Internationally recognized natural health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola aims to proactively enhance your and your community’s health. He accomplishes this not only by offering what he claims to be the highest quality, premium natural supplements available, but through education and advocacy as he delivers the most current natural health information while exposing government, corporate, and mass media hype that obscures the truth about your health.
So, how do Dr. Mercola’s supplements truly measure up? Let’s examine one of his many products, Complete Probiotics, which he claims will balance your microbiome using 10 exceptionally beneficial strains of bacteria, including the “super strain” L. acidophilus DDS. Is this supplement worth the hype? We’ll find out in this comprehensive review of Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics.
About Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics
Complete Probiotics is Dr. Mercola’s high-potency solution for optimal gut health. It contains 10 beneficial strains, including what he dubs the “super strain,” L. acidophilus DDS®, which being a patented super—duper-bacteria-strain, sounds to us like some Monsanto Franken-germ.
But rest assured, this isn’t an evil Monsanto creation but rather a beneficial microbe endorsed by health advocate Dr. Mercola—nothing to worry about!
He delivers a substantial 70 billion CFUs (colony forming units) of gut-friendly bacteria to maintain your digestive and immune health in peak condition.
Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Benefits
10 Unique Strains To Balance Your Microbiome
Your digestion, nutrient absorption, and even the formation of certain nutrients all depend on a healthy gut, which requires diverse, complementary bacteria. That means bacteria that not only survive into your lower gut, but ones that coexist harmoniously without starting “good guy wars,” which can be as detrimental as not using a probiotic at all.
While some probiotic supplements use fewer strains, such as MegaSporeBiotic which includes only 5 strains, and others include many more like 24 Strain Probiotic that includes (you guessed it) 24 strains, Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics has carefully selected 10 particular strains to benefit your health. These strains include their “super strain” L. acidophilus DDS®-1, which they claim has an exceptional survival rate so it can work effectively even through strong stomach acid.
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Contains The Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharide (FOS)
What good is a probiotic supplement if all the bacteria starve before reaching you? Bacteria need sustenance while residing in the capsule, which is why the prebiotic (probiotic food) fructooligosaccharide is included.
Though indigestible to you, this complex carbohydrate keeps them alive in the capsule and helps them populate and survive in your gut to perform their beneficial functions.
Patented Delayed Release System (DRcaps™) For High Survival Rate In The Colon
To truly function effectively, probiotics must survive the journey through your stomach acid. And, if you’ve ever tried swimming through battery acid, which has about the same pH (let’s hope not…), you’d understand what these microorganisms face!
The patented delivery system DRcaps™ protects them through the most challenging part of their journey, ensuring they’re released at the optimal time.
This time-released system, combined with the resilient nature of L. acidophilus DDS, allows Dr. Mercola to claim a very high survival rate and maximum potency inside your body, not just in the capsule.
No Refrigeration Necessary
In our fast-paced world, convenience matters! This includes not having to worry about maintaining correct temperature so you’re not purchasing dead bacteria.
For travelers and busy, on-the-go individuals, this means the freedom of never needing refrigeration, ice, or other cooling methods to keep them viable.
Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Ingredients
10-Strains Of Gut-Friendly Bacteria, Including L. acidophilus DDS
For optimal gut health, you need diverse bacteria that include bifida, lactobacillus, and streptococcus species. Different bacteria have distinct “work areas” and functions inside you. For instance, lactobacillus typically functions in the upper regions of your digestive tract while bifida bacteria prefer the lower regions of your bowels where they can maintain regular movement—just not too rapid.
Similarly, streptococcus thermophilus works in the upper regions and is common in fermented foods (it’s known as a “lactic acid bacteria”).
Ultimately, it’s the L. acidophilus DDS® which Dr. Mercola highlights as the major addition to this formula. Both he and science claim it’s most effective at treating ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome, which requires a potent probiotic to correct!
It also has a superior survival rate and is the resilient fighter you need to:
- Restore bacteria populations after antibiotic use or chemotherapy
- Treat constipation
- Prevent diarrhea
- Ward off infections, including necrotizing enterocolitis
- Prevent and treat ulcerative colitis and other symptoms of irritable bowels
Together, this promotes your overall health, including your mental wellbeing since when your body feels subpar, your mind follows!
Does Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Work?
Whether you suffer from symptoms of an underpopulated gut or simply want to ensure your healthy lifestyle is everything it should be, Complete Probiotics can work for you. This includes those recovering from antibiotics or other bacteria-depleting treatments such as chemotherapy who need to repopulate their gut quickly and effectively.
While its “main” ingredient, L. acidophilus DDS®, may seem like some nasty organism synthesized in Dr. Frankenbiotic’s laboratory (Igor! Where’s that genetic sequencing you’re supposed to have on my desk!), Dr. Mercola assures us that no bioengineered ingredients are included.
Who Is Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Best For?
We all need probiotics, and most anyone can take these provided there are no allergies or sensitivities to any ingredients. This includes those recovering from illness and antibiotic use, chemo patients, and anyone who overuses sanitizers or is transitioning from processed to healthy eating habits.
However, for those who maintain a diet high in sugar, bad fats, and heavily processed foods, even a probiotic as potent as this one is only half the solution. Better yet, this product, combined with switching to a healthy diet that includes plenty of whole fruits and vegetables, good fats, complex carbs, and proper hydration, will make an absolute difference in how you feel, your energy levels, and your overall wellbeing.
You may feel uncomfortable initially, but don’t give up since that’s the harmful elements leaving! Once you get through the initial phase, which may include increased bowel activity, acne, and possibly flu-like symptoms, you’ll feel better than ever.
Claims vs. Reality
Dr. Mercola has been in business for a long time, which doesn’t happen to those who make false claims about their products. He has the science to support what he says his product will do, which includes treating irritable bowel disease (IBS), improving nutrient absorption, and bolstering immune function.
His advocacy and ongoing commitment to helping the world achieve better health stem from what we consider genuine intentions, which speaks to his ethics as much as any scientific report can prove!
Is Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Safe?
It’s hard to find much safer than probiotics, assuming they’re ethically produced. In fact, the only side effects you’re likely to experience using this product are improved digestion and overall health, though a lack of beneficial bacteria can produce negative effects such as diarrhea, constipation, poor immune health, bloating, gas, and leaky gut.
However, if you’re recovering from antibiotics, have spent a lifetime surviving on a poor diet, overuse sanitizing agents, or have other reasons for poor gut health, you may experience some detox symptoms when you start repopulating your gut. Though symptoms may be unpleasant and include increased bowel activity, acne, gas, and maybe even some flu-like conditions, they will quickly pass and leave you feeling much better than before—hang in there; it’s worth it!
Where To Buy Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics
Another reason we appreciate Dr. Mercola’s product is his reasonable pricing, which at $72.97 for a 3-month size (“on-sale” from $110.49, which is expensive), comes to around $0.82 per day. You also have the option of paying around $1.00 per day with the 30-day supply, and you can enjoy an additional 5% savings when you sign up for auto-ship.
The 90-day size also ships free.
Beyond Dr. Mercola’s own website, you can purchase Complete Probiotics through nearly any retailer that sells quality probiotics. This includes online through Amazon and numerous other sites, and through traditional retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and The Vitamin Shoppe, along with countless independent retailers who work much harder for your money than Amazon or Walmart do, so buy from them instead.
