Beauty
Cameras
Health
Household goods
PCs and laptops
Home appliances and electronics
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Mom and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Home improvement and tools
Smartphones and tablets
Banking and finance
Insurance
Audio
Smartphone applications
Others
If you're looking to improve your gut health, taking probiotic supplements is the way to go. Aside from supporting your gut health, probiotics positively influence your mental and even emotional health.
For those who are considering taking probiotic supplements for the first time, we know that choosing the best one out of all the hundreds of probiotic supplements could be a challenge. Let us help you with that! We have a reviewed buying guide with comments from registered nutritionist dietitian Samantha Morales, plus our top 10 picks for the best probiotic supplements you can get now!
Samantha began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Aside from exercising and eating well, an extra step that you could do to boost your health is to add taking probiotics to your daily routine. Here are some of its benefits:
Probiotics include "friendly" bacteria that have different benefits for your health. Probiotic supplements contain live organisms that fight off the harmful bacteria in your digestive system. Basically, it makes sure that there is a natural balance of gut bacteria in order to prevent digestive diseases.
Probiotics are live microorganisms that live in our gut and provide overall support in our digestion and immunity. There are different bacterial strains that help ease or improve certain digestive issues or symptoms. Besides supporting gut health, probiotics improve mental, cognitive, heart, and even vaginal health.
Another well-known benefit of probiotics is its treatment of diarrhea. Most probiotic strains help treat, prevent, or at the very least, reduce the symptoms of diarrhea among children and adults. This includes contagious ones such as the rotavirus disease, as well as antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Probiotics promote better digestive health. There are a number of researches showing the effectiveness of certain strains of bacteria against inflammation of the intestines, diarrhea symptoms, and even constipation relief.
A number of probiotic strains can improve certain digestive disorders. This includes inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS) and other diseases related to the digestive system. Aside from that, probiotics also address yeast and urinary tract infections, depending on the strains present in the supplements.
Every probiotic strain offers different health benefits. To address a specific health concern, choose the right probiotic based on your condition. There are mainly 2 species of probiotics which are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. These two extensively studied species have shown tremendous health benefits on our immune system, digestive health, mental health, weight management, just to name a few.
If you have some specific health concerns or are unsure about your condition, it is best to consult with your medical provider for proper advice. Although probiotic supplements are generally safe, it may interfere or can be interfered with by food, other vitamins, other supplements, and medicines that you take, and your existing condition, which may pose side effects in the long run.
What should you consider before buying a probiotic supplement? What form, which type of good bacteria, how many colony forming units, and which brand should you pick? The next sections will give a detailed breakdown of these questions.
Each probiotic strain offers different health benefits, so a mixture of strains would be more beneficial than a single strain supplement. Lactobacillus is the most common probiotic, and it is usually found in yogurt and other fermented or cultured food. It produces lactase and lactic acid, which help you break down food, prevent diarrhea, and resist or fight off infections that may cause digestive disorders. This species is known to support gut, vaginal, digestive, and immune health.
Certain strains have specific functions, so if you want to cover a wide variety of issues, a combination of different strains is the better choice.
Here are some examples of the benefits of strains:
The Colony Forming Units (CFU) of your probiotic supplement determine how much good bacteria you’re getting in each dose. 15-100 billion CFU is recommended, but it is best to start slowly and observe how probiotics affect your gut.
A higher CFU doesn't necessarily mean that the product has better results. It is also important to consider the combination of bacterial strains found in your supplements.
The recommended CFU depends on the age group and the current medical condition of a person. For instance:
Kids under 6 months - less than 1-2 billion CFU;
Kids aged 3 years and above - 4-25 billion CFU.
It's best to talk to your medical practitioner for proper assessment and CFU recommendation.
Although gummies and powders are a viable option for those with difficulties swallowing pills, these are usually high in sugar content and have artificial flavorings and colorings. Thus, capsulesーspecifically double encapsulated onesーare more recommendable. Double-encapsulated probiotic supplements also ensure better delivery of live bacteria to the gut.
When consuming probiotics, it's important to remember that they are live bacteria. During ingestion, the stomach's acidity can hinder their survival unless advanced technology like double encapsulation is used. The acidic environment of the stomach may prevent the bacteria from thriving.
Studies have shown that efficacy and delivery of the good bacteria are more important than the CFU, so it's best to choose a supplement from a brand that can ensure you are getting live bacteria. Simply put, a supplement with 15 billion CFU is not beneficial if it can't deliver live bacteria to your stomach.
The purity and effectiveness of the probiotic supplement are related to the manufacturing quality control and shelf-life. That's why when choosing probiotic supplements, it's best to choose brands backed up by medical research and medical trials. These can assure you that your probiotic supplement is effective and safe for your health.
Also, check the label for allergy information and make sure that it has an expiry date indicated on its label. If you are still unsure about which probiotic supplement to buy, it is best to consult your physician and ask for advice on which probiotic supplements would suit your needs.
Whenever I recommend supplements to my clients, I always advise them to look for a reputable company that practices good manufacturing processes (GMP) and undergoes third-party laboratory testing to ensure the purity and effectiveness of the product.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | Details | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Probiotic Strain | Multi-Strain | CFU Count | Best For | Suggested Dosage | Count Per Bottle/Box | ||||||
1 | Herbs of the Earth Probiotics 40 Billion CFU | ₱1,297 Mid | Comes With a Slow-Release Formula to Maximize Probiotic Absorption | L. acidophilus, B. lactis, L. plantarum, L. paracasei | 40 Billion | Gut Health | 1-2 Capsules Daily | 60 Capsules | |||
2 | Garden of Life Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Women's Shelf-Stable 30 Capsules | ₱1,790 High Mid | Contains a High Count of Beneficial Probiotics for Women | L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, L. brevis, L. reuteri, L. salivarius, L. fermentum, L. gasseri, L. rhamnosus, B. lactis, B. infantis, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. longum | 50 Billion | Women's Digestive Health and Vaginal Health | 1 Capsule Daily | 30 Capsules | |||
3 | Culturelle Digestive Daily Probiotic Capsules | ₱2,399 High | Prevent Stomach Problems While Traveling With This Daily Probiotic | L. rhamnosus GG | 10 Billion | Occasional Diarrhea, Gas, Bloating | 1 Capsule Daily | 80 Capsules | |||
4 | NewRhythm 50 Billion Probiotics Capsules | ₱1,328 Mid | Boost Gut Health and Enhance Overall Wellness Using This Supplement | L.acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. crispatus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, L. reuteri, L. casei, L. salivarius, L. helveticus, L. gasseri, B. lactus, B. bifidum, B. longum, B. breve, B. adolescentis, B. infantis, Leu. mesenteroides, Lc. lacti, S. thermophiles | 50 Billion | Gut Health | 2 Capsules Daily | 60 Capsules | |||
5 | Life-Space Urogen™ Probiotic for Women | ₱1,253 Mid | Multi-Strain Probiotic Designed to Improve Urinary Health for Women | L. rhamnosus HN001, L. plantarum, L. gasseri, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus (GR1) | 11 Billion | Vaginal and Urinary Health | 1 Capsule Daily | 60 Capsules | |||
6 | Physician's Choice 60 Billion Probiotic | ₱1,623.39 Mid | Supercharge Your Gut Health With 60 Billion CFUs Per Capsule | L. casei, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, L. salivarius, L. plantarum, B. lactis, B bifidum, B. longum, B. breve, L. bulgaricus | 60 Billion | Digestive Health | 1 Capsule Daily | 30 Capsules | |||
7 | NOW Foods Probiotic-10™ 25 Billion Veg Capsules | ₱969 Low Mid | Potent Probiotic Supplement That's Gentle on the Stomach | L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. salivarius, B. lactis, B. breve, B. longum, S. thermophilus | 25 Billion | Gut Health | 1-2 Capsules Daily | 50 Capsules | |||
8 | Thorne FloraSport 20B | ₱2,134.38 High Mid | Provides All-Around Gut Support for All Ages | L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, B. lactis, B. subtilis | 20 Billion | Gut Health, Reducing Gas and Bloating | 1 Capsule Daily | 30 Capsules | |||
9 | Health OK! Brand Multi Berry and Probiotics | ₱899 Low Mid | Enjoy Five Fruity Flavors With These Dissolvable Probiotic Packets | L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, B. bifidum, B. animalis ssp. lactis, B. breve, L. casei, L. rhamnosus | Not Specified | Gut Health | 2 Packets Daily | 60 Single-Serve Packets | |||
10 | Pharex Biome Gut Care | ₱700 Low | Offers Probiotic Relief Without Breaking the Bank | Saccharomyces boulardii | 5 Billion | Gut Health | 1 Capsule Daily | 20 Capsules |
Herbs of the Earth provides a proprietary blend of probiotic strains with 40 billion CFUs to deliver friendly bacteria to your body. Its patented Maktrek Bi-Pass time delayed-release technology also ensures that the probiotics reach your intestines intact. This maximizes their efficiency by 20 times compared to other products.
Formulated to support a healthy gut environment, these gluten-free capsules contain the powerful probiotic strain Lactobacillus acidophilus. It also includes Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus paracasei, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Customers swear that this supplement has been a game-changer for them, citing observed improvement in their digestion.
Probiotic Strain | L. acidophilus, B. lactis, L. plantarum, L. paracasei |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 40 Billion |
Best For | Gut Health |
Suggested Dosage | 1-2 Capsules Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 60 Capsules |
Probiotic Strain | L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, L. brevis, L. reuteri, L. salivarius, L. fermentum, L. gasseri, L. rhamnosus, B. lactis, B. infantis, B. bifidum, B. breve, B. longum |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 50 Billion |
Best For | Women's Digestive Health and Vaginal Health |
Suggested Dosage | 1 Capsule Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 30 Capsules |
Probiotic Strain | L. rhamnosus GG |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 10 Billion |
Best For | Occasional Diarrhea, Gas, Bloating |
Suggested Dosage | 1 Capsule Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 80 Capsules |
NewRhythm Probiotics promote a healthy gut balance for digestion and overall wellness with 20 proven strains. Packed with 50 billion CFUs per serving, these 60 capsules provide robust support for digestive health and immune function. Moreover, it's enriched with premium prebiotic fiber to aid probiotic growth and maintain intestinal activity.
The supplement also features 13 plant-based digestive enzymes to improve nutrient absorption and ease gas and bloating. Formulated in vegetarian capsules, it caters to various dietary preferences. Vegetarian buyers find the capsules inclusive and effective, particularly in improving their digestion.
Probiotic Strain | L.acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. crispatus, L. plantarum, L. paracasei, L. bulgaricus, L. reuteri, L. casei, L. salivarius, L. helveticus, L. gasseri, B. lactus, B. bifidum, B. longum, B. breve, B. adolescentis, B. infantis, Leu. mesenteroides, Lc. lacti, S. thermophiles |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 50 Billion |
Best For | Gut Health |
Suggested Dosage | 2 Capsules Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 60 Capsules |
From Life-Space, this probiotic has 11 billion CFUs per capsule with five strains of lactobacillus, each providing unique health benefits. One bottle contains 60 capsules designed to enhance urinary tract health and reduce the risk of cystitis. Additionally, its probiotic content helps maintain healthy vaginal flora.
In hard vege-capsule form, this supplement promotes urinary tract health by balancing bacteria. With added cranberry extract, it provides an extra layer of protection. Reviewers have reported reduced genital odor, with some claiming that the supplement cured their urinary tract infection (UTI).
Probiotic Strain | L. rhamnosus HN001, L. plantarum, L. gasseri, L. reuteri, L. rhamnosus (GR1) |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 11 Billion |
Best For | Vaginal and Urinary Health |
Suggested Dosage | 1 Capsule Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 60 Capsules |
Physician's Choice Dr. Formulated Probiotics are designed to support the digestive health of adult women and men. Tailored for maximum efficacy, this probiotic features a potent formulation of 60 billion CFUs per capsule. Made with natural ingredients, it includes ten proven probiotic strains for a healthy gut microbiome.
The probiotics in this formulation play a crucial role in supporting immune function, digestive balance, and overall well-being. Users praise these probiotics from Physicians' Choice for promoting digestive health. They also appreciate the ease of incorporating the 30-capsule supply into their daily routines.
Probiotic Strain | L. casei, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, L. salivarius, L. plantarum, B. lactis, B bifidum, B. longum, B. breve, L. bulgaricus |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 60 Billion |
Best For | Digestive Health |
Suggested Dosage | 1 Capsule Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 30 Capsules |
Probiotic Strain | L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. casei, L. paracasei, L. salivarius, B. lactis, B. breve, B. longum, S. thermophilus |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 25 Billion |
Best For | Gut Health |
Suggested Dosage | 1-2 Capsules Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 50 Capsules |
Probiotic Strain | L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, B. lactis, B. subtilis |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 20 Billion |
Best For | Gut Health, Reducing Gas and Bloating |
Suggested Dosage | 1 Capsule Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 30 Capsules |
Probiotic Strain | L. acidophilus, L. plantarum, B. bifidum, B. animalis ssp. lactis, B. breve, L. casei, L. rhamnosus |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | Not Specified |
Best For | Gut Health |
Suggested Dosage | 2 Packets Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 60 Single-Serve Packets |
Probiotic Strain | Saccharomyces boulardii |
---|---|
Multi-Strain | |
CFU Count | 5 Billion |
Best For | Gut Health |
Suggested Dosage | 1 Capsule Daily |
Count Per Bottle/Box | 20 Capsules |
The most common and accessible sources of lactobacillus are yogurts and probiotic drinks. Other less common sources are fermented food such as kimchi, cottage cheese, and miso soup. Bifidobacteria can be sourced from probiotic supplements, although they are also found in fruits such as berries and in fermented dairy products like yogurt and kefir.
Know which probiotic supplement to get but still unsure of when and how much to take? Below are Samantha Morales' answers to these questions and more!
It is best to take probiotics on an empty stomach or right before sleeping (at bedtime). But overall, it's best to check the manufacturer's instructions since some supplements are soil-based, which you may take with food, while others are enteric-coated, which means timing is less important since it can survive the acidity of the stomach.
There is not enough evidence proving that probiotics can cause yeast infections. In fact, probiotics are proven to be beneficial for yeast infections.
If you take probiotics in excess amounts and too fast, you may experience diarrhea. It's best to work your way up when taking this. For probiotic supplements, you may start at 1 capsule a day or best as directed by your medical practitioner.
Aside from probiotics, there are many other supplements out there that can help give you the nutrients that your body need. This list of articles will lead you to our other recommendation articles about various supplements available online.
Re-editor: J. Ausa
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Herbs of the Earth|Probiotics 40 Billion CFU
No. 2: Garden of Life|Dr. Formulated Probiotics Once Daily Women's Shelf-Stable 30 Capsules
No. 3: Culturelle|Digestive Daily Probiotic Capsules
No. 4: NewRhythm|50 Billion Probiotics Capsules
No. 5: Life-Space|Urogen™ Probiotic for Women
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Beauty
Cameras
Health
Household goods
PCs and laptops
Home appliances and electronics
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Mom and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Home improvement and tools
Smartphones and tablets
Banking and finance
Insurance
Audio
Smartphone applications
Others