If you ask most adults today what their personal goals are, you are most likely going to hear responses like they want to eat healthier, go to the gym more often, or lose weight. This shows that the majority of people, especially Americans are concerned about their weight and body shape, yet they have their diets to consist mainly of processed foods full of additives, chemicals, and harmful ingredients.
Because of these unhealthy and quick food options, the rate at which Americans gain weight is soaring high while depression and other mental disorders are also increasing in statistics. So what alternative option is available to remedy this problem that has taken many by storm? While consuming healthy foods that are free of chemicals and giving enough time to exercise is a great place to start, taking care of the billion microorganisms in your gut is also an essential component to consider. As a matter of fact, it becomes much easier to shed those extra pounds when you add some all-natural probiotics supplements to your daily routine.
What Exactly Are Probiotics?
I know you must have heard about probiotics before but might be wondering what they really are. Probiotics are live microorganisms which are often considered as “good bacteria” residing in your gut. This is because of the important roles they play in the digestive system where they help to fight the bad bacteria, therefore, helping you have a better health and well-being.
What Are the Benefits of Probiotics to Your Health?
Probiotics ensure an appropriate state of balance is maintained in the digestive system. When you take probiotics, there is a difference in the harmony and functioning of your digestive system. Apart from helping to cause a balance in the GI system, probiotics can also assist with some medical conditions like
- Anxiety and depression
- Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes
- IBS
- Autoimmune disorders
- Constipation
- Obesity and weight issues
- Oral health conditions
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Vaginal conditions, such as yeast infections
- Certain skin conditions like eczema
- Cold and allergies
There could be as much as 500 species of probiotics in the body of a healthy individual with around 50 trillion ‘good’ as well as ‘bad’ bacterial cells. You may be worried about bad bacteria but it is normal to have them too but a healthy balance must be maintained!
Probiotics are also great in helping to regulate around 70% of the body’s immune function, including hormones in women. It also assists the body with the production of such vitamins as vitamins A, K, and B1 among others.
What Are the Different Types of Probiotics?
There are several types of probiotics available today. Bur for the sake of simplicity and time, below are just a few of the most common ones, and they include:
- Lactobacillus: this is probably the most common probiotic. You can find it in most fermented foods and yogurts. Certain Lactobacillus strains are helpful in alleviating diarrhea.
- Bifidobacterium: bifido is another popular type of probiotic there is. When it comes to dealing with some health conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), this bacterial strain is particularly thought to be helpful
- Saccharomyces boulardii: this another type of yeast and a probiotic. It is very helpful with digestive problems like diarrhea.
Can probiotics really help with weight loss?
As obesity continues to rise and becoming increasingly common, especially among the Americans, people are now desperately in search for a perfect way that will help them combat their sedentary lifestyles as well as the imbalances in their energy output versus their food consumption.
Studies have, however, stated that certain kinds of probiotics can be very useful in helping to regulate our weight. They can be particularly helpful in the fight against belly fat.
When you take probiotics, it can help you reduce the number of calories your body absorbs from your diet. There have been some few studies that have validated the claim that some certain probiotics, especially the ones from the Lactobacillus family have the ability to make your body to extract fewer calories from the food you eat. This, it was able to achieve by limiting absorption of fat in such diet.
Probiotics can also help promote the absorption of the beneficial nutrients present in your diet. They can positively affect hormones and proteins that have to do with appetite and fat storage, and can also help tackle the problems of inflammation which can increase your chance of becoming overweight or obese.
Probiotics have also been linked with an increased release of the GLP-1 hormones, which are the hormones responsible for making you feel full and suppressing your appetite. Another hormone that increases with taking probiotics is the ANGPTL4 hormone that decreases the amount of fat your body stores.
One important probiotic which has also shown a great deal of potential when it comes to weight loss is Lactobacillus gasseri. In a study where some participants accepted to take this probiotic, it was recorded that there was about 8.5% reduction in the amount of belly fat of this participants.
It may also surprise you that probiotics are not only great for helping you lose that extra bag of weights, they can also be useful in preventing you from gaining extra weight in the first place.
Now that you know what a probiotic is and how it can be helpful in helping you to lose weight and also prevent you from gaining extra weight, then you be thinking of the best ways to include more of these tiny microorganisms in your diet. Apart from stocking up on yogurt, some fermented foods like kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut to add more probiotics to your diet, another good way to do this is by taking probiotic supplements.
There may be dozens of probiotic supplements on the market, but you should know that there are different strains contained in different supplements and some may not be associated with overall gut health. In this article, I will also be giving you some probiotic supplement I think it’s the best on the market right now based on their constituents, potency, safety, and users’ reviews. I will also be giving you some tips to help you when purchasing probiotics for weight loss.
Probiotic supplements for weight loss
Based on constituents, potency, safety!
| Probiotic Product | Type | Dose per Day | Live Cultures Guarantee | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Renew Life-Ultimate Flora | Capsules | One | 50 Billion | |
| Digestive Advantage | Chewable gummy | Four | 250 Million | |
| Pro-15 | Capsules | One | 5 Billion | |
| Pro 45 | Capsules | One | 45 Billion | |
| Better Body | Capsules | Two | 5 Billion | |
| Nordic Naturals | Capsules | Two | 15 Billion |
1 .
Has more than 50 billion live cultures
>> Renew Life-Ultimate Flora Probiotic
While many may think this probiotic came first on this review of ‘the best 7 probiotics on the market’ because of its popularity, it may also interest you to know that fame was not only the factor that pushed this probiotic to the first on this list.
The Renew Life-Ultimate Flora Probiotic is not only popular among the many probiotic available on the market today, but it is also one of the very few probiotics that contain at least 50 billion live cultures in each capsule with strains of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus which are well known for their ability to aid weight loss.
It is a probiotic of the highest quality. This probiotic is not only gluten-free but also dairy and soy-free and so have become a great choice for anyone looking to enjoy the amazing health benefits locked up in probiotics. You will need to take one of these capsules every day to start experiencing the awesome effects of a healthier digestive tract, including helping to lose those extra weights.
By helping to boost energy levels and soothing digestive problems, such as cramps and bloating, many people have found the Renew Life-Ultimate Flora Probiotic to be a great hand when it comes to losing weight. Also, according to the reviews of many people who had used this probiotic for weight loss, most of them recorded that it does not only help them lose weight but also impacted every area of the general well-being, including helping to alleviate brain fog.
Another interesting about this probiotic is that uses delayed-release capsule. What this means is that it makes sure the microorganisms actually find their way into your gut and also thrive there to help you enjoy their full benefit.
Renew Life-Ultimate Flora Probiotic actually contains 12 probiotic strains making up the 50 billion blends of strains, including such strains as Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium breve.
The probiotic also contains a 30 billion blend of such strains as Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus pantarum, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus rhamnosus.
Why I like it
- It is gluten-free, soy-free, and dairy-free
- You are required to only take one capsule daily
- It employs delayed release to make sure the microorganisms are delivered to your gut
- Great for weight loss
What needs attention
- You may need to refrigerate it always
- Not vegetarian-friendly
2 .
Best gummy probiotic
>> Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotic
Are you looking for an easy and delicious way to get your daily probiotics while you still target your specific digestive health needs? Then you may find Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotic to be a really great option. This probiotic is gummy and could help to lessen minor abdominal discomfort, relieve occasional diarrhea, and bloating.
You may also be wondering aren’t gummies added sugar and calories, and so are unhealthy? That is not the case of this probiotic. It makes it fun adding probiotics to your diet to enhance weight loss, especially if you are the type that has issues with swallowing pills. Gummies are not only great for adults, but they are also fun and save for kids.
There are different flavors packed in the bottle of Digestive Advantage Daily Probiotic so that you might easily find your preferred flavor whether it is grape, lemon, orange and many more. What better way to lose weight with fun?
Unlike the Renew Life-Ultimate Flora probiotics earlier mentioned in this review where you are only required to take just a capsule daily, you may need to chew up to 4 gummies of Digestive Advantage daily for effective weight loss and overall health support. However, that should not be a problem. Remember they are gummies, so it’s going to be fun all the way!
Another thing you may find interesting about this probiotic is that it is convenient and doesn’t need to be refrigerated or taken with water. However, what many reviews have pointed out to be a turn off about the probiotic is that it contains SOY. If you are allergic to soy, you may want to stay away from this and consider other probiotics for weight loss.
Combing through lots of reviews about this product, some people also complained about the product not being diverse or potent as it only contains one probiotic strain and 250 million live cultures. At the same time, it can be rather expensive if you will have to take up to 4 gummies per day.
Why I like it
- They are gummies so it’s super convenient to take
- It’s great for both kids and adults
- Comes in several flavors
- You can take without water and no need for refrigeration
What needs attention
- It contains soy
- You will need to take 4 gummies daily which may be expensive
- Contains only 250 million live cultures
3 .
Fast and convenient
>> Pro-15 Advanced Strength Probiotic
This is a Hyperbiotics product that has also gained so much fame among the various weight loss probiotics on the market today. It is very convenient to consume as the capsules are reasonable small to allow easy swallowing. Apart from aiding weight loss, this probiotic also has a wide variety of benefits accompanying it.
Even though this probiotic is not specifically aimed at weight loss, the probiotic strains included in the product do a lot to reduce weight, improve liver health and reduce cholesterol. After a few days of taking the Pro-15 Advanced Strength Probiotic, you should start noticing a reduced appetite and feel less bloated.
With the Pro-15 Advanced Strength Probiotic, it is much easier to achieve a reduction in obesity without the need to change your routine. Combined with the right diet and exercise, this probiotic has been recorded by many users to be the magic they need to lose weight.
It contains 5 billion live cultures, including Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli strains which are popular for their weight loss effect on the body. Apart from helping to shed some extra pounds, the Pro-15 Advanced Strength Probiotic also gives some relief from flatulence, constipation and other related problems.
Why I like it
- Capsules are reasonably small so it’s easy to swallow
- Help get a quick result
- Provides relief from other problems like constipation and bloating
- It has a positive effect on the skin
What needs attention
- The weight loss varies from user to user
- You may experience fatigue
4 .
Great for weight loss and specific ailments
>> Pro45 Live Probiotics
The Pro45 Live Probiotic has been a probiotic that has taken just a half space in my heart. It has some really good features to it but there are also some things I found non-interesting about the probiotic. However, I will quickly go over some of its pros and its cons to give you a good idea of what it is and perhaps the reason it featured on this list.
The Pro45 Live Probiotic is a clinical grade formula. What this means is that aside from helping to aid weight loss, it will also be a great option for people with specific ailments like digestive disorders. It helps relieve IBS and cause you to be less bloated.
Each capsule of Pro45 Live Probiotic contains 45 billion live cultures in 11 probiotic strains. It also uses delayed capsules like the Renew Life-Ultimate Flora which makes it more efficient as it is delivered directly to the intestinal tract while escaping the stomach acid.
It includes a prebiotic fiber, which enhances the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli strains which are the two major bacteria in the product. These two bacterial strains are well known for their effect on digestion and how they promote weight loss.
The capsules are easy to swallow, vegetarian-friendly, natural and allergy friendly. It’s soy free, gluten free and also free of preservatives.
However, this product may not be among the affordable ones on the market. Compared to other average probiotic presently on the market, the Pro45 Live Probiotic is way more priced. It is only recommended for use by people above the age of 18 so it may not be very safe for your kids.
Why I like it
- Convenient to use as it only requires one capsule daily
- It’s vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free and does not contain soy
- Includes prebiotic fibers
- Uses delayed capsules
- It is a clinical grade formula
What needs attention
- It super expensive
- Not safe for kids
5 .
One of the most affordable you can find
>> Better Body Probiotic
This probiotic is also a product of Hyperbiotics and contains some probiotics which are carefully hand-picked to help shed extra weight as well as deal with problems associated with obesity. Better Body Probiotic also contains white kidney bean extract which is well known for its ability to help block carbohydrate absorption.
The probiotic, while making you feel energetic, increase satiety and reduce your food cravings, it becomes a great help for losing weight. Within a few fortnights of using this product, you should start seeing some results and you would not have to stop consuming starchy foods because the kidney bean extract present in it takes care of that.
If you are the type that suffers from underactive or weak thyroid (hypothyroidism), this might be your best choice for losing weight. However, you should also know that if you keep your starch consumption at the same level as before, you may experience some flatulence and bloating. But if you remain on a normal diet or cut down the consumption of starchy foods, it should help you take care of bloating and some other associated symptoms, and therefore, after all, give you a refreshed feeling.
Just like many other probiotics on this list and also on the market, the Better Body Probiotic contains up to 5 billion live cultures with strains like Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria included.
Why I like it
- Active for helping you deal with weight and obesity-related problems
- It is super affordable
- You don’t need to completely stop starchy foods
- Perfect for weight loss even if you have hypothyroidism
- Helps with cramps, bloating, etc.
What needs attention
- White kidney bean extract may be an allergy to some people
6 .
The best natural probiotic
>> Nordic Naturals Probiotic
There are a couple of things that interest me about this probiotic that made me eventually include it in this review. Apart from the fact that the capsules are natural (of course, that’s what the name implies), it is also very allergy friendly. If you are allergic to some allergens like soy, milk, corn, wheat, and gluten, you wouldn’t have any problem choosing this probiotic as your preferred choice for weight loss.
The capsules do not contain added flavors or colors and are non-GMO. They are also vegetarian-friendly and natural.
Again, unlike many probiotics that you have to keep refrigerated, the Nordic Naturals Probiotic don’t have to be refrigerated and so lift off the burden of worrying if your microbes are at the right temperature or alive off your shoulder. The probiotic also has included in it a prebiotic called Fructooligosaccharides (FOS). This ensures the probiotic stay alive as the prebiotic serves as food to them so you can get the utmost result for your weight loss.
However, the downside I don’t like about the product is that it may not be safe for your kids. If you are considering helping your kids maintain a healthy weight by shedding some pounds, the Nordic Naturals Probiotic may not be the best option to consider.
When it also comes to cost, the probiotic is a bit on the high side compared to some other products on the market. But the probiotic contains averagely sized capsules so getting them down your throat may not be much of a problem. However, you will be required to take 2 of these capsules daily.
Overall, I see this probiotic as a good pick when you want to lose weight as it contains up to 12 billion live cultures, including 13 different strains of weight loss enhancing bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lungum.
Why I like it
- It is Allergen-free
- Vegetarian-friendly
- Contains 12 billion live cultures
- Very natural with averagely sized capsules
- You don’t have to refrigerate
What needs attention
- It is not safe for kids
- It is costly
I wouldn’t want to close this review without giving you some hints that could be of help when buying your probiotics. Do you know what to look out for in them, in case you are not going for any of the six probiotics I have recommended above? Below are some tips and tricks you should adopt when purchasing a probiotic, especially for weight loss.
Ensure you check the culture count.
This is the amount of live culture present in your preferred probiotic. Go for a probiotic that has least 5 billion Colony Forming Units (CFU’s) in them. The fact remains that the more CFU’S the probiotic contains, the better!
Check the kind of strains included in it
You are looking to lose weight with the probiotic, so ensure you are picking the one that has the correct combination of microbial strains for weight loss and also see that you are getting different types of this as much as possible to get the full spectrum of benefits.
Check what kind of coating the capsules have
See that the capsules are coated with acid-resistant coatings. This will protect them against harsh stomach acids as they find their way to your gut.
What is the shelf life?
No doubt, the potency of a probiotic supplement reduces with time, so ensure you get a bottle that’s is easy to constantly refrigerate. It should also have a further expiry date.
Carefully read through the label
You will, no doubt, want to go for a probiotic supplement with natural vitamins and minerals instead of fillers. So, check the label well to make sure you are going for the best.
Check to see if prebiotics are included
For probiotics to remain alive, they will require some kind of fuel to help them do what they know best to do. Try to opt for a probiotic supplement that contains prebiotics to serve as food for probiotics in your gut.
What is the required daily dose?
Probiotics are required to be taken daily because they are not designed to remain for a long time in your system. So, to make it easier for you to remember to take your doses, it is advisable you opt for a supplement that allows you to only once in a day.
