You may be hearing a lot about gut health, probiotics and the best probiotics - but what’s it all about?
When each passing day brings news of a new health concern to worry about, a food we should no longer be eating or a brand new supplement we simply must add to our diets, it’s easy to become completely overwhelmed and fatigued by all things health.
It often seems that the more we try to look after ourselves, the harder it becomes. It’s enough to make you want to give up the whole shebang entirely and just Deliveroo another pizza.
But gut health is a real concern and one that shouldn’t occur to us after a heavy night out.
Best probiotic supplements at a glance
- Best for reaching the gut effectively: Heights Biotic+ - £40, Heights
- Best active bacteria supplement: Symprove Live & Active Bacteria Mango & Passion Fruit Flavour Drink - £39.99, Symprove UK
- Best subscription service probiotic: Feel Beauty Probiotic+ - £35.04, Feel Beauty
- Best all-round supplement: Willy’s ACV Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother - £7.03, Amazon
- Best delayed-release supplement: Physis Advanced Probiotics - £13.49, Amazon
- Best full spectrum supplement: Swiss BioEnergetics Full Spectrum Probiotic Defence - £17.07, Amazon
- Best child-friendly supplement: Bio-Kult Advanced Multi-Strain Formula Probiotics - £26.62, Amazon
- Best supplement for acne-prone skin: Bioglan Biotic Balance Ultimate Flora - £13.95, Amazon
- Best supplement for eczema-prone skin: Inessa Advanced Daily Biotic - £17.99 Amazon
- Best supplement to help combat IBS: The Nue Co. Prebiotic + Probiotic - £48, Cult Beauty
- Best for a gut health boost and glowing skin: Edible Health Digestive Enzyme Blend - £22.41, Amazon
- Best for restoration and replenishment of all the good bacteria: Wild Nutrition Multi Strain Biotic - £32, Wild Nutrition
- Best for bloating and vaginal health: Vida Glow Women’s Heath Gut Pro - £30, Vida Glow
- Best for a vegan option: JSHealth Probiotic - £36.99, JSHealth
There’s plenty of research that shows the gut is the ‘second brain’ - so-called because of its connection to our thoughts, feelings and actions.
From following our ‘gut instinct’ to ‘feeling butterflies’ when we’re nervous, the state of the gut can speak volumes about what’s going on in our heads. If we don’t look after it, it stands to reason that we’re not looking after our minds properly, either.
A healthy gut equals a healthy mind, so ensuring yours has all the nutrition it needs is paramount.
Probiotics play a massive part in this. Our gut is made up of over 500 species of flora, all of which, when in balance, contribute to a healthy digestive system, metabolism and hormonal health. These flora act as a kind of barrier against any harmful bacteria that may enter and probiotics (also known as good bacteria) help them do this by keeping everything ticking over nicely.
These are the best probiotics to buy now to keep your gut feeling healthy and happy but as with any supplements, speak to a medical professional first if you’re unsure what to take.
Best CBD oil in the UK: the top brands reviewed 2024
Best supplements for gut health to rebalance the microbiome and keep you feeling your best
Best immune-boosting supplements
9 best hangover cures for headaches and nausea
Best collagen supplements UK to strengthen and boost your skin
Best vitamin D supplements UK to boost your immune system
Best hair vitamins and supplements to support growth and strength
Heights Biotic+
Best for: reaching the gut effectively
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 are able to reach the gut than most other popular brands.
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 £50.00, Heights
Symprove Live & Active Bacteria Mango & Passion Fruit Flavour Drink
Best probiotic supplement for: active bacteria
Symprove has become one of the most widely known and most renowned supplements that delivers live, active multi-strain bacteria to the gut. It does this through a unique delivery system in a water-based formulation that encourages better absorption and protects it from gastric juices. Take each morning to balance out the gut and counteract some of the side effects of IBS and upset stomachs. The mango and passion fruit taste helps to create a healthy habit by adding a flavoursome twist. For best results, use for 12 weeks.
Buy now £39.99, Symprove
Feel Beauty Probiotic+
Best probiotic supplement for: subscription service
Subscription-free supplement service and label Feel has packed gut-loving probiotics aplenty into its tablet daily dietary add-on - three different strains to be precise.
It is designed to give you healthy hair, skin and nails from the outside-in with ingredients you may recognise from your beauty cabinet. Hydration hero hyaluronic acid as well as Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus Acidophilus contribute to the functioning of your digestion and heart and leave you with soothed skin.
The tablets are formulated with gastro-resistant delayed-release technology so they get to where you need without being disintegrated by the body. There is also some suggestion that it helps with menopausal discomfort.
Buy now £35.04, Feel
Willy's ACV Apple Cider Vinegar with The Mother
Best probiotic supplement for: all-round
You’ve probably heard about the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar for years but may have written it off as just another celebrity friend. In actual fact, it boasts a number of health benefits, particularly when taken in an organic, unfiltered form, such as Willys. This recipe contains mother - a culture of friendly bacteria, proteins and enzymes that promotes gut health and helps to kill off any unwanted bacteria. Made using apples from a 300-year-old orchard. Willys is never treated with heat, meaning as many bacteria as possible are preserved.
A known and trusted health booster for thousands of years, apple cider vinegar can lower blood sugar and cholesterol, help target stubborn fat and improve heart health. Drink with hot water, add to salads, mix into smoothies or put those partying skills to good use and shot it neat. Don’t be put off by its murky appearance - it’s meant to look like that.
Buy now £7.02, Amazon
Physis Advanced Probiotics
Best probiotic supplement for: delayed release
Coming in capsule form, these probiotics are an excellent choice for those suffering from minor gut irritations. Containing 50 billion CFU (that’s Colony Forming Units - the fancy name for bacteria) in each dose, it’s quite a strong strain so best avoided if you’re in perfect gut health.
These are contained within delayed-release capsules - meaning you can take them before or after meals - and are dairy, peanut and gluten-free. There are ten strains of bacteria included as well as an advanced multivitamin. Including 30 capsules, this bottle will last for a month (you’re advised to take one a day) and is best kept in the fridge to ensure the survival of the live bacteria.
Buy now £13.49, Amazon
Swiss BioEnergetics Full Spectrum Probiotic Defence
Best probiotic supplement for: full-spectrum
Contained inside DRCaps capsules, the bacteria in this probiotic are particularly hardy; able to withstand the acids in the stomach long enough to reach the intestines - where they’re really needed - intact.
Free from artificial ingredients and suitable for vegans, they contain 10 billion CFU so are digestive and immune system boosting. They’ve also been proven to help relieve Irritable Bowel Syndrome symptoms and to galvanize the gut after a round of antibiotics.
Containing 120 capsules, these should last between 6 to 12 weeks, depending on whether they’re taken once or twice a day (twice a day is recommended for those with gut issues) and come in a handy carton package that can be posted through the letterbox and stored with ease.
Buy now £17.07, Amazon
Bio-Kult Advanced Multi-Strain Formula Probiotics
Best probiotic supplement for: child-friendly
Containing fourteen bacteria strains and 10 billion CFU per gram, these Bio-Kult capsules are particularly effective at promoting gut health. Contained within a capsule, these can be taken by both children and pregnant women (although a doctor should always be consulted beforehand) and are safe to be taken long-term.
These are a particularly good choice for those who hate swallowing large pills as the capsules can be broken apart and the contents sprinkled into food or drink. Suitable for vegetarians, you can take up to two capsules a day and a single packet contains 120.
Buy now £26.62, Amazon
Bioglan Biotic Balance Ultimate Flora
Best probiotic supplement for: acne-prone
Those suffering from acne or hormonal imbalances will probably find a supplement such as Bioglan to be the most effective at helping tame the problem. Each capsule contains 5.8 billion CFU of lactobacillus acidophilus, which aside from helping boost the immune system is also known to help soothe the symptoms of a hormonal imbalance (which often manifests as irritated skin).
There are four bacteria strains in this brand overall and each of the 30 capsules contains 20 billion live cultures. The recommended dosage is one capsule a day and being free from gluten, wheat and soy, they’re a great option for those with coeliac disease.
Buy now £13.95, Amazon
Inessa Advanced Daily Biotic
Best probiotic supplement for: eczema prone
Coming in a rather suave-looking bottle, these vegan capsules contain a whopping 10 billion CFU of Lactobacillus rhamnosus - the probiotic strain that’s potentially beneficial at preventing eczema.
This has also been studied the most extensively and has shown evidence to colonise in the intestine - the area where bacteria are the most effective at fighting off imposters. Manufactured in the UK, these capsules have been designed with a delayed release, ensuring they can pass through the stomach without being harmed. You’ll get 60 capsules in a bottle, meaning they should last you for two months.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
The Nue Co. Prebiotic + Probiotic
Best probiotic supplement for: helping combat IBS
This supplement from The Nue Co. contains 15 billion spores per dose that are ingested and help to combat the symptoms of IBS and digestive issues. The brand opts for spores over live actives that are cocooned to protect them through the stomach acid and so that they remain dormant until they reach the small intestine where they multiply, grow and get to work.
In a double-blind placebo trial, they were shown to improve abdominal pain, gas, constipation, diarrhoea and bloating. They also play a part in boosting immunity and promoting clearer skin.
Buy now £48.00, Cult Beauty
Edible Health Digestive Enzyme Collagen
Best for: a gut health boost alongside glowing skin
Edible Health has taken their popular Bovine Collagen Hydrolysate powder - a powerful probiotic collagen super-blend - and added a host of tummy-pleasing ingredients to aid digestive health. Think of it as a dose of potent collagen with all the extra benefits of probiotics, minerals and triglycerides for the happiest of guts.
The pineapple flavour is perfect for adding to smoothies. It is made up of a combination of freeze-dried pineapple (a process that retains 90 per cent of its nutritional value) and Bovine Collagen (that contains 100 per cent pure collagen protein peptides that include 18 amino acids). Collagen aids muscle recovery and repair as well as boosts immunity and healthy joints, skin and hair.
The Digestive Enzyme Blend includes 15 added super-nutrients that target gut health including; anti-inflammatory antioxidants and herbs, a probiotic Lactospore Bacillus Coagulans and prebiotics to encourage friendly bacteria to flourish and thrive. Digestive enzymes are added to the mix to aid in nutrient absorption and reduce gas, bloating and indigestion.
Buy now £22.41, Amazon
Wild Nutrition Multi Strain Biotic
.jpeg?trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0)
Best for: restoration and replenishment of all the good bacteria
This probiotic formula restores and replenishes friendly bacteria in the gut to support a healthy and thriving microbiome. The formulas are high-strength at 30 billion per dose, and are ideal for both everyday support and recovery purposes. It comes in handy when the good bacteria in your tummy might be in need of some extra TLC such as in the post-party season or perhaps after a course of medication when friendly bacteria is commonly lost.
Use by mixing a teaspoons filled amount into a glass of water daily, and drinking on an empty stomach.
Buy now £32.00, Wild Nutrition
Vida Glow Women’s Heath Gut Pro
Best for: Bloating and vaginal health
You may already know Vida Glow for their collagen supplements, but last year they launched a women’s health range including these two-in-one capsules that nourish both the gut and vaginal microbiome in one easy-to-take daily tablet.
Packed with three types of lactobacilli, this multi-strain probiotic helps support your vagina’s health, as well as supporting the gut flora for overall health. Plus, for those that suffer from IBS, bloating and digestive issues it’s further aided with natural-digestive ginger and the herb gentiana lutea that’s used in Western herbal medicine to aid digestion.
Buy now £30.00, Vida Glow
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
Now that you have seen the supplement suggestions, we consulted Dr Roshini Raj, a board-certified practising gastroenterologist and founder of TULA Skincare to find out everything we need to know about probiotics.What are probiotics?
“Probiotic extracts are a true breakthrough innovation in skincare and wellness, recognised for their clinically proven ability to soothe and calm skin inflammation, nourish skin and balance the microbiome.
“Microbiome refers to the set of organisms that are contained in microscopic bacterial ecosystems known as microbiota. These microbial organisms affect nearly every human bodily process. Aging, digestion, the immune system, mood, cognitive function and the skin. I have been studying probiotics and the gut/skin microbiome for over 20 years and there’s still so much more to learn!”
What are probiotics good for and do probiotic supplements work?
“Probiotics are a powerful, clinically effective addition to any routine. People with all skin types (sensitive, dry, oily or acne-prone) are likely to see improvements in their complexions by introducing probiotics (either topically or ingesting - ideally both!) into their wellness routine. Ingesting probiotics, either by consuming probiotic-rich foods or taking probiotic supplements, can help improve digestive balance and calm inflammation to improve skin issues and overall health and wellness from the inside-out.”
