Best Probiotics For Men in 2022

Features To Look For In Probiotics for Men

Strain/CFU's - It takes more than one strain of beneficial bacteria to produce a healthy digestive tract. In some cases you may need a dozen or more. That said, most of these supplements glean their bacterial helpers from either the acidophilus, lactobacillus, B longum, B bifidum or streptococcus strains as these are known to provide optimal digestive benefits. CFUs are “colony forming units” and indicates how concentrated the bacteria levels are in the probiotic capsule.

Ingredients - Without a doubt you want to see some or all of the above-mentioned bacterial strains on the ingredient list of your supplement. It’s also helpful if your probiotic supplement is resistant to stomach acid that could undermine its effectiveness. If you are vegan make sure the capsule is not made from animal-derived products and if you are lactose intolerant be aware that some probiotic supplements for men may include dairy products or byproducts.

Gender Specification - Most probiotic supplements are formulated to work equally well for men or women. If you seek one that is specially designed to accommodate the needs of a man’s chemistry make sure it says as much on the label.

Effectiveness - Perhaps the biggest influence on the effectiveness of this type of supplement is its ability to resists stomach acid and digestive bile. Both of these compounds can attack beneficial bacteria, breaking them down and rendering them useless. While stomach acid won’t destroy all the bacteria in your supplement it may destroy enough that it makes a quantifiable difference in the effectiveness.

Expiration Date - Each brand will come with its own expiration date on the package but keep one thing in mind: most of these supplements require refrigeration in order to remain effective. If you fail to refrigerate a probiotic that needs it you may see a drop in potency of as much as 5% per day for every day the supplement is left out on the table or counter. Some of the best probiotic for men supplements do not require refrigeration, however, and they tend to last longer. Just make sure you know which type you have and store them accordingly.

Probiotic FAQs

Q: What are probiotics?

A: Probiotics are foods that contain bacterial strains that are known to be beneficial to the establishment and maintenance of a healthy digestive system. These bacteria go to work in the stomach and intestines establishing a healthy, well-balanced environment that enables your body to digest food more effectively so that it can gain optimal nutritional benefits from everything you eat. Some probiotic supplements also contain what are called “prebiotics”. These are a different type of microorganism that moves into the digestive tract, cleaning out harmful or counterproductive bacterial strains and laying a firm foundation for the probiotics to do their work.

Q: What are the benefits of probiotics?

A: Probiotics produce a number of different benefits and this is true whether you obtain them from the food you eat or from the kind of supplements profiled above. Those benefits include:

More efficient digestion - The average man passes a lot of unprocessed nutrients from his body with every bowel movement. As such, either they need to eat more to get all the nutrients they need or seek out a probiotic supplement like one of the ones listed above. Failure to do either will result in a lower level of overall health.

A stronger immune system - Without our immune systems people wouldn’t last more than a couple of days outside the womb. But for many men, their diet is such that it undermines the ability of their immune system to do its job. Probiotics, because they assist the body in gleaning greater nutritional value from everything you eat, have the much-appreciated side effect of naturally boosting immune system health.

Enhanced cardio health - Heart disease is one of the leading killers of men worldwide. Many heart conditions are related to having excessive amounts of bad cholesterol in your system. Probiotics have been shown to reduce the amount of unhealthy cholesterol by stunting its production in the liver. The result is cleaner arteries, less strain on your heart, more efficient oxygen absorption and distribution and a lower likelihood of developing heart problems.

Stronger bones - As men age, the chances of them breaking bones increases. Not to the same degree as it does with women, but to a significant degree nonetheless. Clinical tests indicate that probiotics may help increase bone density, a result that is thought to derive from greater nutrient absorption.

Greater urinary tract health - While women get far more urinary tract infections than men it is not that uncommon for men to be stricken as well. And when they are it can be very nasty indeed with high levels of blood in the urine accompanied by significant pain and discomfort. Probiotics that contain lactobacillus have been found to reduce the likelihood and frequency of UTis in men.

Q: When should I start taking probiotics?

A: If you are feeling sluggish, have been beset by an unusual number of colds in the past year, found yourself suffering constipation, diarrhea, frequent upset stomachs, acid reflux and more then it’s probably a good idea to try probiotics. Of course you don’t need to wait until you are at the precipice to start taking them. Many, many perfectly healthy men take them in order to prevent the onset of health issues, to bolster their immune system and to enjoy better results from their exercise regimes while staving off heart problems.

Q: Can I get probiotics from food?

A: Of course. In fact the word “Probiotic” means food. Foods that contain the different types of bacteria that are beneficial to the health of the digestive system, not to the bacteria themselves. So, probiotics would include yogurt, kefir, kimchi, pickles, sauerkraut, miso and a number of other foods that can be readily obtained from any supermarket. The problem is that not everyone is fond of many of the most effective probiotic foods. As such, they wind up needing to supplement.

Q: Why do some probiotics require cold storage?

A: Most beneficial bacteria die off quickly unless they are introduced to an environment where they are able to thrive, like your digestive tract. Therefore they need to be refrigerated in order to preserve their potency. A few strains of these beneficial bacteria however, are hardier sorts and won’t require refrigeration. Make sure you know which type of probiotic supplement you have.