Whether you’re in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and are experiencing bloating, cramping or a weakened immune system, it could be a sign that you need to add a probiotic to your supplement lineup.
Throughout the perimenopause and menopause years, your body is going through many changes that can leave your gut in havoc.
The best probiotics for women help boost overall health and reduce uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms; better yet, they can even assist in easing vaginal infections.
Probiotics are composed of live microorganisms, typically found in food such as yogurt, but when you’re not getting enough, adding a supplement is the best way to support and strengthen your gut. To help learn more, we consulted with a physician to discover the best picks on the market and what to look for in a probiotic.
What are the benefits of probiotics?
According to Dr. Alejandro Junger, a cardiologist, author and the founder of Clean Program, probiotics are useful to repopulate the gut with beneficial microorganisms.
“The benefits of a healthy ‘bug’ population in the gut are endless, with more being discovered almost daily,” he tells Flow Space. Among them are better digestion, better absorption of certain nutrients like vitamin B12, a sturdier immune system, fewer cravings for unhealthy foods, better mood, less bloating and many others, which can increase during the perimenopause and menopause years.
What should women in their 40s, 50s and 60s look for in a probiotic?
“As a general rule, women in their 40s, 50s and 60s should look for a probiotic that contains several strains of good bacteria totaling a minimum of 20 billion organisms per take,” Junger explains. “In my opinion, combining good bacterial strains with healthy fungal strains, such as saccromyces boulardi, is a plus.”
This helps better prevent candida overgrowth in women, more than bacterial strains alone.
And when it comes to what to avoid when looking for a probiotic, Junger recommends steering clear of options that come in capsules that aren’t of vegetable origin, as well as other non-clean ingredients such as fillers and other additives.
“Beware of disreputable manufacturers and always check the expiration date carefully,” he adds.
Ahead, we compiled a list of the best probiotics for women in their 40s, 50s and 60s that keep the gut healthy and strong.
Whether you’re looking to repair poor gut health or strengthen your immune system, ensure you have a trusted probiotic stocked up in your cabinet, regardless of your age.