Best Probiotics [Budget Friendly] – Introduction
What are the best budget probiotic supplements this year?
When most people think about bacteria, they tend to focus on the negative.
Bacteria are usually thought of as something unhealthy that can cause disease.
After all, that’s why we use antibacterial soaps, wipes, and hand sanitizers, right?
However, what a lot of people fail to realize is that there are good bacteria as well as bad.
Bad bacteria are indeed something to worry about and avoid.
They can lead to ill health and disease.
E-coli and salmonella are perfect examples of bad bacteria.
However, throughout your body, and especially in your digestive tract, good bacteria help keep you healthy.
Good Bacteria Vs. Bad Bacteria
Unfortunately, because all bacteria get a bad rap, many of the things we do to control bad bacteria also affect good bacteria.
So, for example, antibiotics not only kill bad bacteria to help you fight off illness, but it kills good bacteria too.
Low levels of good bacteria can lead to a host of problems, including:
- Digestive issues
- Allergies
- Mental health issues
- Elevated “bad” LDL cholesterol
- Elevated blood pressure
- Increased risk of allergies and eczema
- Bowel disorders such as ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and necrotizing enterocolitis
- Impaired immune system
- Fat gain
So how can you ensure you keep your good bacteria happy and healthy?
Firstly, it’s important to avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily.
In the past, many doctors were guilty of prescribing antibiotics too freely.
As a result, antibiotic-resistant bacteria developed, such as MRSA, which is common in many hospitals.
Doctors are much more antibiotic savvy now, but it’s always worth asking your doctor if you REALLY need to take antibiotics or if an alternative treatment is available.
It’s also worth considering being a little less fanatical about wiping out all the bacteria in your home.
Yes, you should avoid consuming uncooked chicken or exposing yourself to other dangerous bacteria, but there is no need to use antibacterial soaps, gels, and wipes constantly.
A little bacterial exposure is no bad thing and will help you to develop more natural immunity.
You’ll also avoid killing the good bacteria by accident.
You can also repopulate your good bacteria by using probiotics.
What Are Probiotics?
Probiotics are supplements and foods that contain the good bacteria your body needs.
Probiotic products are cultures of live microorganisms that develop into that all-important good bacteria.
Good food sources of probiotics include:
1. Natural yogurt
Live, natural yogurt is an excellent source of protein and calcium, as well as healthy bacteria.
Yogurt is made from milk that has been fermented by friendly bacteria, mainly lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacterium lactis.
Avoid flavored or sweetened yogurt, as these do not contain any significant amounts of probiotics.
Instead, stick with plain, unflavored yogurt, such as natural Greek yogurt.
If you need a tastier yogurt, add some soft fruit or a little raw honey.
The bacteria in yogurt help remove some of the lactose, which means that some lactose-intolerant people have fewer digestive issues with yogurt than with other dairy products.
2. Kefir
Kefir is a fermented yogurt drink popular in the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.
It has a distinctly sour taste and contains more probiotics than yogurt.
Kefir is available in most supermarkets and health food stores.
It’s so low in lactose that even the most lactose-sensitive consumers tolerate it well.
3. Sauerkraut
Basically fermented, pickled cabbage, sauerkraut is one of the oldest traditional foods and is popular in many countries, particularly in Europe.
Served as a side to meat dishes, sauerkraut has a sour, salty taste and is rich in vitamins and minerals as well as gut-friendly bacteria.
4. Tempeh
Tempeh is fermented soybeans formed into blocks.
Described as having a nutty, mushroom-like taste, tempeh is used in Asian cuisine as a high-protein meat substitute.
5. Kimchi
Kimchi is a fermented, spicy Korean side dish generally made from cabbage that has been pickled and spiced with a mix of seasonings such as red chili pepper flakes, garlic, ginger, onions, and salt.
It is also high in vitamins and minerals.
6. Miso
Miso is a traditional Japanese seasoning paste made by fermenting soybeans with salt and a fungus called koji.
This paste is then used as a base for many dishes, including miso soup.
Miso is a good source of protein and fiber and is high in various vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, including vitamin K, manganese, and copper.
7. Pickles
Pickled vegetables are high in probiotics.
Common pickles include gherkins, cabbage, onions, cucumbers, and cauliflower.
Pickles are low in calories but high in vitamins and minerals.
They are also readily available in most supermarkets.
8. Cheese
Some cheeses contain probiotic bacteria.
The best sources include cheddar, mozzarella, and gouda.
Cheese is also high in protein and calcium but is quite calorie-dense.
9. Buttermilk
Buttermilk is the liquid left over from making butter.
It’s low in fat and calories but contains several essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12, riboflavin, calcium, and phosphorus, as well as probiotics.
Seek out traditional rather than cultured buttermilk as the latter contains very few probiotics.
The Best Budget-Friendly Probiotic Dietary Supplements
While you can get plenty of probiotics from natural foods, it can be a bit hit or miss.
After all, how often can you really expect to eat pickles, sauerkraut, kimchee, or tempeh?
Instead, you’ll probably find it easier to repopulate your good gut bacteria with a probiotic supplement.
All you need to do is take a couple of capsules per day to increase the number and health of your gut flora.
However, it’s important to realize that not all budget probiotic supplements were created equal, and some are better than others.
Probiotics are measured in colony-forming units (CFUs).
This number represents the number of beneficial bacteria per dose.
The best probiotic supplements must contain at least one million viable CFUs per gram to be deemed worth taking.
Anything less is a weak probiotic dose that may not be particularly beneficial and could even end up being a waste of your money.
These are our favorite budget probiotic supplements, all tried and tested just for you!
#1. Bio-Kult Advanced Probiotics – 14 Strains
This budget-friendly probiotic supplement contains 14 different bacterial strains, and each capsule contains at least two million CFUs, so it’s a fairly potent product.
The ingredients are freeze-dried, so unlike some probiotics, it does not need to be refrigerated.
However, Bio-Kult Advanced Probiotics does contain traces of milk proteins, so it may not be suitable for those with lactose allergies.
#2. Jarrow Formulas Jarro-Dophilus EPS
This product from Jarrow Formulas contains eight different bacterial species and provides five billion CFUs per dose.
On the downside, the capsules are made of gelatin, so this budget probiotic supplement is not suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as gelatin is made from animal skins and bones.
#3. Now Probiotic-10™
Now Probiotic is allergen-free and vegan-approved, making it one of the cleanest probiotic supplements around.
It contains 10 bacterial strains and has a whopping 25 billion CFU, so it packs a lot of bang for your buck.
Speaking of bucks, this excellent Probiotic from NOW is also very budget-friendly.
#4. Nature’s Bounty Probiotic
Fed up with swallowing tablets?
So are we!
That’s why you’ll like this probiotic supplement from Nature’s Bounty.
Instead of the more common capsules, this supplement comes in great-tasting chewable mini-wafers.
Each dose provides two billion CFUs.
However, it only contains one probiotic strain – acidophilus.
#5. Nutrition Essentials 9 Billion Probiotic
A lot of probiotic supplements have a very short shelf life.
That’s because the bacteria soon start to die, effectively lowering the CFU score once the product is opened.
Nutrition Essential’s probiotic supplement is 62% more stable, so it remains viable for longer.
Each dose contains nine million CFUs, so it’s one of the most potent budget probiotic supplements on review.
#6. Old School VINTAGE BASE – 2-in-1 Probiotic Multivitamin
Old School Vintage makes a wide range of sports and bodybuilding supplements.
This product contains probiotics and essential vitamins and minerals to optimize gut health and digestion.
With six billion CFUs per serving, plus a full spectrum of micronutrients, this 2-in-1 Probiotic Multivitamin is the ideal product for anyone looking for an all-in-one supplement for better health.
#7. Garden of Life 10 Billion Prebiotic Fiber & Probiotic Gummies
This easy-to-use nutritional product contains probiotics, prebiotics, and vitamin D to optimize your digestive health.
It has 10 billion CFUs, and four different strains of good bacteria, so it packs an enormous punch for such a budget-friendly supplement.
Plus, instead of hard-to-swallow capsules, you’ll be getting your probiotics in the form of tasty gummies.
Best Budget Probiotic Supplements – Wrapping Up
So, now you know how not all bacteria are harmful and that some are actually essential for your digestive and immunological health.
You can get your daily dose of good bacteria from a range of foods, such as natural yogurt, buttermilk, and kimchee, or, more conveniently, from a probiotic supplement.
Taking a probiotic supplement can do wonders for your digestive and general health, and can even help you lose weight, prevent cravings, and stop stomach upsets.
Of course, for any supplement to work, you must take it regularly and consistently, so the price matters.
The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a probiotic supplement, and there are plenty of budget-friendly products to choose from.
