How to Choose a Probiotic for Women’s Health

The term “probiotic” has become a buzzword in the health and wellness community. So, are probiotics all they’re cracked up to be? Are they the end-all-be-all for women’s health? Truth is not all probiotics are created equal. And, not everyone needs a probiotic. It’s important to know how to choose a probiotic for women’s health to best reap their benefits, not waste your time and money.

What are Probiotics?

Probiotics are living microorganisms that live within the body. When consumed via food or supplementation, probiotics are proven to improve your digestive health, immune function, and overall women’s health. They help maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the body and gut to help ward of the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria. 

While probiotics can be beneficial to our overall health, it’s worth noting they are not a silver bullet. Every body is different and can react differently to various probiotic strains. Adding in more bacteria (in the form of probiotics) may have the opposite effect of what you’re looking for, especially when too many probiotics are taken too quickly. It’s important to identify why you are looking for a probiotic and what outcome you’re hoping to achieve before blindly supplementing.

How Probiotics Get Their Names 

You’ve probably noticed all probiotic strains claim long, fancy names. But, there is a method to the madness! Each name is strategically determined by three factors: it’s genus, species, and strain. For example, let’s look at Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14):

Genus– Lactobacillus

Species– Acidophilus

Strain– La-14 

Breaking down the name of probiotic strains can help you better understand how to use each. 

How to Find the Best Probiotic 

As with all supplements, not all probiotics are created equal. Learn how to choose a probiotic before blindly supplementing. When choosing a probiotic supplement, consider the following: 

• Strains– A single strain often serves as targeted support (for a specific health imbalance), while multiple strains serve as a broad-spectrum tool to improve overall wellness and gut health.
• CFU Count– Always look for a high CFU count (at least 1 billion CFU per strain of bacteria).
• Quality– Look for verification of third-party testing by identifying one or more third party labels, such as GMP or NST, on the supplement bottle. This helps guarantee the quality of the supplement.

When searching for the perfect probiotic, it’s wise to work with a functional practitioner who can help you. By assessing your imbalances and deficiencies, a professional can help you identify the best probiotic for your health!

The Most Beneficial Probiotic Strains

In general, these are the most beneficial probiotic strains available through supplementation. When looking for general probiotic support, look for products that contain these strains:

• Lactobaccilus Acidophilus La-14– This common strain helps maintain vaginal pH, prevent vaginal infections, and support overall gut health
• Bacillus Coagulans Unique IS-2 – This spored-based strain that helps reduce a variety of IBS symptoms, including bloating, constipation, abdominal pain. 
• Lactobacillus Rhamnosus GR-1 & Lactobacillus Reuteri RC-14: Both of these strains are beneficial for vaginal health, including the prevention of bacterial vaginosis and yeast infections.
• Lactobacillus Rhamnosus PB01– This strain has been shown to possibly improve sperm motility.
• Saccharomyces Boulardii– While technically a yeast, this “strain” is best for treating diarrhea, restoring gut health after antibiotics, supporting immune function, reducing the presence of H. pylori, and reducing inflammation.

Many over-the-counter probiotic products will contain one or more of these beneficial strains. For targeted support, I recommend working with a practitioner!

Foods with Highest Probiotic Content

As always, I highly recommend taking a food first approach to health. Luckily, there are many foods rich in probiotics, such as: 

• Grass-fed yogurt
• Kimchi
• Sauerkraut
• Kefir
• Pickles 

Start by adding one serving of probiotics to your diet per day and slowly increase your daily servings to reap the most benefits of these probiotic-rich foods.

Probiotics are, in fact, beneficial in many cases. They can serve as targeted support for a variety of imbalances or improve general health. However, the quality of your probiotic supplement greatly matters. Save this guide to better understand how to choose a probiotic for women’s health!