We live busy and stressful lives. It’s no wonder that on occasion we might start to feel a little under the weather. One of the most common areas to become affected by stress in particular is the stomach.
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You know the feeling – a churning stomach, excess gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, all manner of rather unpleasant effects that nobody really wants to admit to. The thing is ensuring your gut is healthy is actually easier than you think.
Most of us don’t eat the best diets, e.g. we don’t get our five a day (or is it more now), and we don’t eat all the foods we’re told are good for us. Of course we should be aiming for this, but sometimes a little help is needed.
That often comes in the form of a supplement, a probiotic supplement.
If you’re not sure what a probiotic supplement is, it is a table or yogurt drink you take every day which contains live bacteria. Don’t panic, this is good bacteria, the type that will balance out the bad and ensure the smooth running of your overall digestive system.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Probiotic Supplement
The supplement world, whether probiotic or otherwise, is swamped with products. This is also a widely unregulated market, so you don’t always know that you’re purchasing quality, unless you do your homework. For this reason, always shop around and read reviews, to give you the information you need.
A quality probiotic supplement will give you a smoother running digestive system, but it will also bring other benefits your way. This includes increased immune system function, to name just one. There are many reputed benefits of probiotics, and it’s important to do your research into the particular strains of interest.
When buying a quality probiotic supplement, you should think about:
- Cost
- Number of supplements in the pack
- How you take the supplement, e.g. is it a yogurt drink, is it a tablet, etc
- Which strains are contained with the supplement
- Reviews of previous users (more below)
- Any side effects to take into account
- The quality of the brand, e.g. is it well known
You should also consult with your doctor before you begin taking any type of supplement, just to be sure you do not have any contraindications to use.
Align Probiotics Under The Microscope
Align Probiotics is a quality probiotic supplement which is taken daily for best results. The biggest sell with this product is the strain of probiotic it contains, which is Bifidobacterium.
This is the main strain associated with gut health, and therefore the product promises to improve your digestive system by introducing healthy bacteria, to battle the bad.
The product is also recommended by doctors and gastroenterologists, to give you more peace of mind towards choosing this product over the others on the market. Remember, the probiotic world is one packed with products, and any edge is considered beneficial.
The Bifidobacterium strain this probiotic contains is also a unique and patented strain, unique to the product, called Bifidobacterium 35624. This strain promises support for the digestive system 24 hours a day, provided you take one tablet every day.
You can choose between four packet sizes, e.g. 14, 28, 42, or 56, and these are capsules, which you simply swallow whole. Never attempt to chew these supplements.
For a start, they will not taste pleasant, and secondly, it is just not recommended. For anyone who is gluten sensitive or intolerant, this supplement is gluten-free, so no worries on that score.
Who is the Product For?
Anyone who wants to improve their digestive system function.
Who is the Product Not For?
Children and anyone with a sensitivity to any of the other ingredients
Pros of Align Probiotics
- A big named brand, to give you peace of mind
- Four different pack sizes, so you can choose your price range
- Bifidobacterium strain within this supplement is unique and patented, and ideal for anyone with digestive system issues
- Gluten-free tablets
Cons of Align Probiotics
- Some users state that when they first begin, they notice excess gas and bloating. However this should disappear after a short while of using the product
- Only contains one strain, which doesn’t give the widest range of benefits
Features & Benefits
Align Probiotics is a daily probiotic supplement which promises to ensure the smooth running of the digestive system, via the introduction of healthy bacteria.
We’ve mentioned that the probiotic supplement world is full of different products, so deciding which is best can be difficult.
This particular product is ideal for anyone who has specific digestive system issues in particular. The strain of probiotic contained within the product is one of the best for these types of issues.
Let’s take a look at each specific feature or benefit in turn and come to a conclusion on whether or not the product performs as it promises.
A Daily Capsule, Which You Swallow Whole
Some probiotic products are a yogurt drink, which are much harder to take to work or out and about with you. Align probiotics come in a blister pack, which are easy to store in your bag, and you simply take one per day, whenever you want to.
Most people take probiotics in the morning. This is for two main reasons; firstly, it’s so you don’t forget to take it, and secondly, there is some suggestion that taking your probiotic early in the morning (with breakfast) helps the strain to avoid digestive acids.
This is a very vague guideline however, so it really is up to you when you take it – any time is better than no time.
For anyone who isn’t too keen on milky or yogurt-style drinks, the capsule is easy to swallow and not too large.
Gluten-Free
The capsules are also free of gluten, which makes them ideal for anyone with an intolerance or sensitivity to gluten ingredients. It’s important to check the ingredients of any particular supplement you take.
For instance, Align Probiotics does contain remnants of milk, so for anyone with a dairy sensitivity, this might not be the best option. Always read the label and check things out with your doctor before you start taking the supplement, just to be sure.
If you follow the vegan diet you could try out these probiotic supplements instead.
Contains Bifidobacterium Longum, or Bifidobacterium 35625
The above video will show you exactly how B.Longum works and why it is considered one of the best digestive system strains around, especially for constipation problems.
There are far too many probiotic strains to talk about. However Align Probiotics contains a unique strain which is patented to this product. This is the Bifidobacterium 35625 strain, or the B.Longum to give it a quicker name.
This is a strain specific to digestive system function, so if you have any issues with your gut, e.g. IBS, regular bloating, excess gas, or you struggle with constipation on a regular basis, this particular probiotic could be a very good choice for you.
There are some probiotic products on the market which contain more than one strain, but that means they have less of the strain within the product, and therefore less power. Align Probiotics contains 5 billion live bacteria per serving, which is a powerful dose.
This is designed to give you 24/7 coverage, i.e. you’re not going to feel great gut-wise in the morning and early afternoon and then suddenly notice symptoms creeping in after dinner. Provided you take the supplement daily, as per the instructions, you will have complete coverage.
Possible Side Effects to Consider
Of course, we have to be honest, and that means giving you the other side of the coin. There are a few side effects that may come into play with all probiotics, not just the Align Probiotics product.
This particular product however has been known to cause excess gas and a little bloating in the first week or so of using it. Many users have reported this, however it should disappear after a very short time, and after that you shouldn’t experience the above symptoms at all.
It might sound counterproductive for a product to give you side effects symptoms of the very things you’re trying to avoid, but this is simply a case of your body adjusting to the new supplement you’re taking, and once the transitional period has finished, you should notice the benefits start to kick in.
We should mention we don’t really know a huge amount about the overall side effects of probiotics, simply because studies have talked a lot about benefits, but not a huge amount about the possible downsides.
Whilst extra research is ongoing, for now it is a case of monitoring how you feel whilst taking any product, not just this one. B.Longum however has been known to possibly interact with certain antibiotic medications. This is simply because the antibiotics might undo the work that the probiotic is doing, by killing off the healthy bacteria.
You should also avoid taking B.Longum if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Customer Feedback
We’ve talked a lot so far about the things that Align Probiotics promises, the benefits it might bring you, as well as the possible side effects, but what about what other people say? Reviews are a vital part of deciding whether or not to buy something, so we’ve scoured the Internet to help you out.
For the most part, the use of Align Probiotics was met with positive reactions. 66% of customers gave it a 5 star rating on Amazon and 78% gave it a 4 or 5 star rating. Most users mentioned that they noticed a drastic improvement in their digestive system symptoms after around one week, and if they did notice the gas and bloating side effects initially, they dissipated very quickly.
Users also stated that they felt like they had more energy whilst taking the product too, which is a fantastic benefit to come your way.
Alternatives
Of course, it’s entirely up to you whether you opt to purchase Align Probiotics or whether you look elsewhere. If you do decide to shop around first, that’s entirely wise. These are some of the products which are similar to Align Probiotics.
- 1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum
- Zenwise Health Digestive Enzymes Plus Prebiotics & Probiotics
- New Rhythm Probiotics
1. 1MD Complete Probiotics Platinum
This particular product is a good alternative to the Align Probiotics product, but it does have a few key differences. The first is that it contains Lactobacilli strains as well as Bifidobacterium. This means you’re getting more benefits, however the price does reflect that, with a higher price tag overall.
This product gives delayed release and the capsules are designed to work even with strong stomach acid. You’re also getting prebiotic fiber inside the product, which feeds the probiotic and keeps it fresh and alive.
This product is different from Align Probiotics because:
- Contains Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium
- 11 different strains contained with one serving
- Includes prebiotics
You can read our comprehensive guide to Complete Probiotics Platinum here.
2. Zenwise Health Digestive Enzymes Plus Prebiotics & Probiotics
This Zenwise product is a low priced option, so if you’re on a budget, this is a cheaper choice than the Align product. Zenwise contains prebiotics once more, but this is also a specific probiotic for the digestive system, just like our main reviewed product. However, a difference with this product is that it actually contains turmeric too, which makes it stand out. Turmeric is renowned for its digestive health properties.
This product is different from Align Probiotics because:
- Contains digestive enzymes and prebiotics
- Includes Turmeric, which has natural digestive system benefits
- Low price
3. New Rhythm Probiotics
This is yet another budget choice, which makes probiotics very accessible for all. Also containing prebiotics within the capsule, to keep the probiotics strong and able to withstand stomach acid, this product differs from our Align Probiotic choice because it contains 20 different strains of both Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium within it. This is ideal for those who want to take advantage of more benefits than just digestive health.
This product is different from Align Probiotics because:
- Lower price tag
- Contains both Lactobacilli and Bifidobacterium
- Contains prebiotics
Conclusion
Probiotics are ideal for anyone suffering with digestive discomfort, but they may also solve many other problems too, e.g. recurrent UTIs and thrush infections for women. The Align Probiotics product contains a strong probiotic called Bifidobacterium and this is mainly targeting the digestive system.
Anyone who suffers with gut health issues won’t need telling why these problems need to be solved! If you are someone who has regular bouts of constipation versus diarrhoea, bloating, excess gas, and general discomfort, a probiotic every day could be all you need. Remember to have a chat with your doctor before you begin taking a probiotic supplement, but the Align Probiotic is ideal for the following reasons:
- Contains a strong probiotic strain, called Bifidobacterium
- It is easy to take, with just one capsule every day
- Helps to reduce digestive system issues
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, check Align Probiotics out today.
Adele Taylor
Writer, Product Tester.
Adele is a budding content writer with a passion for all things health and fitness related. In her time off Adele enjoys reading, travelling and exploring Sydney’s culinary delights.
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