Eighty percent of our immune system is in our gut. The best probiotics are found in the food you eat, such as yogurt and buttermilk. Prebiotics, not discussed here, are found in whole grains, onions, bananas, artichokes, and honey. Probiotics are sometimes added to some of the foods available as diet supplements. Capsules can be opened and put into yogurt or other cold foods or cold drinks when you find them hard to swallow. The best immune system building vitamins are discussed below to be used separately or in combination with probiotics.
Pro– means in support of something. Pre– means before something. You don’t really need probiotics—a good bacteria to maintain health when you eat right. The microorganisms can help with digestion and offer help from harmful bacteria and get your gut bacteria back into balance after a regime of antibiotics and are useful when you have gut problems.
[h3line h3-text=”1. Probiotic Uses“]
It is worth mentioning here that if you are consistently bothered with gut issues, ask your doctor to do one simple blood test for checking your liver. If your liver enzymes are elevated, you might have Hepatitis C. This viral disease can be cured today. People could have contracted Hep C from blood transfusions given before 1985 when blood was not screened then. With Hep C, you will never get rid of gut pain from probiotics or vitamins because your liver is not functioning properly to digest fats, medicines, and other foods.
This is an important issue to have your gastroenterologist check for. You usually have no signs or symptoms with Hep C—it is silent multiplying viruses hour by hour. It can kill. You can contract Hep C by using a needle to inject drugs into your body when using the needle from an infected person; a needle stick in a lab if that item came into contact with a person infected with Hep C; shared razors, toothbrushes, and other personal hygiene items from someone having Hep C; and it can be sexually transmitted if you have multiple sex partners; you have an STD; rough sex causing bleeding; and have HIV. Hep C is not contagious by being near someone who has it. Check Hepatitis C transmission further on the Internet.
Probiotics can help treat:
- Diarrhea
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Intestinal infections
- Colds and flu reduction and severity
- Pouchitis
- Skin conditions such as eczema
- Urinary tract and vaginal health
- Allergies and colds
- Oral health
Rarely are there any side effects from probiotics. Always check with your doctor before taking any supplements to be sure they are beneficial for your gut problems.
[h3line h3-text=”2. Probiotic Benefits“]
Many people using probiotics often find improvements in their general health. Some of the benefits using probiotics are:
- Digestive function improvement
- Weight loss
- Reduced cholesterol
- Reduced blood pressure
- Fewer sick days
- Bloating and gas
Talk with your doctor to see if probiotics will help your conditions.
[h2line h2-text=”Top 5 Best Probiotic Reviews“]
[boxsph3 h3-text=”1. VSL#3® The Living Shield® Probiotic Capsules“]
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VSL#3® and The Living Shield® are registered trademarks of VSL Pharmaceuticals, Inc., located in Towson, Maryland, USA. The VSL#3® probiotic was developed in Italy. It has 8 different bacterial strains. The FDA (U.S.A. Food and Drug Administration) has classified this as a medical food, therefore, it is a high potency probiotic medical food, not a supplement. The bacteria are alive and will work better than the dead ones. You must be under a doctor’s care because this is filled by a pharmacist and must always be kept cold in the refrigerator to keep the bacteria alive.
It is useful for IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), an ileal pouch, ulcerative colitis, colitis, and yucky gut feelings. See your gastroenterologist for any tests you might need to determine your specific problem.
The number and type of bacteria are important. They are the flora (flowers) and fauna (animals) that live in your intestinal tract so beneficial to digestion and elimination of food.
VSL#3® is 10 times more powerful than the standard. The average CFU (colony forming unit) is 15.5 billion while the average probiotic contains 4.3 million CFU. You will have 225 to 900 billion bacteria per capsule by prescription.
Note: VSL#3® will be shipped to you in a Styrofoam™ container with ice packs and must arrive cold and stay cold in your refrigerator. Cold is what keeps the bacteria alive.
It has 3-layer packets to prevent heat, light, moisture and contamination to maintain its potency. The cap on the capsule bottle also prevents heat, light, moisture and contamination from entering the bottle, thereby not needing a second seal on the capsule bottle.
Probiotics are bacteria strain-specific. With the high bacteria range in VSL#3®, you may achieve better results than single-strain probiotics. It has 3 genus and 8 species carefully cultivated to benefit you.
The genus species are:
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Bifidobacterium breve
- Bifidobacterium longum*
- Bifidobacterium infantis*
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Lactobacillus delbrueckii subspecies Bulgaricus**
* Reclassified as B. lactis
** Recently reclassified as L. helveticus
Take the capsule amount each day only as recommended by your healthcare provider. The capsules are enterically coated. The capsules have no dairy or gluten products.
The box has a Patient Insert for information and has 60 capsules. Guarantee is unavailable.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”2. NOW® Foods Probiotic-10™ Veg Capsules“]
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NOW® Foods, a family-owned company since 1968, makes its probiotic V-caps in 10 probiotic strains using no soy, dairy, or gluten. It is vegan, no nuts are used, and it is Kosher. It contains no magnesium stearate. Its item number 2926 contains live acid-resistant strains and are the ones that normally live in our gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The potent 25 billion CFU is best to use by the date on the bottle. Probiotics are necessary for healthy intestines and detoxification. The colors are natural so might vary slightly. NOW® Foods also makes natural aromatherapy essential oils, if you have an interest from the benefits using diffusers.
This product is not enteric coated; however, the NOW® Foods Gr8-Dophilus™ Veg Capsules are. Do not use this as a starter for yogurt—get the starter kit from your health foods store.
Blend of 10 strains of probiotic bacteria for healthy gut flora:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus casei
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Bifidobacterium breve
- Streptococcus thermophilus
- Lactobacillus salivarius
- Bifidobacterium longum
Streptococcus thermophilus is not a disease-causing strain of bacteria. It does not cause “strep” or other bacterial infections.
These probiotics also contain prebiotic FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) to assist healthy growth of acidophilus and bifidus organisms. FOB are simple sugar carbs found naturally in some fruits, vegetables, and grains. The fibers do not digest and are bacteria needed in the GI tract. This is a non-GMO product and is yeast-free.
Now Foods says: These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S.A. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The box has a Patient Insert for information and contains 50 capsules. The bottle does not ship with ice; it is okay as is but keep refrigerated or in a cool place out of the sun.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”3. hyperbiotics® PRO-15 The Perfect Probiotic“]
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The hyperbiotics® PRO 15 is 15 times more effective with its time-released pearls. This is a top selling probiotic on Amazon.com® item number LAAM B00JEKYNZA. The probiotics will repopulate your intestines with bacteria necessary for health and are easy to swallow and are not capsules. The bacteria are gently released within your GI tract alive over 8 to 10 hours sidestepping stomach acids. With 80% of our immune system being in our gut, then probiotics will enhance what is already there. This keeps the bad bacteria out. PRO-15 helps restore the natural flora and fauna for the best immune health keeping yeast at bay and provides relief from bloating, gas, and bowel irregularity.
Scientists are able to predict if people are fat or thin from their gut bacterial composition 90% of the time. Your genes provide only 58% accuracy. By getting your gut health back to its ideal balance, you can lose the fat.
When you do not absorb the vitamins and minerals necessary for the best health and feelings of well-being, you will feel irritable, moody, and fatigued due to poor absorption in your gut. You will then have your moods lifted and feel like your typical energic self again using probiotics. They help digestion, strengthen your immune system, gives better functioning of the brain for focusing and concentration.
With the release of the bacteria over hours, you will not feel as if you’ve swallowed a rock with capsules that can cause an upset stomach. You will not need to refrigerate the PRO-15 probiotics. It has a long shelf life with its patented LiveBac® manufacturing process, and it’s easy to swallow. You will be guaranteed the shelf life of 18 months from manufacturing date.
The PRO-15 is GMO-free, with no lactose, yeast, gluten, soy, sugar, nuts, iron, preservatives or artificial colors and flavorings. It does not contain any pesticides or herbicides either. Each BIO-tract® pearl has 5 billion CFUs and that is 75% of the probiotic capsules. You will only need to take once each day because it’s time released.
The PRO-15 is made in Washington, USA of homegrown products then shipped to Colorado to be tableted in a certified NDF and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) facility. PRO-15 does not contain any strains that are not resident to the human gut such as Soil Based Organisms (SBOs) or active yeasts.
PRO-15 contains these 15 probiotic strains:
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus fermentum
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Bifidobacterium infantis
- Lactobacillus casei
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus reuteri
- Lactobacillus salivarius
- Lactobacillus paracasei
- Lactobacillus gasseri
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Bifidobacterium breve
- Streptococcus thermophilus
You might have side effects for a few days of bloating, gas, or loose stools. You will take 1 tablet once a day with or without food and the ingredients are released over 8 to 10 hours. Always consult your healthcare provider for any existing gut issues.
The box has a Patient Insert for information and contains 60 capsules. The bottle does not ship with ice; it is okay as is but keep refrigerated or in a cool place out of the sun. You will receive a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your money back!
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”4. Garden of Life® Probiotic Supplement for Women“]
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The Garden of Life® probiotics just for us women item number 658010118323 is a top seller on Amazon.com® and comes in 30 tablets and more. It is doctor formulated and only needs to be taken once each day for having better digestive health and gut problems. It is stable on the shelf needing no refrigeration.
The probiotics are vegetarian, gluten, dairy, and soy free. They support women’s health for vaginal and immune system healthiness. They fight against candida over growth spores.
These arrive alive having 50 billion CFUs of live cultures. They ship in a desiccant-lined bottle for ensuring the stability of the bacteria. No refrigeration is required. The 16 probiotic strains are proprietary, meaning the manufacturer will not tell us, and Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus fermentum have been added. However, this table of ingredients was at the Garden of Life® website.
These can be taken with or without food, juice or water and the capsules can be opened but not put into hot foods or hot liquids. Children cannot take these probiotics.
The box has a Patient Insert for information and contains 30 capsules. The bottle does not ship with ice; it is okay as is but keep refrigerated or in a cool place out of the sun.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”5. Culturelle® Digestive Health Capsules“]
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The Culturelle® daily probiotic formula has the Good Housekeeping seal of approval and is 100% vegetarian in a 30 or 50 capsule bottle. It is a best seller on Amazon.com® item number 50421440021. For your important digestive health, these capsules will reestablish your intestinal flora in your gut’s immune system with good bacteria. You will function better and feel better mentally and physically.
Culturelle® Digestive Health Capsules are safe for children suffering from diarrhea over 1-year old. Check with your pediatrician first concerning youngsters. Get the Culturelle® Kids Products made just for them for times when your kids have tummy aches.
Culturelle® Digestive Health probiotics have 100% Lactobacillus GG that contains yeast and live bacteria. Your immune system controls yeast and bacteria in your body preventing infections. Some medicines and antibiotics decrease the immune system’s ability to fight infections, so you become gut sick.
You would need to eat 10 cups of yogurt to receive help from the bacteria in only 1 Culturelle® capsule. The capsules have no milk, soy, gluten, wheat, or preservatives.
The box has a Patient Insert for information and contains 30 capsules. The bottle does not ship with ice; it is okay as is but keep refrigerated or in a cool place out of the sun.
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[h2line h2-text=”Top 5 Best Immune System Building Vitamins“]
[boxsph3 h3-text=”1. CREE Nutrition Immune Support“]
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CREE Nutrition Immune Support is advanced and a complete herbal formula in 60 capsule bottles made in the USA. It has herbs, antioxidants and more immune system building nutrients. You will have less winter time sickness when your immune system is strong. Protect yourself from careless people sneezing and blowing their noses everywhere you go then using the pen to sign the credit card payment screen, touch door knobs, railings, and other places germs will stay.
The ingredients are:
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) 30 mg
- Vitamin E (D-Alpha Tocopherols succinate) 30 IU
- Selenium (amino acid chelates) 20 mcg
- Graviola leaf powder (Annona muricata) 300 mg
- Red raspberry juice extract 200 mg
- Green tea leaf (40% extract) 200 mg
- Turmeric rhizome (powder) 100 mg
- Beta-Glucan (powder) 100 mg
- Cat’s claw bark (powder) 20 mg
- Garlic bulb (powder) 20 mg
- Panax ginseng root powder 20 mg
- Lycopene (10%) (synthetic) 2 mg
- Quercetin (quercetin dihydrate) (seeds) 50 mg
- Pine bark (95% extract) 100 mg
- Grape seed (95% extract) 100 mg
- Pomegranate (40% extract) (seed hull) 50 mg
- Herbal Complex (consisting of Indian rhubarb powder, burdock powder, sheep sorrel powder and slippery elm powder) 100 mg
- Mushroom complex consisting of Shiitake powder, Maitake powder and Reishi powder (mycelial biomas) 80 mg
- Arabinogalactan (Larix larcinia) 20 mg
- Olive leaf extract 50 mg
Other Ingredients:
- Gelatin (bovine)
- Microcrystalline cellulose
- Vegetable magnesium stearate
- Vegetable stearic acid
The blend of ingredients is antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and can lower cholesterol. The antioxidants detoxify your body of carcinogens so that you have better energy and gusto for life. Antioxidants lessens wrinkles, premature aging, and damage to cells.
The products are made and packaged in GMP and NFS certified facilities here in the USA.
The red raspberry and pomegranate extracts are high in ellagic acid. The pine bark, green tea, and grape seed extracts are high in polyphenols. You know that mushrooms are loaded with minerals to protect the liver and cardiovascular system with vitamins and antioxidant properties.
If you are not completely satisfied with these vitamins, send them back for a full refund with no questions asked.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”2. Nutriza Select™ Immune Support Supplement for Adults“]
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The Nutriza Select™ Immune Support vitamins made by Kamire Nutrition, LLC in Texas, USA, comes in 60 caps in the bottle. Take two capsules daily for the ails that attack us during the winter. The ingredients are natural and fight free radicals to boost your immune system. You should have more energy and your body will fight infections with antioxidants for detoxification. It promotes cell development and gives your respiratory tract better health fighting flu and viruses.
With about 10% of the global population experiencing poor diet, insomnia, tiredness, and stress, it’s easy to see why our immune systems do not function as well as they should. Symptoms of a compromised immune system can be recurring with repeated infections, bacterial, viral, and fungal infections, allergies, depression, sleep deprivation, fatigue, and lack of energy and concentration.
Guarding your body from these conditions, the immune system sometimes needs a boost for sustaining best health. Nutriza Select™ Immune Support will give your body the nutrients needed with its vitamins, minerals, antioxidants of red raspberry, pomegranate, pine bark, grape seed, green tea extract, graviola, lycopene and others. The product is made in the USA in GMP certified facilities.
If you are not completely satisfied with these vitamins, send them back for a full refund with no questions asked.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”3. Dr. Tobias® Vitality Multivitamin and Minerals Plus Enzymes“]
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The Dr. Tobias® supplements are made with 42 whole natural vegetables, fruits, and herbs that are abundant with the B6, B12, and C vitamins and are not GMO. There are no synthetic chemicals and there are many antioxidants for greatest health and good digestion.
The 90 tablets (not capsules) will support bones, heart, digestion, and the immune system. The vitamins are made in the USA and GMP certified. The potent antioxidants aid to prevent free radical damage and helps to produce collagen for healthful skin with a more youthful appearance and feel. The natural multivitamin is perfect for women and men over 50 for achieving the best in life and those under 50, except children.
The vitamins are iron-free, apart from trace iron that naturally occurs in natural foods.
Antioxidants get into our bodies from the foods we eat and they slow us down. They can prevent oxidation of other molecules causing free radicals that are normal. However, an overabundance can cause problems with the structure of our cells.
Free radicals cause destruction in our cells so that the molecules in our cells become unstable. They try to attack healthy calls so that they can become stable. This can cause cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other problems. Antioxidants stop the cells oxidation by neutralizing free radicals.
If you are not completely satisfied with these vitamins, send them back for a full refund within 30-days from your purchase date.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”4. Kyolic® Moducare® Immune System Support Multi-Vitamins“]
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The Kyolic® Moducare® item number 656-10 are for immune system support that is a patented blend of plant sterols and sterolins to strengthen and reestablish your body’s health balance with your immune system. When you take it each day and change bad eating habits you will have a stronger immune system. Moducare® is vegetarian. The capsule is powder not an oil.
Take one capsule 3 times daily between meals.
Other Ingredients:
Microcrystalline cellulose, rice flour, magnesium stearate, and silicon dioxide
Free of: dairy, gluten, soy, acacia, barley, corn, wheat, millet, lactose, yeast, animal derivatives, iodine, artificial colors and sweeteners, salicylates, preservatives, and sugar.
The guarantee for this product is unavailable.
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[boxsph3 h3-text=”5. hyperbiotics® Immune System Probiotics with Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea“]
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The hyperbiotics® Immune and Wellness blend probiotics with vitamin C, zinc, Echinacea, and EpiCor® (Saccharomyces Cerevisiae), are time released and need no refrigeration. Vitamin C is one of the most important vitamins to support your immune system. This vitamin alone provides antioxidant capability being a natural antihistamine as well. The vitamin C comes from ascorbic acid and acerola cherries. Eat more oranges for pure vitamin C!
EpiCor® is an immune ingredient with 3 times the antioxidant power of fruits for helping your immune system be healthy. You will have more energy and be better focused mentally with this immune balancing ingredient.
Echinacea is the dried roots of purple coneflower used for its immune system properties and is healing. Zinc is an antioxidant occurring naturally in nature and is chelated with rice protein and citric acid so that your body can absorb it. No corn is used in this product.
The capsules have 4 billion CFU with 5 strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium infantis, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus reuteri making them 15 times more effective than typical probiotics. This formula restores good bacteria in your gut for better digestion where the immune system lives. Immune does not contain Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, bad bacteria causing strep and bacterial infections.
hyperbiotics® Immune formula can be takin with PRO-15, listed above number 3. You can take PRO-15 in the morning and this immune product in the afternoon. That way you receive help from even more good bacteria daily. The EpiCor® is a multivitamin for your immune system. Both together is very much recommended. The products are not certified Kosher. They are 100% vegetarian but not vegan as they may contain a very small amount of the milk protein casein for the fermentation process. Trace amounts are so small that many say it is even undetectable. The amount is less than 2.5 parts per million (that is less than 0.0000025%). The product is NSF Certified with a GMP manufacturer and made in the USA. There are no GMO products used.
The box has a Patient Insert for information and contains 60 capsules. The bottle does not ship with ice; it is okay as is but keep refrigerated or in a cool place out of the sun. You will receive a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your money back!
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Tips
- Always consult your physician if you are pregnant or nursing, taking medication (especially immune-suppressing drugs), or have a medical condition (especially if immune system is compromised). Keep out of the reach of children.
- Never give to babies! They are born with a perfect system. Always check with your pediatrician first. Check with your doctor for youngsters and teenagers as well.
- Keep the desiccant freshness packet inside the bottle to keep moisture out.
- Probiotics are not good as a starter culture for yogurt or fermenting vegetables. You can buy a starter kit at health food stores and table salt or pickling salt for vegetable fermentation.
- Urine changes color from vitamin C and other water soluble vitamins. It can be a bright yellow to light orange and is nothing to be concerned with.
Final Thoughts
We hope you will be experiencing great intestinal health with probiotics and vitamins for a superior working immune system. Please read customer reviews for the products listed here to see what other users are saying. Everyone has positive comments with improved health, so that means probiotics work. If you have any questions or comments, feel welcome to post it at the comment box below. Be happy and be healthy!