Your gut flora depends on certain types of live bacteria and yeast to stay healthy and balanced. Probiotics contain microorganisms, known as good bacteria, that help to promote a balanced digestive tract and immune system. While these microorganisms are naturally occurring in your body, and in some foods, there may be some benefit to taking probiotics to help keep the good bacteria in your body balanced. But not all probiotics are created equal. If you're ready to try a probiotic, here are five of the best ones on the market. Organic Liquid Probiotics by MaryRuth’s – Men Women Kids Babies Toddlers 100% Organic and Plant BasedYou won't have to worry about harmful ingredients with these raw probiotics. Best Overall Find on Amazon If you prefer to take organic, vegan supplements, give these probiotics for women a try. They’re a high-quality, organic product without any filler ingredients. They are naturally vegan, and suitable for many special diets including Paleo and Ketogenic. They are also free from major allergens including gluten, corn, wheat, soy, and nuts. Formulated by a certified health educator and nutritional consultant, these probiotics may help keep your gut healthy. Packaged into a 4-ounce glass bottle, you can use the dropper lid to easily measure out the appropriate dosage. You won’t have to worry about these probiotics leaving a bad taste in your mouth, since they are unflavored. The bottle is shelf-stable, so it’s easy to store. Pros High quality organic ingredients Unflavored Long shelf life without refrigeration Cons Higher price point per bottle Probiotics 60 Billion CFU – Dr. Approved Probiotics for Women 10 Different Strains This probiotic features 60 billion CFU, representing ten different strains of microorganisms. Most CFUFind on Amazon When talking about probiotics, the colony-forming-unit (or CFU) refers to the number of live and active microorganisms in each serving. This brand of probiotics for women features 60 billion CFU. That’s a lot of good bacteria for your gut. It’s a combination of 10 different strains, including Lactobacillus acidophilus (La-14) and Bifidobacterium lactis (BL-04). This is a shelf-stable product that doesn’t need stored in the refrigerator. There aren’t any unnecessary binders or preservatives. This probiotic is free from many common allergens such as soy, gluten, milk, egg, wheat, peanuts, and shellfish. In addition to the probiotics, this supplement includes a prebiotic fiber blend. This may help to support your stomach health. Pros 60 Billion CFU Contains a prebiotic as well 10 different strands of microorganisms Cons It’s a capsule, which some people may find hard to swallow Prebiotics & Probiotics for Women Prebiotics, Probiotics, and AntioxidantsThe organic prebiotic and probiotic blend contains a cranberry extract to provide antioxidants. Best with Antioxidants Find on Amazon If you’re looking for a multi-purpose supplement that contains probiotics, prebiotics, and antioxidants, this is a great choice. Each capsule contains 50 billion CFU, and six different probiotic strains. They also feature ProCran, a powerful cranberry extract that contains proanthocyanidins (PACs) that are thought to support your immune system. ProCran is also believed to help keep your urinary tract healthy. These probiotics for women have been specially formulated to support feminine health. The capsules are slowly released into your digestive tract throughout the day. The capsules are Size 1, which is one of the smallest ones available. These capsules are easy to swallow. They are shelf-stable, and vegan. They don’t contain any dairy, soy, gluten, milk, eggs, or other common allergens. Pros Small capsule size Delayed release formula Ingredients thought to support urinary tract health Cons If you don’t need urinary tract support, they may have ingredients your body won’t need Optimum Nutrition Prebiotic and Probiotic Gummies for Men & Women Naturally Flavored GummiesThese probiotics for women taste great, and may help to keep your gut healthy. Best Gummy Variety Find on Amazon Do you like probiotics that are easy to get down? These chewy gummies taste delicious with a blue raspberry flavor. With only 1-gram of sugar per serving, you won’t have to worry about adding a lot of sugar to your diet. In the bottle, you get 60 gummies. Since the recommended serving size is two-per day, this is a 30 day supply. Each serving contains 2 billion CFU of Bacillus coagulants. They also contain 3-grams of dietary fiber that works as prebiotic support. Because these probiotics for women are shelf-stable, you can store the bottle in your cupboard. They are gluten, soy, and dairy free. They are a vegetarian probiotic. Pros Taste great Shelf stable Contains prebiotics and probiotics Cons Does contain a small amount of added sugar 60 Day Supply – Earth’s Pearl Probiotic & Prebiotic for Women, Men and Kids A 2 Month Supply For one great price, you get a 60 day supply of probiotics for women. Best on a Budget Find on Amazon Are you trying to keep your gut healthy without spending a fortune on probiotics? This is a budget friendly option, since it contains a 60-day supply. Thus, on a per-serving basis, this is a great price point. These probitoics for women are easy to take. They have the texture of a “Smarties” candy, and you slowly suck on them to make it even easier to swallow. Each one is small, a pearl size. They feature a patented time release delivery system that releases at 1-hour, 3-hours, 6-hours, and 10-hours. This is thought to produce efficiency. Each serving contains 4 billion CFU. The pearls are gluten and soy free. Pros Small size for easy swallowing 60-day supply Budget friendly price point per serving Cons The texture is a little on the dry side, so you may need a drink to wash it down Frequently Asked Questions How many CFUs should a probiotic for women contain? As mentioned above, CFUs are colony-forming units, or the number of live and active microorganisms found in each serving. A general rule that you can keep in mind is that your probiotics should have at least 1 billion CFU. Many doses will have many times that amount, and that is okay. However, if your probiotic has fewer than 1 billion, it may not be as effective for your digestive health as you hoped. Are there risks to taking probiotics? Just because probiotics are natural does not mean that everyone should take them. As with any supplement, it’s important to discuss probiotics with your doctor to make sure they will be a safe addition to your healthcare routine. Typically, taking probiotics is considered safe. There are very few risks or long-term side effects for much of the population. However, people with weakened immune systems or some serious illnesses can see dangerous side effects from them. Even if you are healthy, you may notice some small side-effects from probiotics at first, as your body gets used to taking them. These side effects can include rashes, an increase in gas, and bloating. Are probiotics found in food? Some foods and drinks contain natural occurring probiotics. Others have probiotics added to them. Eating these foods can be a good way to get the good bacteria into your digestive tract. Fermented foods often contain live and active microorganisms. These foods are thought to be good for your health, and are often called super foods. These foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha. Soy milk and buttermilk also contain probiotics. Additionally, dark chocolate, tempeh and miso do. These foods can help support your gut health. 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