Do you take a probiotic? Or are you trying to find one that works well specifically for you? There are hundreds of probiotics on the market to choose from, which might beg the question “which one is best for me?”
When you’re trying to choose a probiotic its important that you look specifically at the ingredients, and the included probiotic strains. This will show you how effective the probiotic will be for you, and if it is right for your specific gut health needs. One probiotic that we are going to dive into today is PB8 Probiotic.
With so many probiotic supplements available, such as OptiBac Probiotics and New Chapter Probiotics, you’ll likely want to learn more about PB8 Probiotic before making your decision. In this article, we will review this probiotic and go over the pros, cons, price, where to buy, and most importantly, whether or not it’s worth your money. Let’s get started with this review of PB8 Probiotic.
About PB8 Probiotic
PB8 Probiotic is exactly what it is titled, a probiotic made by Swanson. It contains 8 different strains of probiotics with 14 billion CFU per serving to support healthy digestive and immune system function.
PB8 Probiotic features a propriety blend of 8 probiotic strains:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus casei
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus salivarius
These probiotics strains are live microorganisms of good bacteria that are considered to have multiple health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. The 14 billion CFU in PB8 Probiotic shows the number of viable cells per serving.
PB8 Probiotics come in BPA-free bottles and are encapsulated in vegetarian capsules that are safe for vegetarians. It contains no gluten, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, or salt and free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Also, PB8 contains prebiotic inulin from chicory root, a carbohydrate that can induce the growth of good bacteria in the microflora. This gives assistance to the gut bacteria to produce nutrients which may lead to a healthier digestive system.
PB8 Probiotic Ingredients And Benefits
Most probiotics deploy their useful effects in the gastrointestinal tract where they dominate the intestinal microbiota. Generally, when bacteria-causing disease invades the body, the good bacteria work to wrestle the bad bacteria and restore the equilibrium in the body. It is important to take note that not all good bacteria are the same, as every strain of bacteria has different effects on the body and PB8 has eight different strains to deliver its full potential.
Lactobacillus is one of the genera found in PB8 Probiotic. Mainly this type of bacteria plays an important role in gut health. There are eight different probiotic strands in this supplement (hence the name) that we will go over here.
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Acidophilus is one of the most famous probiotic types of bacteria because of its many significant effects on the body. It can help prevent various stomach mix-ups such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, and bloating. In addition, this type of bacteria can also aid in fighting against certain allergies, preventing vaginal infections, promoting weight loss, strengthening the immune system, and reducing cholesterol
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Rhamnosus is also a part of competition when it comes to the most common types of probiotics. It is actually the first probiotic strain that was identified for commercial use because of its good growth quality, ability to attach to the intestinal wall and resistance to bile and acids. Also, various study shows that this strain is equally beneficial in strengthening the immune system, treating gastrointestinal infections, increasing insulin sensitivity, managing weight, and counteracting depression and anxiety.
Lactobacillus casei
Casei is naturally existing in the intestinal tract and even in the reproductive system, at the same time, it is also found in raw cow’s milk and breastmilk. Furthermore, this strain of bacteria produce lactic acid through fermentation and is commonly used to make probiotic-fermented foods and drinks such as yogurts, cheeses, pickles, and wines. Lastly, L. casei is equally known to have remarkable effects on immunity, digestion, allergies, and infections.
Lactobacillus plantarum
Plantarum is one of the most sturdy strains of probiotics as it can thrive in the environment with temperatures between 1 to 60 degrees Celsius. It can also survive in low pH levels and bear up against high bile acid environments. L. plantarum is powerful in combatting pollutants to alleviate oxidative stress, boosting iron absorption to prevent iron deficiency anemia, regulating blood pressure to avoid heart problems, maintaining a healthy GI tract to inhibit stomach mishaps, and defending the immune system to improve overall health.
Lactobacillus salivarius
As the name implies, L. salivarius is a type of bacteria that is prevalent in the saliva; however, it is also present in the small intestines, colon, and vagina. It is recognized for its capability to grow and spread rapidly. As a result, this advantage enables to crowd out harmful bacteria quickly. In addition, this strain is also necessary for maintaining oral hygiene, alleviating gut disorders, inhibiting vaginal infections, preventing asthma and strep throat, and blocking pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella spp.
Bifidobacteria genus plays an important part in the body’s homeostasis. It is one of the well-studied and well-established bacteria which presents positive health benefits to their host through their metabolic functions.
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidum is the most common probiotic bacteria present in the human body. However, it can also be synthesized and is largely used in fortifying some dairy products and is often used in probiotic supplements. This strain can protect against infections, prevent stomach problems, optimize immunity, and improve nutrient absorption.
Bifidobacterium longum
Longum has been registered on Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and it is one of the first bacteria that originated from a newborn’s colon. Researches show that this good bacteria can help reduce inflammations, combat infections, reduces obesity, restores the immune system, and relieve anxiety.
Bifidobacterium lactis
Lactis is a multi-functional probiotic bacteria that reside in the GI tract. It is a substantial strain that has been verified to boost digestion, reinforce immune system functions, and resist tumor growths. It also plays a vital role in breaking down body waste, normalizing blood sugar levels, preventing eczema, fighting off certain allergies, and assisting in the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the gut.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of PB8 Probiotic
As you can see from the above section on the benefits of the PB8 Probiotic, there are a lot of advantages to taking this probiotic. Aside from the great ingredients, the probiotic also comes in a BPA-free bottle which is not as common as you would think. It’s also super allergy-friendly, the capsules free of soy, gluten, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts. The capsules also include a prebiotic – inulin, which also aids in digestion and overall gut health. The prebiotic also helps to feed the probiotics, which keeps them alive.
As for the disadvantages, there are only a few to address. The main downside to this specific probiotic brand is that the probiotics are only guaranteed at manufacture time, not until a certain date. This is a bit fishy, as it leaves consumers wondering if the probiotics are still alive by the time they purchase them or digest them.
Lastly, the probiotic states that it is not safe for kids. This is a little strange because typically probiotics are fine for children. This could partially be due to one of the strands they include: Lactobacillus casei. This specific strand has been known to overrun the good bacteria in the body and act aggressively in the body. This defeats the overall purpose of the supplement because it hurts the chance of survival of the other bacteria.
If you’re wondering why they added it in the first place, it could be because it can help with gut-health issues like diarrhea and constipation.
Is PB8 Probiotic Safe?
Generally, PB8 Probiotic is considered safe. However, expect stomach cramps that may last a few days because the dose is relatively high for a probiotic supplement.
If you encounter side effects, it mostly would be because of too many probiotic strands hitting your gut biome all at once, so just lower your intake next time.
Should You Buy PB8 Probiotic?
If you are looking for a probiotic that includes the prebiotic inulin and has a variety of different probiotic strands, then PB8 Probiotic might be the one for you. It is also very allergy-friendly, so if you have allergies, PB8 could be helpful. It is free of soy, gluten, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts.
As always, make sure to check with your doctor before purchasing a probiotic, especially if you have a track record of gut health issues.
Where To Buy PB8 Probiotic
If you decide to buy PB8 Probiotic, you can check it out on their official store! You can also purchase it on Amazon for $17 here. This is a popular probiotic brand, so you can also find it in most vitamin stores if you would rather pick it up in person.