How to Choose a Probiotic for Your Health Goals

From busy schedules to self-care routines, finding the right probiotic for you can make all the difference in supporting your health goals. Choosing a probiotic can seem intimidating; there are so many options; how do you pick the best probiotic for you? That's where we can help!

This article will provide some guidance on how to choose a probiotic tailored to your unique health needs and lifestyle. The Nature Made Probiotic Collection provides a variety of probiotic supplements to help you meet diverse health goals.^†

Why Probiotics Matter for Your Health Goals

Probiotics are a great way to support your gut microbiome. It’s a complex system of diverse bacteria strains within your entire digestive system, playing an important role in digestion. Supporting your gut health contributes to your overall well-being!

Everyone has had those days where occasional digestive issues can damper a good mood. Probiotics can help support your gut and support things like digestion, immune response, and occasional stomach upset. How do you know if probiotics are working? Depending on the strain of the probiotic, the effects can be different. That’s why it’s important to identify your health goals before picking a probiotic.

Identifying Your Health Goals

Our first tip for how to choose probiotics is identifying the health goals you want to address. Everyone's health goals are different, so knowing what is important to you can help you find the probiotic strain and product that might work best for you.

Nature Made^® recommends discussing probiotic supplementation with your primary healthcare provider before adding it to your daily wellness routine; they are most knowledgeable about your wellness needs and can help you determine if probiotics can benefit you and which ones might fit your specific goals.

Digestive Health

• Digestive health is one of the most common reasons people are increasingly interested in probiotic supplementation. Certain strains of probiotic bacteria can help address common digestive concerns like occasional bloating, irregularity, or gastric discomfort. Look for probiotic strains that have been specifically studied for digestive health concerns, like the ones below: ^†
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG: This clinically studied probiotic supports digestive balance and healthy gut flora and helps relieve occasional gas, bloating, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort in the small intestine.^†
• Bifidobacterium lactis HN019: This helps relieve occasional constipation and irregularity by working in the large intestine and supports a healthy gut microbiome and digestive balance.^†

Both probiotic strains are included in Nature Made^® Extra Strength Probiotics Capsules, which can be an excellent choice for individuals with busy schedules looking for clinically studied probiotic supplementation.^†

Immune System Support

Our gut microbiome isn't only crucial for digestion—did you know that 70% of your immune system is in your gut? Some probiotic strains can support the immune system year-round.^†

• Bifidobacterium animalis lactis BB-12: This clinically studied probiotic supports a healthy immune system, supports digestive health, and promotes regularity.^†

Included in our Probiotics 1 Billion CFU Capsules, this strain is a good choice for working professionals, parents, or frequent travelers.^†

Occasional Discomfort Relief

Every once in a while, our stomachs can disagree with us. That can manifest as occasional gas, bloating, or discomfort after meals. If you're looking for occasional digestive discomfort relief, check the label for this strain:^†

• Bacillus coagulans IS-2: This clinically studied probiotic adds good bacteria to your digestive tract and helps relieve occasional gas, bloating, burping, abdominal discomfort, and indigestion.^†

This probiotic strain is included in Nature Made^® Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber Gummies alongside prebiotic fiber to nourish good bacteria. This is a convenient choice for anyone looking for a digestive probiotic and a good source of prebiotic fiber in one supplement.^†

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Probiotic

When sorting through your options to choose our best probiotic for you, it's good to know what exactly to look for. Here are some significant factors to help you decide which probiotic to use.

Species, Genus, and Strain

Here’s a tip for how to choose a probiotic by looking at the label: choose a probiotic that clearly labels what genus, species, and strain of probiotic bacteria is included.

For example, the Bacillus (genus) coagulans (species) IS-2 (strain) mentioned above. The label should get that specific to let you know if the specific strain has been clinically studied for the listed benefit. You can reference the strains with those listed above to help you find a probiotic strain that addresses your specific wellness goals.

CFU Count

Each probiotic should list its "CFU Count" on the label. What is CFU? CFU stands for "Colony Forming Unit." Put simply, it's the amount of viable live microorganisms included in a serving of the probiotic by its expiration date if stored properly.[1]

A higher CFU isn't necessarily better; the benefits listed on a probiotic supplement are tested at the dosage listed on the label, so a lower dose can still provide those benefits.[2]

Quality and Clear Labeling

Any probiotic you buy should be made with high-quality ingredients and clear, informative labeling. Nature Made^® Probiotics are sourced from high-quality, science-backed ingredients, and we are committed to products with clear and communicative labeling.

How Probiotics Fit Into Different Lifestyles

Wondering how to get the most out of taking probiotics? The key is to take them consistently every day and find a probiotic that works with your lifestyle. We all have different lifestyles and different needs. Thankfully, Nature Made^® offers several probiotic options to fit perfectly into your lifestyle. Here are a few options to think about to match how you live your unique life.

The Busy Professional

When we're busy, sometimes it's good to have digestive support. Nature Made^® Probiotics 1 Billion CFU Capsules support a healthy immune system and promote regularity. That way, you can get daily support without the hassle.^†

The Wellness Enthusiast

As all wellness enthusiasts know, supplements are just one part of taking care of yourself. Support your balanced diet and exercise routine with Probiotics Extra-Strength Capsules, which provide a source of beneficial bacteria to support a balanced gut microbiome, supporting digestive balance and healthy gut flora.^†

On the Go

For those of us on the go, having a more portable option for probiotic support can be convenient. Nature Made^® Probiotic + Prebiotic Fiber Gummies are a tasty way to add good bacteria to your digestive tract, and they provide a good source of prebiotic fiber to nourish your good bacteria.^†

The Wellness-Seeking Senior

Dietary support is vital to pay attention to as we age. If you want to support your gut and immune system health, check out Nature Made^® Probiotics 1 Billion CFU Capsules with this clinically studied probiotic to support a healthy immune system.^†

The Mindful Foodie

Do you love to explore cuisine? Looking for a convenient way to provide good bacteria to support your gut's natural balance? Nature Made^® Extra Strength Probiotic Gummies work with good bacteria in your gut to support healthy digestion, so you can taste the world's flavors while knowing your gut is getting the support it needs. If you’re looking for a tasty dietary source of probiotics, support your gut with fermented probiotic foods like yogurt, miso, and kimchi.^†

No matter your lifestyle, consult with your primary care provider before adding a probiotic supplement to your daily routine. They can help guide you with personalized advice to find which probiotic might work for you.

Find Your Perfect Match with Nature Made^® Probiotics

Supporting your gut shouldn't be complicated; that's why Nature Made^® is here to help you choose a probiotic that fits your health goals and supports overall gut health. Explore our Probiotics Collection, with options crafted for diverse needs and lifestyles to help you find our best probiotic for you.

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

1. National Institutes of Health. Probiotics. Nih.gov. Published November 3, 2023. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Probiotics-HealthProfessional/
2. Probiotics - International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP). Published 2019. https://isappscience.org/for-consumers/learn/probiotics/