Internationally recognized natural health expert Dr. Joseph Mercola has the goal of proactively improving your and your communities’ health. He does this not only by offering what he claims to be the highest quality, most premium natural supplements available, but through education and advocacy as he brings you the most up-to-date natural health information along with exposing government, corporate, and mass media hype that stands in the way of getting the true facts about your health.
So, how do Dr. Mercola’s supplements truly measure up? Let’s take a closer look at 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 complete review of Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics.
About Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics
Complete Probiotics is Dr. Mercola’s high-potency answer to your need for a healthy gut. 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 alas, ‘tis not the evil Monsanto so much as health advocate Dr. Mercola who touts the benefits of this magic microbe, so nothing to worry about!
Instead, he offers a whopping 70 billion CFUs (colony forming units) of gut-friendly goodness to keep you, 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 some nutrients all rely on a healthy gut, which requires a variety of complementary bacteria. That means bacteria that not only survive into your lower gut, but ones that get along with each other and don’t start “good guy wars,” which can be as detrimental as not using a probiotic at all.
So while some probiotic supplements may choose to use a lower amount of strains, such as MegaSporeBiotic which includes only 5 strains, and others may include way more like 24 Strain Probiotic that includes (you guessed it) 24 strains, Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics has specifically chosen 10 particular strains to benefit your health. These strains include their “super strain” L. acidophilus DDS®-1, which they claim to have an incredible survival rate so that it can make it work even through strong stomach acid.
Contains The Prebiotic Fructooligosaccharide (FOS)
What good is a probiotic supplement if all the little guys starve to death before making it into you? Bacteria need something to feast upon as they reside in the capsule, which is why the prebiotic (AKA probiotic food) fructooligosaccharide is included.
Though it’s indigestible to you, this complex carbohydrate is what keeps ‘em alive in the capsule and helps them populate and survive in you to do their healthy best.
Patented Delayed Release System (DRcaps™) For High Survival Rate In The Colon
In order to really go to work, probiotics need to 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 know just what these little guys are up against!
But the patented delivery system DRcaps™ guards them through the hardest part of their journey, so they’re released at the appropriate time.
This time-released system, along with the resilient nature of L. acidophilus DDS, is why Dr. Mercola can claim a very high survival rate and maximum potency inside you, and not just in the capsule.
No Refrigeration Necessary
In our modern world, convenience counts! This includes not having to worry about keeping your probiotics at the correct temperature so that you’re not just spending money on dead bacteria.
For travelers and other busy, on-the-go types, this means the freedom of never having to be near a refrigerator, ice, or other means of keeping them cool and alive.
Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Ingredients
10-Strains Of Gut-Friendly Bacteria, Including L. acidophilus DDS
For optimum gut health, you need a variety of bacteria that includes bifida, lactobacillus, and streptococcus species. That’s because different bacteria have different “work areas” and functions inside you. For instance, while lactobacillus typically goes to work in the upper regions of your digestive tract while bifida bacteria like the lower regions of your bowels where they can keep things moving—just not too fast.
Likewise, streptococcus thermophilus works in the upper regions and is common in fermented foods (it’s known as a “lactic acid bacteria”).
Ultimately though, it’s the L. acidophilus DDS® which the good Dr. Mercola touts as being the major addition to this formula. Both he and science claim it’s the best at treating such ailments as irritable bowel syndrome, which is something that requires a strong probiotic to correct!
It also has a greater survival rate and is the little fighter you need in you 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
Altogether, this promotes your general health, which even includes your mental wellbeing since when your body feels bad, so does your mind!
Does Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Work?
Whether you suffer from symptoms of an underpopulated gut or you just want to make sure your healthy lifestyle is everything it should be, Complete Probiotics can work for you. This includes those coming off of antibiotics or other bacteria-killing treatments such as chemotherapy who need to repopulate their gut quickly and effectively.
And, while it’s “main” ingredient, L. acidophilus DDS®, may seem like some nasty little vermin synthesized in Dr. Frankenbiotic’s laboratory (Igor! Where’s that damned genetic sequencing you’re supposed to have on my desk!), Dr. Mercola ensures 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 so long as there are no allergies or sensitivities to any ingredients. This includes those coming off illness and antibiotic use, chemo patients, and anyone who overuses sanitizers or is changing their eating habits from processed to healthy.
But, for those who insist on a diet high in sugar, bad fats, and overly processed crap, even a probiotic as strong as this one is only half of what you need. Better yet, this product, along with switching to a healthy diet that includes plenty of whole fruits and veggies, good fats, complex carbs, and hydration, will make an absolute difference in how you feel, your energy levels, and your overall wellbeing.
Yes, you may feel crappy at first, but don’t give up since that’s the bad stuff leaving! Once you get through the initial phase, which may include overly active bowels, 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. Instead, he has the science to prove what he says his product will do, which includes treating irritable bowel disease (IBS), better nutrient absorption, and a bolstered immune system.
That, and his advocacy and ongoing desire to help the world be a healthier place, come from what we consider to be a good heart, which is as telling of his ethics as any scientific report can prove!
Is Dr. Mercola Complete Probiotics Safe?
It’s hard to get much safer than probiotics, assuming they’re ethically produced. In fact, the only side effects you’re likely to feel using this product are better digestion and overall health, though a lack of good bacteria can produce negative effects such as diarrhea, constipation, poor immune health, bloating, gas, and a leaky gut.
But, if you’re coming off of antibiotics, have spent a lifetime surviving on a poor diet, overuse sanitizing agents, or any other number of reasons for poor gut health, you may experience some detox symptoms when you start repopulating your gut. Though symptoms may be unpleasant and include overly-active bowels, 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 like 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 out 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 a further 5% savings when you sign up for auto-ship.
The 90-day size also ships free.
Along with the Good Dr.’s own website, you can purchase Complete Probiotics through nearly any retailer that sells quality probiotics. This includes online through Amazon and a whole slew of other sites, and through traditional retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and The Vitamin Shoppe, along with about a zillion independent retailers who work much harder for your money than Amazon or Walmart do, so buy from them instead.
