If you are in a hurry and just want to find the best keto probiotic then I’d recommend the Onnit Total Gut Health as the best for keto.

Here are the probiotics we'll be reviewing:

• Onnit Total Gut Health
• BIO Schwartz Probiotic
• Nutrition Essentials Digestive Health

Do You Need Probiotics During Keto?

The short answer, yes you do.

Not just on a Keto diet, but basically everyone can benefit from taking a probiotic supplement and eating probiotic-rich foods.

You have about 400 different strains of friendly bacteria, friendly yeast, and friendly fungus in your body. And so, when these microbes become out of balance,

• you can get an overgrowth of yeast (candida),
• fungus (like toenail fungus),
• or an overgrowth of bacteria which can create all sorts of other issues like high fever, tonsillitis, etc.

To prevent this, we need a certain balance of all of the microbes in our digestive system. Our bodies are made up of only 10% human cells, and 90% of what makes up our bodies, are microbes. These microbes live both within our body, and on the surface of our skin - which might sound kind of weird and scary at first, but they actually help us in many different ways.

They help us digest the food we eat, and they help us eliminate the waste. They also protect our immune system, they help us with detoxification, they help provide nutrients for the body, they make B vitamins, and the list goes on. Without these microbes, we would have a LOT of health problems.

A few of the most common symptoms that can occur if you don’t have the right balance of probiotics are constipation, gas, bloating, and bad breath.

Getting Probiotics Through Food

Getting probiotics while on Keto can be a difficult task due to companies marketing them mostly through stuff like gummy candies or sugary drinks and yogurts.

You could potentially try to get them through things like Kefir and some aged types of cheeses, but considering that a lot of people are lactose-intolerant, it doesn’t seem like a very convenient way to do it.

• Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles are an excellent source of probiotics, but you need to eat a lot of them regularly to get the same benefits.
  
  
• Kombucha is also an excellent source of probiotics, but sadly almost all commercial brands have a lot of added sugar to make it taste better, so you would need to brew your own kombucha at home.

On the other hand, incorporating a good quality probiotic supplement daily can make all of this way more convenient and save you from feeling overwhelmed. Being on Keto and having a busy lifestyle can be complicated enough,  so its good to be able to have one less thing to worry about. 

The Benefits of Probiotics

Not all probiotics are the same; different strains of probiotics have very different effects on the body. Research so far has been very promising on these little friends of ours. 

#1. Digestive health

Probiotics are especially beneficial for the overall health of the digestive system. They help improve many digestive issues like constipation, diarrhea, colitis, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, Chron’s disease, and flatulence.

• A study has shown that taking probiotics reduced AAD (antibiotic-associated diarrhea) by 42%. (1)
• In another study, the researchers found that probiotics have very clear beneficial effects in shortening the duration and reducing stool frequency in acute infectious diarrhea. (2)
• In patients with ulcerative colitis, the results of a study have shown that taking the probiotic strain E. coli Nissle is just as effective in maintaining remission as the gold standard drug mesalazine. (3)

#2. Allergies

Beyond digestive health, probiotics have also been studied for their role in treating different allergies by improving the immune system function.

• A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study done by a team of Swiss researchers has shown that supplementation with a specific strain of Bifidobacterium Lactis noticeably reduced symptoms in people with seasonal hay fever (allergic rhinitis) and grass pollen allergies. (4)
• Other than significantly reducing nasal symptoms as compared to the subjects taking a placebo, 8 weeks of probiotic supplementation during grass pollen season significantly lowered the concentrations of inflammatory markers that are typically elevated in seasonal hay fever.
• Another study suggests that the children of women who took probiotics during pregnancy had an 83% lower risk of developing eczema in the first 2 years of life. (5)

#3. Weight loss

Yes, you heard it right, several studies strongly correlate a healthy gut with weight loss. Probiotics may help you lose weight through many different mechanisms.

• For example, a study involving 210 healthy Japanese adults found that taking even very low doses of Lactobacillus gasseri for 12 weeks resulted in about an 8.5% reduction of belly fat. (6)
• Another study using mice has shown that supplementing with the probiotic strain VSL#3 promoted the release of the hormone GLP-1, resulting in reduced food intake and improved glucose tolerance. The results indicated that probiotics are of therapeutic utility to counter obesity and diabetes. (7)
• Some probiotics may even help you lose weight directly. A 24-week long study investigated the impact of Lactobacillus rhamnosus supplementation on weight loss in obese men and women. The research shows that the subjects who took the probiotic for 3 months lost 50% more weight than the ones that didn’t. (8)

#4. Immunity

Studies from recent years have shown that probiotic supplementation can help prevent bacterial infections by increasing immune response. (9)

• In a study where the subjects were mice, the research suggests that oral intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus enhanced the survival rate of mice lethally infected with influenza virus.
• It was shown that orally administered L. rhamnosus activates humoral as well as cellular immune responses, leading to increased resistance to the host against influenza virus infection. (10) And even though the study was done on animals, the results are significant.
• Another long-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled study including 571 healthy children found that supplementing with Lactobacillus GG reduced the frequency and severity of respiratory infections by 17%. (11)

What to Look For in a Probiotic Supplement?

Factor 1. Types of probiotics

As you can see from the previous section, not all probiotics are created equal. Specific strains of probiotics have been shown to have specific health benefits.

And while we have listed several examples, there are way more studies on the subject  - so, if you can’t find it here, we suggest that you do your own thorough research based on your needs.

For certain conditions, you want to make sure that you are taking the strain that is most likely to benefit you.

Factor 2. Probiotic content

When choosing a probiotic supplement, you want to make sure that the “CFU’s” (colony forming units) amount is in the billions. Anything less than that is not as potent.

You can find probiotics ranging from 1 to 100 billion CFU’s per serving. We believe that a probiotic that has about 10-30 billion CFU’s per serving is a good amount to aim for.

Also, the label should specify that the living microbes are shelf-stable and they will keep their potency through the end of the expiration date.

Factor 3. Brand Quality

Obviously, brand quality is important when it comes to purchasing anything of value.

Unfortunately, many commercial grade brands don’t measure up when it comes to quality. If you happen to choose such a supplement, it is very likely that the probiotics in the bottle are already dead and they will just waste your time, health, and money.

To avoid such issues, we strongly suggest buying a professional brand from a reputable health care professional or a bigger company that stands by their product.

The products that are tested and approved by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) or similar quality control companies are usually your best bet.

Factor 4. Price

While you can often sacrifice quality for value with other products, we don’t recommend you do that when it comes to a probiotic supplement.

Quality beats everything – supplements with a price that seems too good to be true are probably not of good quality.

Depending on the strains used and overall quality of the product, a good probiotic supplement can cost anywhere from 20-70$.

Best probiotic supplements for Keto

#1. Onnit Total Gut Health

List of ingredients: 5 strains of probiotics, 2 types of prebiotic fiber, a full spectrum enzyme blend, Betaine HCL, Saccharomyces Boulardii

Highlights

• All-in-one gut health supplement
• Contains high-quality, acid-resistant probiotics
• Made by a respectable company in the industry
• Convenient saves you from buying 5 different supplements
• Soy, gluten, and dairy-free product
• Shelf stable, no refrigeration needed

» Check out Onnit Total Gut Health here

Who makes it 

Onnit Labs is founded by Aubrey Marcus, a man who was so invested in his own personal development that he created Onnit so that he could work on “Total Human Optimization.” He wanted to become the best version of himself and help others achieve the same.

Since 2010, Onnit Labs has grown dramatically, and they now have over 250 unique products on the market. They make and sell health supplements, nootropics, snack bars, oils, drinks, and fitness equipment.

What it contains 

• The probiotic capsules are made of 5 different strains (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium), and all of them are specifically selected because of their natural acid-resistant ability to survive the stomach bile.
• The prebiotic fiber capsules serve as food for the probiotics, and the Betaine HCL makes sure that the stomach’s acid level is optimized. Additionally, the digestive enzymes help you break down the food you eat faster and easier.
• And finally, Saccharomyces Boulardii is a probiotic yeast that can survive the stomach acid and helps support the immune system by promoting the production of secretory Immunoglobulin-A. (12)

» Check out Onnit Total Gut Health here

#2. BIO Schwartz Probiotic

Highlights

• FDA tested and approved the product
• Contains high-quality, acid-resistant probiotics
• A high amount of CFU’s per capsule as compared to other brands
• Uses only pure ingredients, allergen and gluten-free
• Features a patented MAKTrek stomach acid protection and delivery system
• Shelf stable, no refrigeration needed

» Check out BIO Schwartz Probiotics here

Who makes it

​Schwartz Bioresearch is the brand behind the BIO Schwartz Probiotic. They are a well-known US-based company founded in 2014, and they pride themselves with manufacturing only FDA-approved allergen and gluten-free products with no fillers, binders or GMO ingredients.

What it contains

• The product comes as a bottle containing 60 Veggie Capsules. There is 40 Billion CFU’s of probiotic per 2 capsules, so by using the standard serving size, the bottle would last you one full month.
• All of the 4 strains of probiotic used are of high quality. They can survive stomach bile and make it to the intestinal tract completely unaffected.
• As additional protection, the capsules use a patented MAKTrek stomach acid protection and delivery system. It has been scientifically studied, and it makes sure that none of the probiotic’s potency is wasted.
• Also, the 40 billion CFU’s per serving size is actually a very good amount. Most other brands have way lower probiotic potency.

» Check out BIO Schwartz Probiotics here

#3. Nutrition Essentials Digestive Health

Highlights:

• GMP certified product
• Uses natural ingredients, allergen and gluten-free
• Shelf stable, no refrigeration needed
• Uses a high-quality, acid-resistant probiotic strain

» Check out Nutrition Essentials Digestive health here

Who makes it

​The product is manufactured by Nutrition Essentials, a US-based health supplement company founded in 2013. Including the probiotic they make and sell only 4 supplements in total, but still, they are a well-known and respectable brand in the industry.

What it contains

• The probiotic comes in a bottle containing 60 tablets. Each tablet has 15 billion CFU’s of Lactobacillus acidophilus and 500mg prebiotic fiber. And even though Acidophilus is good quality and well-researched probiotic strain, it’s still kind of a downside that it’s the only strain the product has.
• Other than the probiotic, the tablets also contain 500mg of Nutri-Fructo BB-88, which is a Fructooligosaccharide (short-chain fiber from plant sugar), often used as a natural sweetener.
• It is also used as a prebiotic since it actually feeds the good gut bacteria, and don’t worry, even though it’s made from plant sugar, it’s a fiber, and it doesn’t affect blood sugar and insulin.

» Check out Nutrition Essentials Digestive health here