found it to have anti-aging properties by slowing down the oxidation process. It releases your body’s glutathione which facilitates the recovery of inflamed tissues. Oxidation is a normal bodily process but may cause premature aging and may even lead to cancer. L. fermentum helps you avoid that and maintain a youthful look.
3. Lactobacillus Reuteri
If you’re suffering from frequent bouts of inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), this probiotic strain is for you. Most strains help prevent the occurrence of IBS to a certain degree but L. reuteri tops them all. It balances your gut’s tryptophan levels thus preventing most damages caused by IBS.
Recent studies also found that L. reuteri is one of the most ideal probiotics for vaginal health. It can withstand a wide range of vaginal PH environments allowing it to effectively colonize the bad bacteria. This helps prevent urogenital diseases and bacterial vaginosis in women. A randomized study in 2008 also showed that it can restore normal vaginal flora in postmenopausal women. This makes it a great supplement if you want a more PH-balanced vagina.
4. Lactobacillus Acidophilus
For women, weight struggle is a common dilemma. If you’re looking for natural ways to combat obesity, this probiotic strain should be on your list.
It’s mainly found in your intestines and produces lactase which converts sugar into lactic acid. It helps lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels. This helps in easier and better weight management.
A good amount of evidence also suggests that it can help treat and prevent vaginal infections. The lactic acid it produces prevents the growth of harmful bacteria in your vagina. Several studies found that taking it as a supplement is more effective than sourcing it out from your foods.
5. Lactobacillus Plantarum
This is a pretty common probiotic strain and one of the most studied. It’s abundant in most fermented foods as well as in human saliva. Mainly used for improving gut health, recent studies also found that it helps with weight loss too. It’s also great for regulating immune responses making it great for those struggling with acne.
In a 2017 study, researchers found that freeze-dried L. Plantarum enhances the absorption of iron in young women.
New evidence also suggests that it helps women with recurring vulvovaginal candidiasis. It attaches to the vaginal epithelial cells thus reducing the adhesion of Candida albicans. This process also improves the lactobacilli population in the vaginal area. A more balanced vaginal microbiota also leads to an improved vaginal pH value.
6. Lactobacillus Brevis
Commonly found in milk products, this probiotic strain is mainly used for making wine and beer. However, research shows that it’s got promising benefits for women’s health too.
A randomized controlled trial in Iran subjected 81 women to L. Brevis treatment for 118 days. These women were suffering from recurring genital herpes infection. No clinically important events were recorded at the end of the trial. But researchers concluded that the strain can play a significant role in suppressing it.
7. Lactobacillus Salivarius
A recent study conducted in Spain speculated on the efficacy of L. Salivarius in treating GBS infection in pregnant women. Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a bacterial infection in the vaginal and rectal areas of pregnant women. It can be passed on to the baby during delivery. Infants with GBS may suffer from unstable heart and blood pressure, sepsis, pneumonia, and kidney problems.
The experiment lasted 38 weeks and concluded promising results. 72% of the volunteers were tested negative for GBS after the trial. This leads the researchers to believe that the L. Salivarius strain might hold the key for eradicating GBS in pregnant women.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a firm believer in the health benefits of probiotics and she wants to share that with the world. She also loves to write about healthy foods and other healthy living tips.
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