Bloating. Gas. Constipation. Stomach aches.
Have you dealt with any of these before?
I’m betting you have. And for those people who consistently experience these symptoms, it’s very likely that your digestive system is out of whack. As a result, you may benefit from probiotic supplementation, which is gaining in popularity every day now it seems.
Of course, there are many different probiotic supplements out there, but at Fitness Clone, we’re only interested in ones that actually work.
And in this article, we’ll review a probiotic supplement called Usana Probiotic to see if it can help you with your digestion and get you back to your normal self.
As we go through this Usana Probiotic review, we’ll give you an overview of the product, its proposed benefits, and its ingredients.
How effective is Usana Probiotic? Keep reading our in-depth review to find out.
About Usana Probiotic
Usana Probiotic is designed to be the world’s most trusted probiotic supplement to help the friendly bacteria in your gut survive and thrive. It is made and produced by Usana, the same makers as Usana CellSentials.
Usana Probiotic contains 3 research-backed forms of probiotics and a total of 12 billion units of viable bacteria in just one dose.
Also, unlike some other probiotic supplements, Usana Probiotic comes in a powdered form in stick packs that you can take with you wherever you go, making it convenient and easy to take.
Usana Probiotic Benefits
The two main benefits of Usana Probiotic are:
- Digestive Support
- Immune Function Support
Digestive Support
With 12 billion live and active cultures per serving, Usana Probiotic is advertised to support overall digestion and gut health, while minimizing troubling symptoms, such as gas, bloating, diarrhea, and nausea.
Immune Function Support
The majority of your immune cells live in your gut, and Usana Probiotic is designed to work with your body to strengthen its natural defenses and improve overall immune function.
Overall, Usana Probiotic takes a unique approach to probiotic supplementation. But will it actually benefit your digestive and immune health? Read on to find out!
Usana Probiotic Ingredients
The main active ingredients in Usana Probiotic are LGG and BB-12, which are forms of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium, respectively. But another active ingredient in here is inulin.
LGG
LGG is a trademarked form of Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and it was actually the first lactobacillus strain to ever be used in research.
Research has shown that LGG can survive the acidic environment of the stomach and effectively reach the colon, where it delivers its benefits, such as by decreasing harmful bacteria, enhancing immune function, and promoting overall gut health.
LGG has also been shown to reduce diarrhea, bloating, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, and even allergies, cardiovascular diseases, and other diseases.
Recommended Dose: 10 Billion CFU
BB-12
BB-12 is a trademarked form of Bifidobacterium, and it is also very well-researched.
BB-12 is very effective at tolerating gastric acid and bile, which allows it to reach the colon and intestines where it can exert its effects. BB-12 has been shown to inhibit pathogenic bacteria, enhance gut barrier function, enhance the gut microbiome, and improve gut-immune health.
Some other specific benefits of BB-12 supplementation include improved bowel function, reduced diarrhea, decreased bloating, and decreased incidence of infections.
Recommended Dose: 10 Billion CFU
Inulin
The last ingredient in Usana Probiotic is inulin, which is a type of dietary fiber found in many plants that acts as a prebiotic.
Inulin has been shown to increase the number of healthy bacteria in the gut, especially Bifidobacterium, while also increasing short-chain fatty acid production.
And these effects together increase overall gut health.
Does Usana Probiotic Work?
Usana Probiotic should likely be an effective probiotic supplement to enhance digestive and immune system health.
It contains the two most well-researched probiotic strains, which are proven to have a high bioavailability and a wide number of health benefits, including enhanced digestion, reduced bloating and diarrhea, IBS improvement, and improved immune function.
Now, the recommended dose for each of these is 10 Billion CFU, but this is when these are taken alone.
So, the total dose of 12 Billion CFU in Usana Probiotic is likely sufficient, even though you only get probably 6 Billion CFU from each. Since they both have very similar effects, the total dosage is what matters most.
Lastly, the inulin included in Usana Probiotic should help improve overall digestive health, but the dosage is unclear.
Claims vs Reality
Usana Probiotic simply states that users will see an improvement in digestive health and immune function.
And based on the well-researched, adequately dosed probiotics in the product, these effects should occur, especially if users take it consistently over the long term.
Granted, not everyone benefits from probiotic supplementation, but most people do, especially from these strains.
Who is it Best For?
Usana Probiotic is best for anyone who wants to improve their overall digestive and immune health, especially those who deal with relatively frequent digestive symptoms, such as gas, bloating, constipation, and diarrhea.
The makers of Usana Probiotic also note that it can be useful for athletes, people under temporary stress, and travelers, since these people may have compromised gut function.
Safety and Side Effects
Ironically, probiotic supplements can sometimes increase the incidence of digestive symptoms initially, but these should reside as the gut microbiome adjusts. But some possible side effects (esp. in the initial stages) include:
- Gas
- Bloating
- Upset Stomach
- Diarrhea
- Other Related Symptoms
How to Take Usana Probiotic
Usana Probiotic is designed for adults 18 and over.
Users are instructed to add one stick pack to a cold food or beverage and consume it immediately. (I’m guessing it’d be easiest to just add it to bottled water or similar drinks for the highest convenience, but feel free to be creative!).
You can take one stick pack every 1-2 days or as needed to promote digestive health.
Probiotics should be taken daily for maximum effectiveness. Be patient, as it takes time to experience the full benefits of probiotics.
Where to Buy Usana Probiotic
You can buy Usana Probiotic on the Usana website at this product link.
In each box, you get 14 servings (14 packets). The regular price is $32.95 ($2.35/serving) or you can set up a Preferred Customer account, which could potentially lower the price to $29.95 ($2.14/serving).
Evidently, Usana Probiotic is more expensive than the average probiotic supplement, which typically costs around only a dollar per serving, sometimes $1.50. But given the probiotic quality and convenience of Usana Probiotic, this price really isn’t shocking.
For cost-conscious customers, here are some more affordable alternatives:
- 1MD Probiotics: ~$1 per serving
- Seed Synbiotics: ~$1.70 per serving
- Ritual Synbiotics: ~$1.70 per serving
Final Verdict
Usana Probiotic has the most well-researched probiotics in effective dosages, which is why we recommend it as a probiotic supplement to anyone looking for a convenient way to boost their digestive health.