Are you currently taking a probiotic, or searching for one that aligns with your specific needs? With hundreds of probiotics available on the market, you might wonder “which one is best for me?”
When selecting a probiotic, it’s crucial to examine the ingredients and specific probiotic strains. This reveals how effective the supplement will be for your unique gut health requirements. Today we’re diving deep into PB8 Probiotic.
Given the vast array of probiotic supplements available, including OptiBac Probiotics and New Chapter Probiotics, you’ll want to understand PB8 Probiotic thoroughly before making your decision. In this comprehensive review, we’ll examine the pros, cons, pricing, where to buy, and most importantly, whether it’s worth your investment. Let’s begin our detailed analysis of PB8 Probiotic.
About PB8 Probiotic
PB8 Probiotic, manufactured by Swanson, contains 8 distinct probiotic strains delivering 14 billion CFU per serving to support healthy digestive and immune system function.
PB8 Probiotic features a proprietary blend of 8 probiotic strains:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus
- Lactobacillus casei
- Bifidobacterium bifidum
- Bifidobacterium longum
- Bifidobacterium lactis
- Lactobacillus plantarum
- Lactobacillus salivarius
These probiotic strains are live microorganisms of beneficial bacteria that offer multiple health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts. The 14 billion CFU in PB8 Probiotic indicates the number of viable cells per serving.
PB8 Probiotics come in BPA-free bottles and vegetarian capsules suitable for vegetarians. The formula contains no gluten, wheat, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, or salt and is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Additionally, PB8 includes prebiotic inulin from chicory root, a carbohydrate that promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the microflora. This assists gut bacteria in producing nutrients, potentially leading to improved digestive health.
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PB8 Probiotic Ingredients And Benefits
Most probiotics exert their beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract, where they establish dominance within the intestinal microbiota. When disease-causing bacteria invade the body, beneficial bacteria work to combat the harmful bacteria and restore bodily equilibrium. It’s important to note that not all beneficial bacteria are identical — each strain offers different effects, and PB8’s eight strains work together to deliver comprehensive benefits.
Lactobacillus is one key genus found in PB8 Probiotic, playing a crucial role in gut health. Let’s examine the eight different probiotic strains in this supplement (hence the name).
Lactobacillus acidophilus
Acidophilus is one of the most renowned probiotic bacteria due to its significant bodily effects. It can help prevent various digestive issues including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, constipation, dyspepsia, and bloating. Additionally, this bacteria can aid in fighting certain allergies, preventing vaginal infections, promoting weight loss, strengthening immunity, and reducing cholesterol.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Rhamnosus ranks among the most common probiotic types. It was actually the first probiotic strain identified for commercial use due to its excellent growth qualities, ability to attach to the intestinal wall, and resistance to bile and acids. Various studies show this strain effectively strengthens immunity, treats gastrointestinal infections, increases insulin sensitivity, manages weight, and counteracts depression and anxiety.
Lactobacillus casei
Casei exists naturally in the intestinal tract and reproductive system, and is also found in raw cow’s milk and breast milk. This bacterial strain produces lactic acid through fermentation and is commonly used to create probiotic-fermented foods and beverages such as yogurts, cheeses, pickles, and wines. L. casei is recognized for remarkable effects on immunity, digestion, allergies, and infections.
Lactobacillus plantarum
Plantarum is among the most resilient probiotic strains, thriving in temperatures between 1 to 60 degrees Celsius. It can survive in low pH environments and withstand high bile acid conditions. L. plantarum is powerful in combating pollutants to reduce oxidative stress, boosting iron absorption to prevent iron deficiency anemia, regulating blood pressure to support heart health, maintaining a healthy GI tract to prevent digestive issues, and defending immunity to improve overall wellness.
Lactobacillus salivarius
As the name suggests, L. salivarius is bacteria prevalent in saliva, though it’s also present in the small intestines, colon, and vagina. It’s recognized for rapid growth and spread capabilities. This advantage enables it to quickly crowd out harmful bacteria. This strain is also essential 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.
The Bifidobacteria genus plays an essential role in the body’s homeostasis. It’s one of the most well-studied and established bacteria that provides positive health benefits to hosts through metabolic functions.
Bifidobacterium bifidum
Bifidum is the most common probiotic bacteria in the human body. It can also be synthesized and is widely used in fortifying dairy products and frequently appears in probiotic supplements. This strain protects against infections, prevents stomach problems, optimizes immunity, and improves nutrient absorption.
Bifidobacterium longum
Longum has been registered as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and is among the first bacteria originating from a newborn’s colon. Research shows this beneficial bacteria can help reduce inflammation, combat infections, reduce obesity, restore immune function, and relieve anxiety.
Bifidobacterium lactis
Lactis is a multi-functional probiotic bacteria residing in the GI tract. It’s a substantial strain verified to boost digestion, reinforce immune system functions, and resist tumor growth. It also plays a vital role in breaking down body waste, normalizing blood sugar levels, preventing eczema, fighting certain allergies, and assisting vitamin and mineral absorption in the gut.
Advantages And Disadvantages Of PB8 Probiotic
As evident from the benefits section above, PB8 Probiotic offers numerous advantages. Beyond the excellent ingredients, the probiotic comes in a BPA-free bottle, which isn’t as common as you might expect. It’s also highly allergy-friendly, with capsules free of soy, gluten, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, or tree nuts. The capsules also include inulin, a prebiotic that aids digestion and overall gut health while feeding the probiotics to keep them viable.
Regarding disadvantages, there are only a few concerns. The primary downside is that probiotics are only guaranteed at manufacture time, not until a specific expiration date. This raises questions about whether the probiotics remain viable by the time consumers purchase or consume them.
Additionally, the probiotic states it’s not safe for children. This is unusual since probiotics are typically fine for kids. This could partially be due to one included strand: Lactobacillus casei. This specific strain has been known to overpower beneficial bacteria and act aggressively in the body, potentially defeating the supplement’s purpose by hurting other bacteria’s survival chances.
The inclusion of this strain likely stems from its ability to help with gut-health issues like diarrhea and constipation.
Is PB8 Probiotic Safe?
Generally, PB8 Probiotic is considered safe. However, expect potential stomach cramps lasting a few days since the dose is relatively high for a probiotic supplement.
If you experience side effects, it’s likely due to multiple probiotic strains hitting your gut biome simultaneously, so consider reducing your intake.
Should You Buy PB8 Probiotic?
If you’re seeking a probiotic that includes prebiotic inulin and features diverse probiotic strains, PB8 Probiotic might suit your needs. It’s also exceptionally allergy-friendly, making it helpful for those with allergies. It’s free of soy, gluten, milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and tree nuts.
As always, consult your doctor before purchasing any probiotic, especially if you have a history of gut health issues.
Where To Buy PB8 Probiotic
If you decide to purchase PB8 Probiotic, you can find it on their official store! You can also purchase it on Amazon for $17 here. Since this is a popular probiotic brand, you can also find it in most vitamin stores if you prefer shopping in person.
