To keep your digestion in top shape, it's a good idea to add more probiotic foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir to your daily meals. But if these foods aren't your favorite or you can't have them every day, a probiotic supplement might be the next best choice. With so many options out there, it's important to know how to pick the right one. Let's break it down.

Top Probiotic Strains

The number of bacteria, often measured in colony-forming units (CFUs), isn't the most critical factor in whether a probiotic supplement will work. What matters more is the variety of strains included. Different strains have different functions that work together for better health. Look for supplements with at least these three strains:

L. acidophilus

B. longum

B. bifidum

Depending on your health concerns, you might want additional strains. For example, L. rhamnosus, and L. fermentum.

Soil-Based Probiotics

Historically, we have gotten many of our probiotics from our foods, and specifically from the microorganisms that live in the soil where food is grown. But modern mass farming methods and increased fear of “germs” have stripped a lot of these natural organisms from our food.

Look for a probiotic supplement that contains soil-based probiotic strains:

B.subtilis DE111, which promotes a healthy digestive tract

B. coagulans LactoSpore, which promotes gastrointestinal and digestive comfort.

Yeast-Based Probiotics

Many people don’t realize a healthy gut requires more than just a healthy balance of bacteria. You need a healthy balance of yeast, as well.

If you can find a probiotic supplement that also includes yeast-based strains like S. boulardii or S. cerevisiae, that can help crowd out the undesirable year that you don’t want in your gut.

Delivery System and Packaging

A good supplement needs a delivery system that keeps the bacteria alive as they pass through the harsh environment of the stomach and gets them to the intestines where they work best.

Check for packaging details that protect bacteria from light, heat, and moisture. Opaque bottles or blister packs are ideal.

Expiration Dates

A clear expiration date is a promise from the manufacturer that the bacteria will stay active until then. Always choose supplements with visible expiration dates, and be wary of those without this information.

Money-Back Guarantee

A company that believes in its product will offer a money-back guarantee. This ensures that you can trust the effectiveness of the supplement.

Choosing the right probiotic doesn't have to be confusing. Just follow these guidelines, and you'll be on your way to better digestive health.

One of our top choices for probiotic supplements is Gut Restore Advanced, which combines 11 different strains of lactic acid-, soil-, and yeast-based organisms, along with a fermented botanical blend to support the work of the probiotics.