What is the best gut health supplement for women?
One of the most discussed health related topics in recent years is the importance and need of maintaining gut health and making it stronger. Many of the organs and other health needs of the body depend on gut health. A compromised and damaged gut can lead to many health issues like reduced immunity, frequent acne and breakouts in the skin, problems in weight management, hormonal imbalance, excessive mood swings, etc. The importance and need of a healthy and active gut become more in women due to their body having a complex interplay between their hormones, digestion, menstrual cycle and mental health much more than males. This is also because a woman goes through different phases throughout her life since birth and as she ages.
If you are frequently facing problems like low energy levels throughout the day, bloating and facing digestion problems, getting infections from time to time, etc., then it is your gut that is trying to get your attention and its health is compromised.
Why Gut Health Matters More Than You Think
Gut has its own microbiome that contains both good and bad bacteria. Thus, a human gut is a home to trillions of microorganisms. These tiny microbes play a role in your overall health and body state more than you can think of. The disbalance of these microbes in the gut, means number of bad bacteria being more than the good bacteria can lead to variety health issues and can shows symptoms like bloating or gas, constipation or diarrhea, frequent yeast or urinary tract infections, fatigue and brain fog, acne or skin flare-ups, mood swings or anxiety, etc.
For women, hormone fluctuations during menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, and even birth control use can impact the gut. That’s why targeted gut support is so essential.
Types of Gut Health Supplements for Women
Probiotics
Probiotics are live beneficial bacteria that help restore and maintain a healthy balance in your gut. They’re essential after antibiotics, during times of stress, or when you have digestive issues.
Popular strains for women:
- Lactobacillus acidophilus: Supports vaginal and digestive health
- Lactobacillus rhamnosus: May prevent UTIs and yeast infections
- Bifidobacterium lactis: Aids digestion and boosts immunity
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are plant fibers that feed the good bacteria in your gut. Think of them as fertilizer for your probiotics. Some common sources of taking prebiotics more and improving gut health are inulin, chicory root, acacia fiber, etc.
Digestive Enzymes
Digestive enzymes help your body and gut to break down food more efficiently and improve the absorption of the nutrients. This also helps to ease bloating and indigestion problems in the body. Key digestive enzymes that can help improve the overall body digestion and metabolism are amylase (carbohydrates), protease (proteins), lipase (fats), lactase (lactose digestion)
L-Glutamine
An amino acid that helps repair the intestinal lining and reduce symptoms of leaky gut syndrome.
Fiber Supplements
If your diet lacks fiber, supplements like psyllium husk or flaxseed powder can help support regularity and feed good gut bacteria.
Choosing the Right Gut Health Supplement: What to Consider
When shopping for a gut health supplement, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Your symptoms like bloating, irregularity in menstruation and egestion, facing yeast infections, etc. Different supplements and strains target different health issues and needs of the body.
- CFU (Colony Forming Unit) count, the term refers to the number of living good bacteria in the gut. The required number of bacteria in the gut for general good gut health is at least 10 billion CFUs.
- Quality & transparency is the key to efficient results and improved health. While buying supplements look for brands that provide clinical studies, third-party testing, and clear ingredient lists.
- Your diet & lifestyle needs, for example if you have a low fiber diet or lack fermented food generally in your diet, then you need to add supplements in your daily diet that have prebiotic and digestive enzymes in them.
- Always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before starting any supplement if you have any medical problem or condition or are pregnant, a breastfeeding woman or have any chronic disease.
Lifestyle Tips to Support Gut Health Naturally
Even though taking supplements and adding the needed nutrients in the diet is very important, it can only work well or show efficient results if there are changes made in lifestyle and overall way of living. This can be done by making following changes in the lifestyle:-
- Eat more fiber from fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes
- Include fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kefir
- Reduce processed sugar and junk food, which feed harmful bacteria
- Manage stress, which directly impacts gut flora
- Stay hydrated
- Get enough sleep
If even after following these lifestyle changes or taking supplements, you are still facing gut health issues then look for a Women’s Health Clinic near me.