Have you been wondering which probiotic is best for constipation?
Constipation is a widespread condition that affects a lot of people, regardless of age. Recent studies have revealed that probiotics are great in regulating bowel movement.
The secret lies in the nature of these “good bacteria” or probiotics.
No matter how clean your lifestyle and diet are, you can never completely rid your body of bacteria. Our digestive tract is home to billions of them both good and bad.
Unfortunately, most of us have more bad bacteria than good due to the processed foods we eat, the antibiotics we take, or even the tap water that we ingest.
Foods rich in probiotics like yogurt can help restore the balance by increasing its population in our gut. However, they are not as effective as taking supplements.
Not all supplements are the same, though. Some of them contain less than the recommended amount of probiotics to make it work, while others have a single or low number of strains.
For a probiotic to be effective in relieving constipation, it has to have a specific strain that is an expert in improving bowel movement.
In the next section, we give to you our recommended probiotic supplement for this particular task. As a matter of fact, it’s no surprise that this is what we consider as the overall best brand for any purpose.
We also include our list of the top 5 to give you more choices. We’ve reviewed each of them as well so you can easily decide which one to pick. Finally, the later section discusses the causes of constipation and how long should you expect before you start seeing improvements.
Which Probiotic is Best for Constipation?
Laxatives, stool softeners, etc. are the common go-to solutions to treat constipation. However, they’re not always effective especially if the cause of your condition is unhealthy gut flora.
Recent studies and clinical trials published by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, have shown that probiotics helped in:
- Slowing down the movement of food in the gut
- Increases weekly bowel movement
- Softens up stools
They have also determined that not all probiotic strains are as effective as Bifidobacterium.
FloraTrust 4000 is what we recommend as the best probiotic for constipation. Compared to other brands, it actually has 2 strains of Bifidobacterium, namely:
- Bifidobacterium longum (Bl-05), and
- Bifidobacterium bifidum (Bb-02)
Each of them has 275 million CFU. If you’re unfamiliar with CFU, it actually stands for “colony forming units”. It’s a measurement of the number of bacteria in probiotics, capable of dividing and forming colonies.
A lot of people have experienced quick results with this supplement. They see and feel noticeable signs that probiotics are working as early as a day or two.
If you want to check other brands, we’ve listed our 5 best probiotic supplements in the next section, including FloraTrust 4000. They’re not only good for constipation, but for your overall gut health as well.
Best Probiotic Supplements
#1 – FloraTrust 4000
FloraTrust 4000 from PureFormulas is the best option on our list, based on our experience. It works faster than the rest and is the most popular as well.
PureFormulas is a leading expert in dietary supplements. All of their products are manufactured in the United States only. They are free of common allergens such as dairy, corn, and gluten.
We consider FloraTrust as the best choice because of the following reasons:
- It actually contains 2 strains of Bifidobacterium
- It has a total of 4 billion CFU per capsule, which is within the range of recommended daily CFU (1 billion to 10 billion)
- 1 bottle contains 100 capsules, which lasts from 1 to 3 months based on the recommended dosage
Compared to other brands of our list, 100 capsules per bottle is obviously more practical than 30.
It also contains several other strains of good bacteria like Lactobacillus acidophilus and Streptococcus thermophilus, which makes it effective in balancing the bacteria in your gut.
If you want to treat your constipation quickly and consistently, FloraTrust 4000 is your best bet. While this supplement can be bought anywhere else, we provide you with the best price by going straight to the manufacturer. Just make sure to click the red button above for the best savings.
#2 – FLORASSIST® GI with Phage Technology
Florassist GI from LifeExtension is #2 on our list because of its unique formula. Not only does it have the necessary strain to end your constipation woes, but it also makes use of bacteriophage technology.
The bacteriophage in this supplement is designed to target specific strains of bad bacteria. These bad bacteria inhibit the flourishing of your gut’s good bacteria.
There’s a constant balancing act involved with the population of good and bad bacteria. Unfortunately, a lot of factors make it unfavorable for good bacteria, including dietary and environmental changes. The Phage Technology included in Florassist capsule helps to even the odds.
If part of your concern is your overall gut health, then Florassist GI is your better choice in this list.
#3 – FloraVantage Balance
FloraVantage stands out in our list because it’s specially formulated for bariatric patients.
While every capsule does contain a Bifidobacterium strain, it also has other strains and formulation that help with obesity as a bonus.
Overall, it greatly improves intestinal function and is both gluten-free and dairy-free. The vegetarian capsules do not contain any starch, talc, waxes or chemical dyes.
So if you’re a bariatric patient who wants to improve your digestion, FloraVantage is your best choice for your probiotic supplement.
#4 – Bowtrol Probiotics
One of the underlying reasons why you experience constipation is the low population count of good bacteria in your gut. These good bacteria help break down the food and improve stool quality. Bowtrol focuses on restoring their population with their formula.
Each capsule contains a large concentration of CFUs to help colonize your gut quickly. Strains include DDS-1 and Bifidobacterium, which are very powerful in treating constipation and improving your digestive health.
As with other supplements that we recommend here, Bowtrol does not contain any caffeine or allergens. Every vegetarian capsule is gluten and dairy-free.
With 10 billion CFU, you only need to take one capsule per day to meet the recommended dosage.
If you’re looking for a probiotic supplement with multiple strains, Bowtrol has 14 of them which not only treats constipation but improve your overall health as well.
#5 – Vitamin Bounty Pro 50
Vitamin Bounty Pro 50 is packed with 13 probiotic strains at a total of 50 billion CFU. What sets this supplement apart from the rest on this list is that it make use of a patented delayed-release capsule.
It protects the live organisms from stomach acid, making sure that more of them reach your digestive tract.
With more good bacteria on your gut, their population increases easily and balance is restored. A healthy amount of these microorganisms in your gut ensures that foods are broken down and your constipation is treated.
Vitamin Bounty Pro 50 is a bestseller on Amazon. If you’re planning to buy from Amazon, this is the best choice because of the benefits mentioned above.
How Long Before Probiotics Work for Constipation?
One of the common side effects is that probiotics can get you constipated at first. However, if you’re already constipated, you cannot go any more than this.
When there are too many bad bacteria in your gut, your good bacteria get overwhelmed. As a result, this keeps their population low.
These good bacteria are the ones responsible for breaking down foods rich in carbohydrates. They do this through fermentation, which results to some gas and bloating in the first few days. Studies have also revealed that they also affect our mood.
The inability to break down some of the foods and the increase in stress all contribute to the occurrence of constipation.
The live organisms in your supplement immediately do their job as soon as they reach your digestive tract. However, it may take a couple of days to one week before you start seeing improvements with your bowel movement.
As you continue to regularly take your pills, the population of good bacteria in your gut increases. You’ll not only get your constipation cured, but any future occurrence of this is prevented.
So, Are You Ready To Dump It Good?
Studies are still being conducted as you read this, primarily in determining which combination of strains can quickly cure constipation. At this moment, Bifidobacterium is the important strain that should be included in your supplement’s formula.
Our choice for the best probiotic to treat constipation is FloraTrust 4000. It has multiple strains including Bifidobacterium, which goes beyond constipation relief. And with 100 capsules per bottle, you’re literally getting more than what you’re paying for.