The Best Probiotics to Help With Acid Reflux

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Choosing the best probiotic for acid reflux is a little different than choosing a probiotic if you don’t have the condition. We have you covered with additional considerations as well as some great expert-backed probiotic options below.

We’ve selected the best probiotics to treat acid reflux with all its variations for you—and included the knowledge you’ll need to understand the science behind why probiotics are beneficial to your gut health. Get ready to learn more about the best probiotics acid reflux, gastritis and the best probiotics for GERD.

Our Picks For The Best Probiotics To Help Acid Reflux:

• Best Overall Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux: Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula
• Best Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux and Gut Health: Ritual Synbiotic+
• Best Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux for Men: Biotics 8
• est OTC Probiotic for Acid Reflux and Immune Support: YourBiology gut+
• Best Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux for Women: Seed Daily Synbiotic
• Best Value Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux: Nature Made Digestive Probiotics
• Best On The Go Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux: AG1
• Best Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux and Improve Energy: Kaged Probiotic
• Best Vegan Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux: Future Kind Vegan Digestive Supplement

Best Overall Probiotic to Help Acid Reflux: Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 100 billion
• Certifications: Third-party certified, made in CGMP and FDA-registered facility
• Subscription: 10% off orders and free shipping
• Key ingredients: L. acidophilus, rhamnosus, salivarius, casei, plantarum and paracasei; B. lactis, bifidum; breve and Streptococcus thermophilus
• Best for: Someone who wants a high potency multi-strain probiotic for optimal effectiveness, someone who has been on probiotics for a while, but wants an upgrade
• Price per serving: $1.53

Transparent Labs Probiotic Advanced Gut Health Formula is advanced compared to many other probiotics on the market. You can call this formula one of the best probiotics for gastritis and one of the best probiotics for GERD. With 10 different strains that have been clinically researched, the product is formulated for those who want a healthy microbiome, bowel and digestion regularity, improved immunity, cognitive function and body weight. And at 100 billion colony-forming units (CFU), you are getting close to clinical strength doses so you can expect results.

Related Post: A Complete Review of Transparent Labs and Its Products

This product earns our pick for best overall probiotic to help acid reflux because of its formulation, which contains strains clinically backed by research studies to improve acid reflux and overall gut health, its potency of live bacteria count, and their concern/transparency for clean ingredients.

Pros:

• CFU dosage is high enough to well support gut health
• Product formulated for brain health, immunity and weight control as well as gut health
• Created for athletes who want and need more of just about everything

Cons:

• May cause GI upsets if you’ve never taken a probiotic before because of the high CFU

Best Probiotic to Help Acid Reflux and Gut Health: Ritual Synbiotic+

Get 25% off your first month of Ritual! Code: SI25

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 11 billion CFU
• Certifications: Made Traceable used for ingredients, third-party tested by Certified B Corporation for microbes, heavy metals, and major US food allergens for quality and safety, and USP-certified
• Subscription: Yes, when bundled with other products. Savings start at a $15 discount.
• Key ingredients: LGG and BB-12, prebiotics 15 mg from PreforPro. Postbiotic called Corbiome Tributyrin 300 mg added to process butyrate in the gut (effective dose)
• Best for: Those who want a pre-, pro- and post-biotic together, may benefit those with leaky gut
• Price per serving: $1.80

Ritual Synbiotic+ contains four clinical trial-studied ingredients, LGG, BB-12, PreforPro and Corbiome, all examined for their beneficial effects on digestive health– mild bloating, gas and diarrhea. LGG and BB-12 provide fuel to gut lining cells and help support gut barrier function plus offer immune support.

This formula combines pre and probiotics together. Not all formulas do. When prebiotics are added, it’s easier for the probiotics to stay alive for longer periods of time. Ritual also adds a postbiotic to insure that digestive health essential short chain fatty acids are produced in the gut. The postbiotic Corbiome Tributyrin is used for producing butyrate in the gut in the effective dose.

With the pre-, pro-, and post biotic together, this product becomes one of the best probiotics for gastritis and one of the best probiotics for GERD.

Pros:

• One capsule contains pre-, pro- and post-biotics
• Contains effective dose according to studies
• Clinically studied ingredients

Cons:

• Clinical studies about probiotic not referenced on website. No evidence that all ingredients are effective when taken together
• Minty smell somewhat overwhelming to some people

Best Probiotic to Men with Help Acid Reflux: Men’s High Performance Biotics 8

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 20 billion
• Certifications: GMP-certified facility
• Subscription: No but substantial discount with larger orders
• Key ingredients: 10 probiotic strains, vitamin D, chicory root (fiber), digestive enzymes
• Best for: Men over the age of 40, men who need an immune system boost or men suffering from stress, mood swings or brain fog
• Price per serving: $1.30 to $2.16, depending on promotions 

Biotics 8 carefully selected the clinically relevant probiotics for their formula based on the research supporting each one of them. Biotics 8 contains 10 different probiotic strains. It’s our pick for the best probiotic to help acid reflux for men because it’s a probiotic specifically formulated for men to restore gut health, balance moods, aid with weight loss, increase muscle growth, reduce stress, support healthy testosterone levels and enhance immunity.

Clinical strength dosages and strains are used.

Pros:

• May improve mood, physical health, workouts and testosterone levels
• 10 strains of probiotics in formula
• Free from soy, dairy and gluten
• Zero risk with 60-day money back guarantee

Cons:

• Some reports of gas and bloating on days one and two of use

Best OTC Probiotic for Acid Reflux and Immune Support: YourBiology gut+

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 40 billion
• Certifications: GMP-certified facility
• Subscription: No
• Key ingredients: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus paracasei
• Best for: People who want an OTC probiotic that has high CFUs, and can also offer immune system support
• Price per serving: $1.30-$2.16/day for a one month and five month supply, respectively

YourBiology gut+ probiotic has three strains of lactobacillus bacteria, which could reduce acid reflux symptoms like regurgitation, heartburn, nausea and bloating. And did you know that your gut health also plays a significant role in how your immune system functions? Between 70 and 80 percent of your immune cells are present in your gut, and having a good balance of gut bacteria can help stimulate your immune system to fight infections like the cold, flu and other seasonal respiratory infections. If you’re constantly sick, your gut might be lacking good bacteria, and probiotics may help.

In total, YourBiology has four live, active strains of good gut bacteria, including the key strain for supporting your immune system: bifidobacterium lactis. Studies show that this strain can help boost your natural immunity to common respiratory infections like the cold and flu in as little as six weeks of regular use. However, the good bacteria has to get into your lower digestive tract to be effective; YourBiology stands out from other probiotics because it uses MAKtrek, a patented technology that protects the bacteria from your stomach acid.

Pros:

• Contains prebiotic fiber that feeds probiotic bacteria and helps it colonize your gut
• Uses MAKtrek technology to get the bacteria to your lower digestive tract
• Contains bifidobacterium lactis, which can boost your natural immunity to infections
• 40 billion CFU per dose is a higher dose than other supplements

Cons:

• More expensive than other options

Best Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux for Women: Seed Daily Synbiotic

Key features & specs

• AFU per serving: 53.6 billion
• Certifications: None listed
• Subscription: Yes, a monthly subscription is required to purchase
• Key ingredients: 24 strains of probiotic bacteria, plus prebiotics derived from Indian pomegranate
• Best for: People who struggle with certain gastrointestinal conditions, such as IBS or IBD
• Price per serving: $1.67

Seed Daily Synbiotic is our pick for the best probiotic to help women with acid reflux because it contains 24 different strains of probiotics. Research indicates that mixtures of probiotics can be more effective in treating health conditions than a single component strain. Each serving of Seed Daily Synbiotic includes 56.3 billion AFUs (active fluorescent units) of probiotics. AFUs are an alternative to CFUs, which is the unit of measure most commonly used on probiotic nutrition labels.

Our tester, registered dietitian Jillian Kubala, tried Seed. Kulaba said while not everyone needs to take a probiotic supplement, she thinks Seed is a good choice for those trying to improve their gastrointestinal health. “In my opinion, the capsules are easy to take and didn’t cause any side effects for me. Though I didn’t notice any significant changes in my health while taking Seed, it did help reduce morning nausea for me, which I sometimes experience,” said Kubala.

Check out our Seed Daily Synbiotic review for more information on this popular supplement.

Pros:

• Uses a "capsule-within-a-capsule" design to help the bacteria make it past the stomach acid
• Vegan, free of preservatives and tested for major allergens, such as gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, shellfish, sesame and corn
• Shelf stable, so it does not need to be refrigerated

Cons:

• You can only purchase Seed through a subscription, which costs $49.99 per month
• Supplement is made using proprietary blends, so it’s unclear the exact amount of each probiotic strain

Related Post: The Best Probiotics for Women

Best Value Probiotic To Help Acid Reflux: Nature Made Digestive Probiotics Advanced Dual Action Capsules

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 15 billion
• Certifications: None listed
• Subscription: Subscribe and save 10%, plus free shipping
• Key ingredients: Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium lactis
• Best for: Those struggling with indigestion and nausea
• Price per serving: $.95

Nature Made Digestive Probiotics Advanced Dual Action Capsules are our pick for the best value probiotic to help acid reflux because each serving cost $.95 while the average price for other supplements on our list is $1.46.

We like that Nature Made’s formula is simple. The only ingredients used are two probiotic strains and the capsule gel. Nature Made Digestive Probiotics Advanced Dual Action Capsules do not contain any added colors, artificial flavors or preservatives. The two strains used, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis, are two of the most studied probiotic strains. Research shows that Lactobacillus rhamnosus may effectively treat gastrointestinal infections and stimulate immune responses. Bifidobacterium lactis is a powerful probiotic that studies indicate may be helpful in improving respiratory tract health and treating digestive problems such as constipation and diarrhea. One clinical trial found that Bifidobacterium lactis reduced GI symptoms like vomiting, regurgitation, nausea, gurgling and stomach pain.

Pros:

• No added colors, artificial flavors or preservatives, dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian
• Budget-friendly option at less than a dollar per serving
• Made using clinically effective doses of two of the most studied probiotic strains

Cons:

• No third-party testing and is not USP verified, unlike some other Nature Made products

Best On the Go Probiotic to Help Acid Reflux: AG1

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 7.2 billion
• Certifications: Manufactured in TGA-registered, NSF GMP registered facilities. Traceable ingredients. Climate Neutral Certified
• Subscription: Offers year supply of vitamin D3 and K2
• Key ingredients: Superfood complex, vitamins and minerals, herbs and antioxidants, digestive enzymes and super mushroom complex, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Best for: Those with MTHFR polymorphism and those who want to take a powder not pills
• Price per serving: $2.63/day to $3.30/day or $2.96/day for travel pack

Looking for the benefits of probiotics for your acid reflux on the go? Check out AG1 travel packs. We love that you can take this supplement with you, and it’s a great option to support your gut health in a powder form if you don’t like to swallow pills.

AG1 contains 7.2 billion CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium along with 73 high quality superfoods, herbs, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and digestive enzymes. The dosage of the probiotics is good for a beginner’s probiotic. However, we wish more probiotic strains were in the formula, and that the minerals were more balanced.

AG1 does have 50 calories, two grams protein, six grams carbohydrate, two grams fiber, and stevia sweetener whereas most other probiotic supplements don't.

For more information, check out our in-depth AG1 review.

Pros:

• A full spectrum of digestive enzymes
• Provides superfoods and vitamins/minerals that may be lacking in the diet
• In powder form, easily to consume, good for travel

Cons:

• Minerals not balanced in the formula
• Only two probiotic strains offered
• Does contain soy

Best Probiotic to Help Acid Reflux and Improve Energy: Kaged Probiotic

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 30 billion
• Certifications: Third-party tested
• Subscription: Yes, save 10% percent
• Key ingredients: Patented TWK10 for Lactobacillus plantarum, calcium
• Best for: Energy production, those who want supplements to support their workouts
• Price per serving: $1/day

Kaged Pro-Biotic targets the gut-muscle axis and transforms your gut into a high-performance engine that dramatically enhances training endurance and reduces fatigue, according to their website. It only contains one probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum.

Kaged Pro-Biotic earned our award for best probiotic to help acid reflux and improve energy because it uses a patented ingredient proven to work for athletes, has 99 percent positive customer reviews and is easy to swallow.

Directions for using the Kaged Performance Pro-Biotic are to take one capsule with breakfast, lunch and dinner. Customers report brain fog elimination and stopped afternoon energy slumps and that they feel a difference.

Pros:

• Money-back guarantee
• Patented research on main ingredients that shows efficacy
• Capsules easy to swallow

Cons:

• Only one probiotic strain in the formula
• Have to take three capsules a day

Best Vegan Probiotic to Help Acid Reflux: Future Kind Vegan Digestive Supplement

Key features & specs

• CFU per serving: 30 billion
• Certifications: Certified B Corporation. Third-party testing. Carbon neutral shipments. Eco-friendly packaging
• Subscription: 20 percent off with free delivery
• Key ingredients: DE111 (Bacillus subtilis), Bacillus coagulans, Lactobacillus acidophilus, rhamnosus, salivarius, casei and plantarum, Bifidobacterium breve, lactis and longum
• Best for: Vegans and those on plant-based diets with ethical concerns for animal productsPrice per serving: $1.00

Future Kind Vegan Digestive Supplement uses probiotic strains for immune system support, better digestion and optimal absorption. The product contains DE111 Bacillus subtilis, which helps probiotics live in the gut. The dose of 10 billion FCU probiotic is better than smaller dosages.

To use this plant-based supplement, take one capsule daily with a meal or on an empty stomach. Customers who are teachers report immune function boosts by using this product. Less gas and bloating were noted by users.

Pros:

• Promises to relieve gas and bloating
• Chosen probiotic strains regulate mucosal immune cell function
• Vegan, wheat free, allergen and soy free

Cons:

• Can at first cause nausea
• May need to be taken with food

What Are Probiotics?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that live throughout the body, especially in the entire GI system. Think of them as beneficial bacteria. They help digest food, produce vitamins, boost immunity, mood and cognition and keep us free from infections. Probiotics are found in fermented foods such as sauerkraut and yogurt and are also in dietary supplements. Your diet also contains some healthy bacteria that contributes to your microbiome.

Benefits of Probiotics

Probiotics are well known for their benefits for our gut and other organs, and different strains have different benefits. While several strains help improve your digestive tract functions and fight constipation, others have been found to support the vaginal tract, boost athletic performance and improve ulcers.

There are probiotic benefits of the upper part of the GI system, such as for dyspepsia, or discomfort in the upper stomach without heartburn or regurgitation. There were also improvements in nausea, abdominal pain and belching, gurgling and burping.

Precautions

Always check with your healthcare provider before taking a probiotic, especially if you have serious illnesses such as compromised immune systems. There have been some cases where large doses of probiotics are tied to infections although they are not common.

Prebiotics can change the water content in the intestine, causing gas and bloating or with large doses, abdominal pain and diarrhea, according to a university hospital researcher team in France.

Many of these precautions are not an issue if you choose the best probiotic for you. If you notice any negative symptoms, give your body time to adjust by taking half a dose for about a week or two. Ease back into the use of it.

How to Choose the Best Probiotic for You

When looking for the best probiotic for you, first consider what the issue is that you’re trying to remedy. Have you recently taken an antibiotic, which wipes out probiotic species in the gut? Do you have a specific health condition? Do you want to make your microbiome more robust with several healthy strains? What are your gastrointestinal symptoms?

From there search for a probiotic that matches effective strains to your situation. A probiotic used for constipation when you have diarrhea is a mismatch. Then consider live CFUS. If the supplement is your first probiotic, use a low CFU from one to two billion CFU up to the effective dose found in the research of 5.65 billion CFU. If you have taken probiotics for a while, you may be able to ramp up to 10, 40 or even 100 billion CFU—but be sure to do it slowly.

It’s always best to consult your doctor first before adding a new supplement to your routine or adjusting the dosage you’re taking.

What to Avoid in a Probiotic

When choosing a probiotic, there are some guidelines to follow:

• If you have a yeast or other food sensitivity or allergy, do not use probiotics that contain them. Choose another.
•  If you get constipation from the supplement, read the label again and check for ingredient sensitivities.
•  If you have a serious illness, always contact your doctor. There are some times when he may ask you to postpone its use.

How We Chose the Best Probiotic

When we determine what are the best probiotic supplements for acid reflux, we go through a process that includes considered if the manufacturer is transparent about where its ingredients are sourced from, how the formula was created and whether or not that formula was based on clinical studies. When looking for the best probiotics for acid reflux, GERD and gastritis we also take into account how many CFU are in the product and if the dosage matches the effective dose in the studies.

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a condition where the stomach acid flows back into the mouth and esophagus. When it occurs, it can irritate the lining of the esophagus, especially if it happens frequently.

The two main symptoms of acid reflux are heartburn and a bad taste in the mouth from the acid. Acid reflux symptoms may also be accompanied by bloating and feeling sick, bad breath, hoarseness and hiccups or a cough.

What Causes Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux occurs in many people occasionally for no obvious reason. However, the known causes are:

• hiatal hernia (when a part of the stomach moves upward into the chest)
• higher levels of progesterone and estrogen, such as in pregnancy
• smoking
• medications such as ibuprofen
• stress or anxiety
• consumption of spicy foods, alcohol, coffee, tomatoes, fatty foods and chocolate
• being overweight or obese

Acid Reflux vs. Gastritis vs. GERD

Three common digestive disorders are acid reflux, gastritis and GERD.

While acid reflux is when the stomach acids flow back into the upper GI (mouth and esophagus) infrequently, GERD is acid reflux that occurs repeatedly.

Symptoms of GERD include the following:

• After eating, a burning sensation in the chest (called heartburn) occurs. It may be worse if you are lying down or at night after a meal. In heartburn, stomach acid travels upward towards the throat and causes a feeling of burning in the chest. Heartburn occurs as a symptom of reflux.
• Regurgitation of food which may taste sour
• Trouble swallowing (called dysphagia)
• Feels like there’s a lump in the throat
• Pain in the chest or upper abdomen

GERD symptoms impair quality of life, or injury or complications that result from the stomach acid. If the acid reflux occurs at night, it may also be accompanied with a chronic cough, a hoarse voice or laryngitis or asthma.

Gastritis is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach. It may be caused by an infection of the microbe that causes stomach ulcers, the continual use of pain relievers or alcohol consumption. It may occur suddenly or slowly and may also improve quickly with treatment. Symptoms of gastritis include nausea, vomiting, feeling full after eating, and indigestion or a burning ache in the upper abdomen that changes to better or worse with eating.

How Can Probiotics Help With Acid Reflux?

The stomach and intestinal tract are lined with more than 1,014 microbes called probiotics that have specific functions.

Scientists have found that use of proton pump inhibitors for GERD, called ppi, can cause digestive system microbiome disturbances. The changes that occur in the upper GI from GERD include changes in the barrier cell functions and the immune response, which are the same that occur for lower GI disorders when probiotics are taken. This is one of the reasons why probiotics could help with acid reflux symptoms.

Different probiotics have different benefits such as improving the physical stomach barrier, relieving the hypersensitivity of the stomach and improving the interactions between stomach contents and the cells that line the esophagus in GERD. Another study found that when infants were given Lactobacillus reuteri during their first three months of life, the presence of GI disorders such as regurgitation and constipation as well as crying time from colic decreased by 46 percent.

Are There Side Effects Of Using Probiotics To Help Acid Reflux?

The side effects are positive – allowing healthy bacteria to colonize the gastrointestinal tract and prevent changes from medications – when proton pump inhibitors have been given or are presently being taken. Those with a condition of acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease are on these medications.

The side effects for acid reflux are from the medications that are used, not from the probiotics.

Other Supplements That Can Help Acid Reflux

Supplements reported in the medical studies for their effectiveness to treat acid reflux include magnesium, deglycerized licorice, glutamine and digestive enzymes. Of course, a good diet will alter gut bacteria in favor of good bacteria, bringing health benefits. If your diet is full of processed foods, alcohol, candies and sweet foods, you’re defeating the purpose of taking supplements for your gut. A good diet keeps the probiotics alive.

When To See A Doctor

If you experience GERD symptoms frequently, they are severe or if you take over-the-counter medications for heartburn more than twice weekly, make an appointment with a doctor.

Probiotic FAQs

How long does it take probiotics to work for acid reflux?

Most studies have used trials between four to eight weeks. Benefits may be seen around the second week and should improve after that.

What are the signs that probiotics are working when taken for acid reflux?

Fewer incidents of acid reflux and heartburn tell you they are working.

Can you heal your esophagus from acid reflux?

Acid reflux healing is a matter of reducing the causes you have control over so you don’t aggravate the condition, supporting your body with the right healing agents (your probiotics and vitamins and minerals) and diet and then giving it sufficient time to heal.

Do probiotics reduce inflammation in the gut?

Studies have shown that Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus paracasei are two of the best probiotic strains for reducing inflammation in the gut. They are immunomodulators.

Takeaway: Is Taking a Probiotic for Acid Reflux Worth It?

Based on the evidence found in the scientific studies as well as the reports of benefits from many of our chosen top probiotic supplements for acid reflux, we believe it is well worth it to give them a try.

The idea of taking a probiotic for acid reflux makes sense. The whole body has a microbiome, which varies on the needs of the organ or tissue. A probiotic that matches your needs could supply missing helpful strains that are supposed to be acting functionally in the first place. Researchers have found very few negative benefits from their use. They can be a wonderful addition to your wellness journey.

Prices are accurate and items in stock as of publish time.