Align Probiotic is a dietary supplement designed to support gut health by boosting healthy bacterial levels in the gut.
Probiotics have received much attention in the science and medical community due to their many proposed health benefits. For example, you often hear about the ability of probiotics to address many digestive problems, such as bloating, constipation, abdominal pain, and even lactose intolerance.
And in this article, we’re going to talk about one of those probiotic supplements, Align Probiotic. Our Align Probiotic review dives into this supplement to see its ingredients, benefits, and whether or not it is worth the price. We’ll tell you our honest opinion of it, and where you can buy it if you want to try it.
Say tuned!
What Is Align Probiotic?
Align Probiotic is one of the many –and we mean MANY –other probiotic supplements available to consumers today. It was created by Align, a company owned by Procter & Gamble.
(For those wondering why that name sounds so familiar, they own nearly 100 brands, including Gillette, Crest, Aussie, Tampax, Dawn, Head & Shoulders, Oral-B, Scope, Febreeze, and Tide.)
It is a daily probiotic supplement designed to increase the number of good bacteria in your body and promote a healthy digestive system while also reducing many symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome.
It also claims to be the only supplement that contains Bifidobacterium 35624™ — a specific probiotic strain backed by over 20 years of research.
Align has been featured in over 50 publications and abstracts, won the 2010 Gold Edison Award for innovation in the health industry, has been the No. 1 gastroenterologist-recommended product for over 12 years, and has received a lot of positive reviews from customers.
Align Probiotic Benefits/Claims
So, what are the benefits of Align Probiotic? Let’s take a look at their claims:
- Reduces abdominal discomfort, gas, bloating, and other irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms
- Maintains a healthy digestive system balance
It’s clear that Align Probiotic is one of the most-talked-about probiotics out there, and the customer reviews seem to glow, as the reviews on their website and Amazon are generally 4 out of 5 stars or higher.
But will taking Align lead to significantly improved gut health? Read on to find out as we continue this Align Probiotic review.
Align Probiotic Ingredients
Now that we’ve had a chance to see what this supplement claims to do, we can start to look at the specifics behind Align Probiotic. This is important because every probiotic supplement contains a different formula.
For Align Probiotic, they go with a straightforward formula with just one probiotic strain: Bifidobacterium 35624, which is a trademarked form of Bifidobacterium longum.
Here’s what the ingredient label looks like:
Bifidobacterium Longum
Bifidobacterium longum is a non-motile, anaerobic bacterium. This means it won’t create spores, can’t travel freely throughout the body, and is most effective in areas low in oxygen (like the gastrointestinal tract).
One of the things that makes this strain of bacteria so effective in the gut is that it can withstand stomach acid, bile, and the other harsh conditions found in the gut.
Research has shown that Bifidobacterium 35624 can reduce constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, and gas, among other IBS symptoms. Plus, it has been shown to help balance cholesterol, improve allergy symptoms, and even decrease inflammation.
Another benefit is that it is heat-foil seal wrapped and DNA tested to ensure an effective level of CFUs and active cultures.
Align Probiotic Pros vs. Cons
If you’re looking for a perfect supplement that’s free of flaws and works for everyone, you’ll never find it. Since everyone’s body is unique and responds differently to certain things, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for anything.
With that being said, supplements can certainly help your situation and give you a boost when needed. The key is finding the right supplement that works for you.
If you’re still on the fence about Align Probiotic, we will discuss the various pros and cons of the supplement. This gives you a bird’s-eye view of what to expect from this probiotic so you can make a more informed decision with your supplement.
Pros
- Bifidobacterium longum can help improve the immune system and digestive system
- Should lead to less bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, and other IBS symptoms
- Bifidobacterium longum can also help with inflammation, cholesterol, allergies, and lactose intolerance
- Align Probiotic has been the #1 probiotic for ten years
- Doesn’t require refrigeration
- Guaranteed potency and money-back guarantee
- Very cheap to maintain daily
Cons
- Only contains one strain of probiotic
- No Lactobacillus strains
- Pretty low CFU dose
- Can find better formulas for just as cheap
Claims vs. Reality
When it comes to probiotics, the two main things you want to pay attention to are the number of bacteria in each capsule and the strains used.
Align Probiotic only contains one billion CFU, which is usually the minimum you want to take when supplementing with probiotics. In addition, it only has one strain of probiotics, which limits the benefits.
Some supplements contain as much as 10 billion CFU, but that’s mainly due to the different strains they use. With Align Probiotic, you aren’t guaranteed to receive all 1 billion CFU when consumed.
That’s why, while you should receive benefits, it’s not as good as it could be.
It’s safe and will undoubtedly deliver some probiotics to your gut, but there are definitely better options.
Safety and Side Effects
With only one ingredient, there aren’t many side effects to be concerned with. The only possible side effects are digestive-related, such as bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and gas, which should improve over time as your microbiome adjusts.
Align Probiotic is also gluten-free, soy-free, and vegetarian.
Where to Buy Align Probiotic: Dosages, Packaging, And Pricing
Align Probiotic comes in capsule form, which makes it easy to use. Each capsule (one serving) contains 1 billion CFU of live bacteria when packaged.
The capsules are packaged in blister packs, each containing seven capsules. So, the number of packs you’ll get depends on how many servings you buy.
You can buy Align Probiotic on Amazon; there are many choices depending on your needs.
You can buy a 28-serving bottle at this link ($26.86), a 56-serving bottle at this link ($44.42), a 63-serving bottle at this link ($49.97), and an 84-serving bottle at this link ($59.42).
So, you’re looking at around 75 cents to 1 dollar per serving, which is affordable for most people.
How Long Does It Take For Align Probiotics To Work?
According to its manufacturer, many Align users notice benefits from the 2nd-4th week of use.
Can You Take Align Probiotics Every Day?
Yes, Align is designed to be taken daily for continued gut health support.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Align Probiotics?
Probiotics supplement your natural gut microbiome. This could mean that stopping it may cause your microbiome to return to its previous state. However, more research is needed to establish this.
Who Should Not Take Align Probiotics?
People who have had adverse reactions to probiotics or have preexisting gastrointestinal medical conditions should consult their physician before taking Align or any other probiotic supplement.
Align Probiotic Alternatives
If you are interested in shopping around for another probiotic supplement, we’ve got you covered with other probiotics that may be more effective than Align.
The two we’ll discuss — Daily Care Probiotic and Seed Probiotic Subscription — give you much more complex and versatile formulas. Still, they’re entirely different from each other and appeal to two sets of people, so let’s take a closer look at them.
Daily Care Probiotic
Daily Care Probiotic is another formula you can find at most grocery and department stores. I wanted to bring this formula up because it contains a much wider variety of strains — and, therefore, a higher CFU content.
It contains both a Lactobacillus blend and a Bifidobacteria blend. Altogether, there are 12 different strains included, and one is B. longum. It also has Inulin, which is one of the most popular prebiotics found in supplements.
You get nearly 7 billion CFU of Bifidobacteria strains and 3 billion of Lactobacillus and prebiotics to help fuel those strains. Even more surprising, each package comes with 30 capsules and costs under $30 –making it cheaper than Align Probiotic.
Seed Synbiotic Subscription
Seed Synbiotic Subscription is an entirely unique probiotic on the market today. It’s a subscription service that costs $50 per month. You receive 60 capsules per month and take two capsules per day.
Each capsule contains various strains categorized into five blends –one for digestive health, skin health, heart health, micronutrient synthesis, and a prebiotic blend. This gives you nearly 54 billion per serving.
The capsules are also made special to act as a 2-in-1 capsule. The outer capsule is fitted with the prebiotics, while the inner capsule is fitted with the probiotics. It’s definitely worth a try if you want an enhanced experience with prebiotics and probiotics –or, as they call it, synbiotics.
Final Verdict: Align Probiotic
Align Probiotic isn’t a bad product; there are just better ones out there, so it might be best to look for some other probiotic.
If, however, you’re interested in a simple formula that gives you a minimum supply of probiotics (or if you’re new to probiotics and want to try something small), then give Align Probiotic a go.
