Probiotics Update
Gut health is very important for migraine health. This is why a lot of migraine patients take probiotic supplements.
We’ve talked a lot about probiotics in the past, but it’s time for a quick update. If one probiotic didn’t work for you, here are some alternatives to consider.
I’m listed them in order of price as they are on Amazon right now, least expensive first. This doesn’t necessarily mean most economical – I’m just basing it on the daily dose. Obviously, a more expensive probiotic may be a better “bang for your buck”.
You’ll also see below the CFU (colony forming units) which refers to the amount of bacteria in the product, as well as the number of strains. Here we’re looking for a good variety of important strains – but again, these numbers can be deceiving because some strains may be more important than others for your gut health.
None of these require refrigeration, which makes them great for travelling.
Balance ONE Probiotic
12 strains/15 billion CFU
The benefit of Balance ONE Probiotic are the specially made tablets which help the probiotics survive stomach acid. This allows more of the beneficial bacteria to get to your gut where it needs to be. It also contains a prebiotic which keeps the good bacteria going until it gets to your gut. Simple to take – 1 a day. And the least expensive on the list. Find it at Amazon or on their official site.
Bio-Kult Advanced Probiotics
14 strains/2 billion CFU
Bio-Kult probiotics have actually been tested for migraine (Martami 2019). In the study, migraine attacks did decrease compared to placebo. Bio-Kult has a very high rating and a high number of ratings on Amazon. They do, however, win the prize for most confusing labelling – including their helpful recommendation of 1-2 capsules once or twice a day. (For the price comparison, I went with 2 capsules per day.) Find it at Amazon or on their official site.
Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra
13 strains/15 billion CFU
Garden of Life has frequently made the list of best probiotics over the past few years, and out of the four we’re talking about today has the highest rating on Amazon, and passed testing by ConsumerLab. A solid choice if you’re not sure what to start with. The recommended dose is 1 capsule three times a day.
BlueBiotics Ultimate Care
11 strains/61 billion CFU
Though BlueBiotics contains the fewest number of strains (though not by much), it remains the most potent of the four. Also containing prebiotics and a specially coated capsule, these are designed to get the good bacteria to your gut without a problem. Of course, you do pay significantly more for the potency of this probiotic. Find it on Amazon or at their official site.