There’s no two ways about it. IBS is the ultimate buzzkill.
A health condition with a knack for springing up at the most inconvenient of times, the digestive downer is a common yet life-changing illness.
Take it from someone who knows. It’s not easy to cure. There are endless possibilities for the reason behind someone’s IBS issues. Stress, diet, oversensitive nerves in your gut: even a family history of the condition is a potential culprit.
Yet, while it’s all well and good pinpointing the source of the problem, finding a fix is where the waters get muddied. The typical path begins with cutting out dairy, wheat or soy and may end in donning a wildly unsexy hospital robe for a colonoscopy to check for polyps or cancer. But more recently, probiotics are being lauded as a godsend to calm IBS symptoms.
What are probiotics?
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are described as ‘good’ or ‘healthy’ bacteria. When consumed in sufficient amounts, they are thought to aid and restore the natural balance of bacteria in your gut when it’s been damaged by an illness such as IBS.
Why does good gut health matter?
We spoke to the Head of Pharmaceutics at UCL School of Pharmacy, Professor Simon Gaisford about why good gut health is imperative. “To (mis)quote Hippocrates; Death begins in the colon. Put another way, good overall health is founded on good gut health. If our immune system is constantly reacting to something happening in our gut, then that a) causes us pain and b) stops the immune system from focusing on outside threats (like Covid). Many diseases are being linked to poor gut health (especially neurodegenerative conditions, like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) so maintaining a healthy gut is one of the best things you can do to ward off illness or disease.”
How often should we take probiotics?
According to Professor Gaisford, we should be taking probiotics daily, first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
What are the benefits of taking probiotics?
There are many benefits to taking probiotics. First and foremost, a decrease in IBS symptoms such as improved bowel regularity, less digestive comfort and stronger immunity. Jessica Sepel, Clinical Nutritionist and Founder of JSHealth Vitamins, summarises: “Overall, taking probiotics is about supporting gut health, however, this can have associated benefits such as supporting immune system health and even skin health based on the gut/skin connection.”
What should we look out for when buying probiotics?
- Bacteria quantity and type: Both Professor Gaisford and Sepel firmly agree that you must look out for a product that has at least a billion bacteria per serving with multiple types of bacteria.
- Bacteria storage: “I usually recommend liquid probiotic supplements (the kind kept in a fridge in the store) as the bacteria are not desiccated”, says Professor Gaisford.
- Scientific research: Sepel stresses the importance of scientific studies: “I always recommend making sure that the specific strains of bacteria in your probiotic are well researched and backed by science to support digestive health. As a nutritionist, I personally love the Bifidobacterium strains! A mix of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains is ideal.”
Start your journey to better gut health and shop our favourite scientifically-backed probiotics below.
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Symprove Daily Essential
Symprove takes self-care to whole new levels. The liquid probiotic is scientifically-backed and keeps your gut bacteria healthy and kicking. Every shot of Daily Essential contains billions of live bacteria to help balance your microbiome, and the fruity flavours make it especially easy to knock back.
Take your Symprove shot on an empty stomach then wait 10 minutes before breakfast. This is to avoid triggering digestion and killing the good bacteria the product provides. Repeat this process for up to three months to see true results - after all, there is no quick fix to gut issues. According to the company, 94 per cent of people say they feel the difference after three months, and many choose to take Symprove for life. We’ve tried and tested it and can confirm we’ll be ordering more.
Once opened, store in the fridge and keep cool to help nurture the living microorganisms in the bottle.
Buy now £39.99, Symprove
JSHealth Probiotic
JSHealth is another brand we highly recommend. Each vegan-friendly capsule in the label’s probiotic offering is packed with 35 billion Colony Forming Units of seven specific strains of probiotics - all of which have been backed by scientific evidence. The product is shelf-stable so there is no need to refrigerate it, making it a handy choice when travelling or on the go.
Speaking about her product in detail, Sepel says: “In the JSHealth Probiotic we include Bifidobacterium Lactis and Bifidobacterium Longum to maintain and support beneficial intestinal flora. Bifidobacterium Lactis to maintain and support healthy digestive system function. Bifidobacterium Longum, Bifidobacterium Lactis and Lactobacillus Rhamnosus support healthy digestion. Bifidobacterium Lactis also supports bowel regularity.”
The product has garnered five-star reviews across the board, with many customers noting a significant decrease in their IBS symptoms.
Opt for a one-time purchase to try the probiotic or save cash and subscribe for a two-month supply.
Buy now £36.99, JSHealth
Inessa Advanced Biotic Complex
Inessa’s Advances Biotic Complex blend contains a whopping 50 billion live organisms from seven science-backed strains, including five billion powerful Saccharomyces Boulardii cultures. The product, which can be purchased via a subscription or one-time basis, not only targets bad guts belonging to IBS and IBD sufferers, but also those who have come down with stomach bugs and food poisoning. The capsule form is portable when travelling, meaning you're never without your trusty gut aids.
Inessa’s product also helps women balance their hormones, in turn, optimising energy levels and performance. With a steady stream of five-star reviews lauding its effects, it comes as little surprise that the product was voted ‘Best Supplement for Gut Health 2021’ and ‘Best Probiotic Supplement 2021.’
Inside each pill, you’ll find hero ingredients such as Saccharomyces Boulardii, Bifidobacterium Breve, Bifidobacterium Infantis, Bifidobacterium Animalis and more scientifically-backed strains that combat ill gut health.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
Heights Biotic+
Vogue Williams loved these probiotics so much that she decided to invest in them. Heights’ Smart Probiotic has been proven to deliver 20 billion colony-forming units (CFU) in each daily capsule, and its slow-release design means more of these good bacteria can reach the gut than most other popular brands.
Suitable for consumers with gluten intolerances and vegans, the probiotics are proven to work wonders. Third-party testing shows that Biotic⺠delivers fifty times more bacteria, alive and active, than alternative formats, while aiding the maintenance of normal hair, skin, and nails.
With over 200 five-star reviews, many have said they have noticed results fast, and said taking the probiotic has boosted their energy levels and reduced their bloating. Win-win.
Buy now £40.00, Heights
Biotiful Kefir
Weren’t expecting to see yoghurt here, were you? Biotiful Kefir is an easy, affordable introduction to gut health that is also beneficial for kids and teens. Offering a more palatable alternative to a liquid shot or swallowing pills, this yoghurt drink is an important source of calcium which contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes. Ok, pasteurised fermented cow’s milk doesn’t exactly tickle the taste buds in theory, but the drinks are available to shop in a range of tasty fruity flavours.
Biotiful Kefir is also packed with vitamin B12, which helps to boost immunity support and live cultures including Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus.
The drink is a high-protein breakfast food that can be taken to work or school and is saturated with billions of live cultures like the aforementioned products. While we’d recommend looking at Symprove, JSHealth, Gut Wealth or Inessa for the best results, Kefir is a stepping stone to achieving good gut health in the long run.
Buy now £2.60, Ocado
