This post is sponsored by Seed.com

Many of you in this community have asked about probiotics—whether they’re safe to take while trying for or during pregnancy, and if so, which one?

The good news—unless you have a compromised immune system, probiotics are safe, and even recommended, during pregnancy (though, as with all new changes during this time, we suggest you double-check with your practitioner).

Now, which one? We get it—probiotics are confusing. Grocery store aisles, not to mention Instagram “wellness” mania, are overflowing and overwhelming. The term ‘probiotic’ also appears on everything from kombucha to ice cream to shampoo. In a category filled with misleading marketing, how do you know what to believe? 

The answer is simpler than you think. Here are 3 things to look for:

1. First, is it refrigerated?

Many people think that all probiotics have to be refrigerated, but actually, refrigeration doesn’t mean ‘freshness’ or ‘superiority’. In fact, if a product can’t survive the shelf, it’s unlikely to survive the very acidic trip to your gut. The most sophisticated probiotics today have been strenuously tested for heat and offer delivery systems (i.e. innovative capsules) that protect against humidity, moisture, and stomach acid.

2. What’s the dosage?

You may have seen something like ‘15 billion CFU’ on a probiotics label. But, does bigger equal better?

The answer is no. Rather than be concerned with the overall CFU number, you should ask if each strain is included at its clinically-verified dosage.

In other words, when a clinical study on a probiotic (or anything else) demonstrates a benefit, the same dose used in the study must also be translated into the product you take. If the strain hasn’t been studied at all, then it doesn’t even qualify as a probiotic (hint: most kombuchas and fermented foods aren’t).

3. What strains are included?

You may have heard of Lactobacillus acidophilus—the species of bacteria commonly found in yogurt. But, ‘Lactobacillus acidophilus’ on its own doesn’t tell you enough. Within each species of bacteria, there can be hundreds or even thousands of strains. And just like a French bulldog is very different from a great dane, each strain of bacteria has its own unique characteristics and functions, too.

For example, Lactobacillus plantarum 299v has been shown to effectively reduce IBS symptoms while Lactobacillus plantarum MF1298, was actually found to worsen them. Strain specificity matters, and you should always look for the characteristic letters and numbers (in this case, 299v) that designate the strain. 

Looking for a probiotic that checks all of these boxes and more? Try Seed’s Daily Synbiotic—the next generation probiotic + prebiotic made by science.

seed.com/daily-synbiotic