GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a long-term stomach condition that afflicts an estimated 20% of people in the United States.
Common symptoms of GERD include:
• heartburn
• chest pain
• difficulty swallowing
• vomiting
• trouble sleeping
GERD occurs when stomach acid frequently flows back into the esophagus which can irritate the lining and tissues involved.
Some people experience symptoms like this less frequently, while others may deal with the symptoms every day.
There are a few alternative therapies, such as using Probiotics, that can help ease and reduce the frequency of symptoms.
Unwanted bacteria in the gut is a major cause of GERD, and Probiotics work by helping to facilitate a gut full of “good bacteria,” bacteria that won’t let the bad bacteria grow.
This healthy bacteria, and lack of bad bacteria, can drastically improve your overall gut health and can help reduce the uncomfortable symptoms of GERD.
Here are four of the best known and most well-received probiotic products on the market to help with your GERD symptoms.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick  | Our Top Pick | Physician’s CHOICE — Probiotics 60 Billion CFU |
| Check Latest Price |
2 | 2 | Digestive Advantage– Daily Probiotic Natural Fruit Flavor Gummies |
| Check Latest Price |
3 | 3 | Replenish the Good – Daily Probiotic Time Release Pearls |
| Check Latest Price |
4 | 4 | Earths Pearl – Probiotic & Prebiotic for Women, Men, and Kids |
| Check Latest Price |
Top 5 Best Probiotic Supplement for GERD
A #1 Best Seller, this Probiotic supplement blend has been a staple for many individuals suffering from various issues related to the gut. This blend includes a prebiotic fiber blend, as well, which likely makes it far more effective than competitors. Prebiotic fiber is like food for your healthy bacteria. By adding it in with the Probiotics, you give them a much stronger chance of surviving and outliving the bad bacteria—which then may make you feel much better and increase overall health.
What We Liked
- Vegan-safe, shellfish, and gluten-free
- Great variety of beneficial bacterias
- Includes prebiotic blend
- Patented shelf-stable bottle to ensure product stability.
What We Didn't Like
- There are mostly extremely positive reviews, but a handful of verified purchasers reported side effects when using this product.
For individuals who prefer to steer clear of powders or capsules, these fruit-flavored gummy probiotics have found popularity. One verified purchaser reports that he had been taking Omeprazole and Zantac daily to try to find relief from his GERD symptoms with no success. A few weeks after starting to take these gummies, his symptoms practically disappeared. These gummies feature a patented probiotic BC30 which is claimed to survive 100x better than other leading probiotic brands. Besides the Probiotics, the ingredients include: corn syrup, sugar, water, gelatin, citric acid, lactic acid, pectin, natural flavors, and colors from fruits and vegetables
What We Liked
- Unique probiotic strain
- Convenient gummy form
What We Didn't Like
- Does not include prebiotic fiber
- Some reports claim that the product did not arrive fresh
Designed for individuals with bowel-related issues and acid reflux, these daily probiotics may be very helpful for individuals with GERD These tablets are made with clinically researched strains of Probiotic bacteria and may boost brain function, immune system integrity, mood, and reduce acid reflux. The pearl tablets are easy to swallow and are non-GMO and vegetarian. They also contain no wheat, nuts, eggs, shellfish, chemicals, sugar, preservatives, or sweeteners. All of the company’s formulas are made in the USA in an audited facility, and the strands of bacteria used are well-researched, as touted by the company.
What We Liked
- Non-GMO and Vegetarian, and contains no popular allergens.
- Well researched and well tested.
- Designed to help acid reflux
- Made in the USA
What We Didn't Like
- Many customers complain of a bad odor from the tablets.
- Some reported mild side-effects
- Does not include prebiotic fiber
This probiotic and prebiotic formula is a mixture of specific beneficial bacteria found in food and supplements that includes prebiotic fiber. These pearl tablets are advertised to ease digestive stress as their primary use. While probiotics will help a lot of gut-related issues, digestive health, in particular, have a large role in causing or ceasing symptoms of GERM. These probiotics are not coated like a capsule, but have the texture of “Smarties” candy, making them allegedly easier to swallow. They are advertised as gentle and effective for men, women, and older children alike. The majority of verified purchasers swear by this product and have had many of their symptoms relieved thanks to this formula.
What We Liked
- Contains prebiotic fiber
- Designed for digestive health
What We Didn't Like
- Some reports claim, despite what the advertisement says, that these have a tendency to get stuck in your throat and may not be as easy-to-swallow
- Others complain that these contain only 4 billion CFU, while alternative probiotic products contain as many as 30 billion. CFU refers to a colony-forming unit, which is the number of live and active micro-organisms that can be found per serving.
Four Things To Consider When Buying Probiotic Formulas
Is there prebiotics?
Delivery mechanism
Technically speaking, you can get plenty of probiotics with your diet—and you should! Fermented foods will generally have probiotics, such as yogurt, sauerkraut, pickles, and the like. However, these probiotic supplements have gained popularity for convenience.
You can get a lot more healthy bacteria from one serving of these concentrated formulas than is possible with eating food normally.
With this in mind, you want to make sure whichever solution for probiotics consumption you choose, the form that you are taking it in is comfortable for you. Whether that be a gummy, capsule, or tablet, is your decision.
Remember, they don’t work if you don’t take them!
Ingredients
There are many different products on the market, and if you have allergies you will need to check into your product before buying.
Not all are gluten-free, and not all are vegan or vegetarian friendly. There is no standardized way to make a probiotic supplement, and there will be a variety of options available to suit your needs.
CFU count
This is a unit that represents how many live and active bacteria are in a particular substance. For reference, a serving of yogurt can have up to 6 billion CFU.
Where some supplements in their very small capsule form can have up to 30 billion CFU or even more.
In general, higher doses of CFU has been found to be more effective. There is a caveat, however, that doses of 1 – 2 billion CFU per day have been equally effective in certain circumstances where other factors like quality and freshness make their way into the equation.
You want to keep an eye on CFU, but do not sacrifice quality for a higher CFU count.
FAQ's
Do probiotics work immediately?
Generally, probiotics will be most effective after being taken for a longer period of time. One week is long enough in some cases for the beneficial bacteria to find a home in the gut and start doing work for your well-being.
Are probiotics safe?
There are very few cases where they are not safe, and this is generally due to allergic reactions. If you have serious allergies, you will definitely want to consult with a doctor before beginning a probiotic regime.
Outside of that, microbes that are used in probiotics exist naturally in the world and in your body. In fact, your bacteria colony (microbiome,) is gigantic and diverse. The human body contains trillions of microorganisms, outnumbering our own cells about 10 to 1.
Are all probiotics the same?
Definitely not. Not only do they differ in the colony-forming unit count, but the strains used in the formula itself greatly differ from product to product, and some strains are certainly better than others. This is why is it important to find a well-received and reliable supplement.
Conclusion
If you are having issues with GERD and looking for a safe, natural solution, probiotics can be a life-saver. Remember to choose a reliable, well-established company such as the ones mentioned on this list when choosing a product. Also, don’t forget to feed your beneficial bugs. Prebiotics are essential for the life and health of the good bacteria acquired from probiotics.
If your formula does not include prebiotic fiber, you’ll want to source and take some alongside your probiotic. With this in mind, you can now set out and find the best probiotic supplement to help ease your GERD or acid reflux symptoms and live your life more comfortably.
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