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Best Probiotics for Women and How to Use

By Rachel Link, RD, MS

December 3, 2024

Whether you’re looking to support skin health, promote mental clarity or balance your gut microbiome, probiotics can be incredibly beneficial for women. In fact, they're one of the most important gut health supplements, as many probiotics on the market today are designed to address health interests specific to women while also supporting a healthy you.

However, finding the best probiotic for women can be quite a challenge. With the many strains and suppliers out there, finding the right supplement for you can require a massive amount of time and energy. Not only that, but finding a probiotic formulated specifically to fit the needs of women can make things even more complicated.

Fortunately, once you know what to look for, finding your way through the supplement section can be a breeze. Ready to learn more? Let’s take a closer look at some of the best probiotics for women, along with some suggested strategies to increase your intake.

Why choose a probiotic for women?

Although just about everyone can benefit from a high-quality probiotic supplement, probiotics are one of the best supplements for women.

How to improve gut health? Probiotics can help support a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a central role in many aspects of health. Women may be especially interested in microbial balance, which can help support the body’s normal pH and offer several other benefits.

In addition to supporting digestive function, many probiotic supplements formulated for women also contain ingredients designed to address other health interests as well. In fact, some of the best probiotics for promoting women's pH balance may also help support healthy skin, healthy cognitive function, and healthy immune function system.

Meanwhile, other probiotics are produced specifically to promote vaginal health, support well-being during pregnancy or support overall or targeted microbial balance.

Ancient Nutrition's SBO Probiotics Women's Capsules are designed specifically for the female body. Its unique formulation also features a clinically studied Ayurvedic herbal blend.

Health benefits

There are plenty of reasons to consider adding some of the best probiotics for women into your daily routine. Here are a few of the top benefits.

1. Supports healthy digestive function — including less constipation, gas and bloating

Because they’re housed right in the digestive tract, probiotics are absolutely essential to gut health. In addition to supporting healthy elimination, probiotic supplements can also provide benefits such as reducing occasional constipation, diarrhea, gas and bloating.

SBO Probiotics Gut Restore includes a combination of 25 billion soil-based probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics to create a trifecta approach. Prebiotics act as fertilizer for probiotics. Postbiotics are the metabolites (enzymes and organic acids) created by probiotics.

In addition, consider adding digestive enzymes to your routine in order to make sure your foods are being properly digested, an issue that can crop up as one ages.

2. Supports healthy cognitive function

While more research needs to be conducted, more and more research recently has focused on the gut-brain connection, demonstrating that the beneficial bacteria found in your gut could play a powerful role in mental health.

Some of Ancient Nutrition's SBO probiotic formulas, for example, feature clinically studied ashwagandha root extract, an ingredient that can help support a healthy response to stress and support focus, a healthy memory, mental clarity and concentration.

3. Supports healthy immune system function

Several strains of probiotics have been shown to help support a healthy immune system and a healthy inflammation response, both of which can help keep you feeling your best.

What’s more, some types of probiotic formulas can also support a healthy inflammation response, another key aspect of immune health.

4. Supports a healthy weight

Certain types of probiotics can help promote healthy weight management through several different mechanisms. For example, some strains of probiotics can promote regular bowel function, support healthy elimination and relieve occasional bloating.

Meanwhile, other types can support the normal breakdown of complex carbohydrates and promote proper digestion and nutrient absorption, which could also be beneficial when it comes to healthy weight management.

5. Maintains oral health

Not only can probiotics help maintain a healthy gut flora to support digestive function, but they may also help maintain oral health. This is because there are many types of bacteria in the mouth, and maintaining the right balance can help optimize oral health.

Certain types of probiotics have been shown to help maintain oral health, which could aid in keeping your overall mouth healthy.

Best probiotic supplements for women

SBO Probiotics Women's Capsules — Designed specifically for the female body, its unique formulation also features a clinically studied Ayurvedic herbal blend. It works to help support a healthy immune system and digestive function, reduce occasional constipation, helps to maintain healthy gut microflora, and more. Adults take two capsules daily with 8 ounces of water.

SBO Probiotics Women's Once Daily — This proprietary formulation for this once daily women’s probiotic supplement combines four resilient, effective probiotic strains and time-tested superfoods to reduce digestive discomfort like occasional constipation, gas and bloating. Just take one capsule per day, with a glass of water.

SBO Probiotics Vaginal Once Daily — This vaginal health supplement combines resilient, effective probiotic strains and time-tested superfoods to support a healthy vaginal microbiome, a healthy yeast and microbial balance — plus reduced occasional bloating and support for digestion. Take one capsule per day, with a glass of water. 

SBO Probiotics Ultimate Capsules — Ancient Nutrition's most popular gut supplement, this probiotic includes a combination of 50 billion CFUs soil-based probiotics (other formulas have 25 billion CFUs). It contains a fermented organic botanical blend, plus select clinically studied strains to deliver support for healthy elimination, reduction of occasional bloating, gas, diarrhea, healthy inflammation response, oral health and more. Adults take two capsules daily with 8 ounces of water.

Regenerative Organic Certified® Menopause Support Probiotics — Powerful probiotics for women entering or experiencing menopause. Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) Menopause Support Probiotics brings you a never-seen-before combination of prebiotics, postbiotics and 30 probiotic strains — plus herbs and mushrooms grown in nutrient-dense soil on our founder-owned ROC™ farms.

Regenerative Organic Certified® Metabolism Support Probiotics — Powerful probiotics for supporting a healthy, thriving metabolism. Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROC™) Metabolism Support Probiotics brings you a mix of prebiotics, postbiotics and 30 probiotic strains — plus herbs and mushrooms grown in nutrient-dense soil on our founder-owned farms.

SBO Probiotics Gummies — For those who prefer a gummy, probiotic gummies combine tough, effective probiotic strains for comprehensive gut support beyond just digestion. These feature 10 billion CFUs per serving. Thoroughly chew 2 gummies per day. For adults and children 4 and up.

Looking for probiotics supplements for men? Check out our article on the benefits of probiotics for men as well as SBO Probiotics Men's.

How to use

Probiotic supplements are easy to incorporate into your daily diet. Although the serving size can vary based on which supplement you select (check out how to read a probiotic label), you should generally take between 1–3 capsules daily, either with water or with your favorite beverage.

When to take probiotics? You can take capsules at any time of day, with or without food, depending on what works for you. 

The most common recommendation is to take probiotics on an empty stomach, either when you first wake up or right before bed. In general, this seems to help ensure survival better compared to taking them after a meal, when the pH of your stomach becomes more acidic. 

Ideally, you should set a routine and stick to it to ensure that you’re taking your probiotics consistently to help maximize results.

Top probiotic foods for women

Probiotics are present in a variety of food sources as well. In fact, many of the best probiotics for women's digestive health can be found right in your refrigerator. Fermented foods, in particular, are high in beneficial bacteria and can help naturally boost your intake of probiotics.

Here are a few of the top probiotic foods for women:

• Sauerkraut

• Kimchi

• Miso

• Natto

• Tempeh

• Pickles

Some of the best probiotic drinks include:

• Kombucha

• Kefir, including goat milk kefir

• Kvass

• Coconut kefir

Other considerations

Finding the best probiotic for women starts with checking the ingredients list carefully. Ideally, supplements should offer a combination of probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics and other health-promoting herbs and ingredients.

Additionally, remember to always purchase from a reputable retailer, pick products that contain live and active cultures and select a supplement with a variety of diverse probiotic strains.

When first starting supplementation, it may take some time to adjust to the effects of probiotics. Be sure to find a routine that works for you and take probiotics consistently for best results. (You can also check out other gut support supplements.)

You should always check with your healthcare professional starting any new dietary or lifestyle routine, including the use of supplements.

Conclusion

• Probiotics can help support a healthy gut microbiome, which plays a key role in many aspects of health, particularly for women. Some probiotics such as SBO Probiotics Women's Capsules also feature herbs and ingredients formulated to address other health interests specific to women as well.

• Probiotics can generally help support digestive function, cognitive function and immune system function. They are also often paired with an array of herbs and extracts or specially selected ingredients designed to support other aspects of health as well.

• Whether you’re looking for a product to promote overall health or searching for the best probiotic for women, there are many options available. Be sure to select a high-quality supplement and use consistently for best results.

Rachael Link, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian based in New York City. She completed her undergraduate degree in Dietetics at the University of Central Missouri and later received her Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University. Rachael is passionate about plant-based nutrition and enjoys providing easy-to-understand information to readers looking to support their health.