12 best probiotics to help improve gut health

Packed with an impressive 21 different strains of bacteria and delivering an enormous 60 billion CFU (colony-forming units) per daily dose, this potent probiotic supplement is a big hitter, and at a reasonable price. The capsules themselves are easy to swallow, and the pill bottle can be stored in a cupboard without refrigeration.

Our tester took the recommended two pills a day and began feeling their digestion became noticeably more efficient within days. That manifested as more frequent and easier pooping, with no wind or stomach bloating. The positive results mean our tester is keen to carry on taking the supplement.

We especially liked that this supplement contains clinically studied bacteria strains, such as Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium infantis. Plus, it’s gluten-free and suitable for vegans, making it a good choice for most people looking to boost their gut health.

As with most things in life, consistency is key when taking care of your gut health, so, you’ll need a supplement that fits in with your monthly budget. Enter: Bio-Kult everyday gut – a more budget-friendly options, compared with some other brands.

Adults can take up to four capsules each day, while children can take up to two. However, our tester found there were benefits even when taking just one capsule a day. This is likely because this award-winning supplement has been scientifically developed and contains 14 different live bacteria strains, with each capsule containing 2 billion live bacterial micro-organisms for your gut.

If you’re taking Bio-Kult while travelling or on a course of antibiotics, a higher dose of four capsules is likely to be more effective for a short while.

Read the full Bio-Kult probiotics review

Symprove is among the few gut health supplements to have been studied in a clinical trial. Research in 2019 gave people with certain gastrointestinal diseases either Symprove or a placebo over four weeks, to measure the supplement’s efficacy in reducing the symptoms of the conditions. The study found that Symprove reduced intestinal inflammation in people with ulcerative colitis and was well tolerated.

Symprove is a water-based supplement – the brand says this is what helps the bacteria reach the gut alive – and is taken as a 70ml shot each morning, 10 minutes before eating or drinking anything. Once a bottle is opened, this supplement needs to be stored in the fridge and used within 10 days.

Our tester had no gut health problems but found that taking the liquid supplement had a “soothing” effect on their digestive system and reduced bloating. They tested the original flavour, which wasn’t unpleasant but did take some getting used to. There are also strawberry and raspberry, and mango and passionfruit flavours available, which may be more appealing.

If all-natural food supplements are your thing, Jerms is well worth checking out. This junk-free product might be called daily gut, but it’s a lot more than a probiotic supplement alone, as it also contains prebiotics, digestive enzymes and organic superfoods, such as flaxseed, ginger root, turmeric and lemon balm. Also in the mix is organic marine calcium from seaweed, which is said to help our bodies break down and successfully absorb food while providing 50 per cent of the daily recommended amount of calcium.

We tested Jerms by adding a teaspoon of the flavourless powder to our daily protein shake each morning – it has to be mixed with cold drinks or foods because high temperatures can kill the live bacteria. We liked how easily it fitted into our routine and, best of all, we soon noticed a “lighter” feeling, most probably from improved digestion.

Jerms is suitable for vegans, those avoiding fodmap foods and people with allergies. We particularly liked that it’s made in a dedicated allergen-free facility, for total peace of mind.

Strawberry yoghurt gummies that taste like sweets, provide 30 per cent of our daily calcium needs and deliver 1 billion CFU of two widely studied strains of bacteria (Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus salivarius) to the gut? Yes, please!

This probiotic could not be simpler to take and store: just chew on two gummies a day. With no refrigeration needed, we think this would be an ideal gut health supplement to take with you while travelling.

Our tester loved the flavour of the vegan, gluten-free gummies and quite looked forward to taking their two a day. This supplement did, however, take a couple of days to get used to, as our tester found they had quite a bit of gas. However, this soon passed and they noticed they were pooping more regularly without changing their diet.

Getting children to take supplements can be challenging, to say the least, but our six-year-old tester practically begged to take their daily Optibac kids gummy during our trial. They said the flavour (strawberry) was yummy, while their parents were delighted they had found a supplement that could boost their little one’s gut health.

They were especially confident in giving their child this supplement because the bacteria strain it includes – Bacillus coagulans Unique IS-2 – is among the most studied in children. One study even found that it provided relief to children with irritable bowel syndrome.

But there is plenty more to like about Optibac kids gummies, not least that they also provide 100 per cent of a child’s daily recommended vitamin D intake and 15 per cent of their calcium needs. The supplement is also planet-friendly, thanks to its plastic-free packaging, and it’s also purse-friendly at £12 a month.

Skin Diligent’s skin and biotics is the result of four years of research and has been designed to support gut health, hormone balance and skin health. The supplement combines four strains of Lactobacillus bacteria with a host of other vitamins and minerals – including vitamins D3, C, E and Bs, pectin, magnesium and zinc – for a robust daily microbiome-balancing treatment.

Our 60-year-old tester found the two capsules each morning easy to take, but the need to avoid tea or coffee for up to 40 minutes was a little harder. They reported feeling “brighter”, with a general sense of well-being, and better sleep with daily use. However, they also noted they’d need to take the supplement longer to notice a real difference in the condition of their skin.

Skin Diligent recommends a three-month course (£105.30, Skindiligent.com) of the supplement, then a one- to two-month break before resuming the treatment for another three months. You can also buy a single month’s supply (£39, Skindiligent.com).

Taking antibiotics can help our bodies fend off infections, but they do little good to the helpful bacteria living in our gut. Luckily, Artah enhanced synbiotic is safe for use with antibiotics – just take the supplement two hours either side of your prescribed medication, to give your gut microbiota a fighting chance.

Among the 11 strains of clinically studied bacteria strains are those that are said to boost mental, sexual, metabolic, immune, skin and digestive health, while digestive enzymes, such as amylase and lipase, can help our bodies break down and absorb nutrients in the food we eat.

Our tester started off with a one-a-day dose of Artah enhanced synbiotic, then upped that to two capsules a day. Before long, they reported a noticeable reduction in bloating and a more comfortable feeling in their stomach.

Read the full Artah probiotic review

Claims about the bacteria in probiotics reaching the gut alive are not new, but Heights has backed up the claim with a study. The results of the third-party research found that most of the bacteria in its Smart probiotic do indeed reach the colon alive, where it can do its job. That’s said to be because of its delayed release capsule that breaks down nine times slower than those from some of its competitors. Impressive stuff.

Besides the scientific backing, our tester liked that the supplement was convenient to take, because there’s no particular time when it needs to be taken. Plus, it can be taken with or without food. Our tester is vegan, so was thrilled that such a supplement was suitable for their lifestyle. Plus, they noticed an almost immediate reduction in bloating.

Jules Miller, one of The Nue Co’s co-founders, has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), so it’s hardly surprising the brand knows its stuff when it comes to gut health. This supplement, which delivers probiotics and prebiotic inulin fibre from Jerusalem artichoke root, was developed specifically for people with IBS but is also great for everyone.

It’s slightly unusual because it contains spores instead of the typical live bacteria, and that means the 15 billion spores per dose don’t start working until they reach your small intestine. This is meant to give them a better chance of survival as they move through your body. Our tester has become a regular user of prebiotics and probiotics because of the comfortable feeling they get when taking the supplement, which they think is from improved digestion.

Those keen to take it regularly can sign up for a monthly subscription that gives a 20 per cent discount. The capsules come in pouches made with recycled plastics, so you can use that incredibly stylish glass jar again and again.

Read the full review of The Nue Co’s probiotics

There are many supplements designed for use before, during and in the weeks after pregnancy, but this one can be a lifelong part of your gut health routine, because it’s safe to take at any time of life.

Take two acid-resistant capsules on an empty stomach each morning for a gut-loving 20 billion CFU hit of six different bacteria strains, plus 40mg of prebiotic fructooligosaccharides.

We love that this high-quality supplement comes in recyclable packaging and is certified vegan and cruelty-free. It’s among the pricier options, but there is a 20 per cent saving to be had for regular users who subscribe.

The UK government recommends everyone consider taking a daily vitamin D supplement throughout autumn and winter, and this supplement gives you both that and gut health-boosting probiotics to help you kill two birds with one stone.

Each one-a-day capsule contains 1 billion CFU from clinically studied bacteria strains, including two that have been shown to balance and support the immune system. There are also added vitamins A and B12, which are both linked to boosting our natural defences.

We tested this supplement during spring and summer, so we can’t vouch for its ability to ward off colds and flu, but we were happy with the improvements we noticed in gut health, including a more settled tummy.