Probiotics
Browse probiotic supplements in capsules, powders, drops and sachets, from single strains to multi-strain formulas. We explain what CFU really tells you, which strains are named on the label and how to take them.Read more →
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What to look for in a probiotic supplement
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that you take as a food supplement. In the UK and the EU, the word probiotic itself counts as a health claim, and no probiotic health claim has been approved. The only authorised claim for live cultures concerns yoghurt cultures and the digestion of lactose in yoghurt. That shapes how we write about this category. We describe what is in the product: the strains, the number of live cultures and the form. Anything more would be a promise we cannot stand behind.
Strain names tell you more than a big CFU number
Most labels list a genus and a species, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. Stronger labels add the strain code, for example Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG. That matters, because research on live cultures is strain-specific. What one strain did in a study says little about the next one. CFU stands for colony forming units: the number of live cultures in one dose. It is useful information, not a ranking. Check whether that count is guaranteed until the end of shelf life or only at the time of manufacture. Many formulas also add fibre such as inulin, which you will find on its own in our prebiotic fibres collection.
Capsules, powders, drops and liquids suit different routines
- Capsules: fixed dose, easy to travel with, often with a coating that protects the cultures from stomach acid.
- Powder sachets: higher doses and flexible amounts, handy if you dislike swallowing capsules.
- Drops: mostly used for babies and young children, dosed by the drop.
- Liquids and chewables: a simple option for people who take supplements with breakfast.
One form is not automatically better. What counts is that the cultures reach your gut alive and that you actually keep taking them.
How we choose the probiotics we stock
We look at three things: the strain, the dose and the combination. We prefer products that name the full strain, state the live count at the end of shelf life, and give clear storage instructions. We stock both refrigerated and shelf-stable products, because a fridge-only powder is no help to someone who travels every week. We buy directly from the brands, so what is on the label is what you get, and our compliance team checks every product before it goes live. You can read how we select brands and products.
Who these supplements suit, and what to expect
People most often start a probiotic during or after a course of antibiotics, while travelling, or simply to keep a daily routine going. The cultures you swallow do not settle permanently, so consistency matters more than dose size. Give it two to four weeks of daily use before you judge whether a product suits you. Mild wind or a change in bowel habit in the first days is common. If you have a weakened immune system or an existing health condition, speak to your doctor before you start.
Diet still does most of the work here. Fermented foods and a varied, fibre-rich diet feed the bacteria already living in your gut, and a supplement is a top-up, not a replacement. Probiotics sit next to fibres, enzymes and everyday basics in our wider supplement range, so you can build a routine that you can keep up.
Frequently asked questions
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts, taken as a food supplement or eaten in foods such as yoghurt and kefir. They are often called live, good or friendly bacteria. The idea is to top up the bacteria already present in your digestive system. Note that UK and EU rules treat the word probiotic as a health claim, and no probiotic health claim has been approved so far. That is why labels describe strains and live counts instead of promising specific effects.
