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The Top Probiotic Supplements for Men 50 Years and Older

Looking for a probiotic supplement for men over the age of 50? These are my top picks, plus pros and cons of each product I chose.

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There's one fact I fully agree with as a wellness expert: Probiotics are powerful.

Probiotic supplements can help to restore balance in the body’s gut microbiome. By increasing the beneficial bacteria flora, the immune system can function more optimally, metabolism can be boosted in order to manage your weight better, you may sleep better at night, and you can even protect your body from daily stress.

There are various bacterial strains that can be found in probiotics, and some are more effective for certain purposes than others. Most people tolerate probiotics very well, though they may require a bit of an adjustment period when you first start taking them. Men over the age of 50 are especially encouraged to take a probiotic. Their diets tend to be a bit less healthy than what women are eating, and they can help their digestive health, nutrient absorption and bowel regularity with one of the best probiotic supplements for men over the age of 50.

There are a lot of different probiotic products for sale, each with their own blend and formulation of ingredients. As a wellness enthusiast, I wanted to take some of the responsibility off your plate and help you decide on a supplement. Before we get to my top probiotic recommendations, let’s talk a little more about why men over the age of 50 should be utilizing probiotics.

Should Older Men in Their 50’s Take Probiotics?

Smiling mand with a beard wearing a plaid shirt

All men can benefit from probiotic use, especially those over 50, thanks to all of the benefits that can come with regular use. Of course, the strain type will really determine what you can accomplish. Also, other herbs and nutrients may be included to boost the effects of what you’re taking. Once the beneficial bacteria enter into the male body, they immediately get to work to do things like make your digestion more efficient, decrease instances of constipation and diarrhea, regulate bowel movements, boost immune function and even manage cholesterol levels naturally. Once a man is over the age of 50, their gut health decreases, and their digestive system becomes less efficient. This is the perfect time to take matters into your own hands.

What Are the Benefits of Probiotic Supplements for a 50-Year-Old Man?

When you really start to read about the use of probiotic supplements, you’ll be impressed by the number of benefits that they can provide. Let’s look at just some of what you can achieve with a high-quality probiotic supplement designed for a 50-year-old man.

Help Your Body Digest Food

Probiotics help the digestive system in a number of ways from breaking down fiber more efficiently to increasing nutrient intake. Probiotics can also aid in the production of beneficial short-chain fatty acids and vitamins that help the body thrive and function optimally. Once probiotics are in their ideal environment inside of the gut, they consume pathogens and prevent the multiplication of bad bacteria. This ultimately helps improve your digestion as well since the process will be much more streamlined and efficient.

Keep Bad Bacteria from Getting Out of Control (Immune Health)

When the gut is balanced and in good health, the good bacteria will traditionally outweigh the bad. When a man isn’t in good health, their bad bacteria may be trying to take over. When you add the good bacteria back into your microbiome, they act as the good guys that will battle back the bad bacteria so you’re healthier. Much of our immune system exists within our gut, so having enough beneficial bacteria on hand to keep that immune system working well is ideal to fight illness and disease. This can even protect the body from free radical damage.

Help Support Cells That Help with Gut Lining

Probiotics are a key component in helping to support the regeneration of cells that replenish and maintain your gut lining. When your gut lining isn’t working sufficiently, this can lead to symptoms like bloating, fatigue, abdominal pain, stool changes, and brain fog. You can also experience digestive discomfort from certain trigger foods, develop skin issues like eczema and even have an increase in allergies. Leaky gut is a condition that people experience when their gut lining is compromised. Inflammation increases as does the permeability of the gut lining. It can only take a few weeks for probiotics to take effect and heal the gut lining.

Breakdown and Absorb Medications

Certain strains of good bacteria can assist with the process of breaking down and absorbing medications. If you need medication for a diagnosed medical condition or you’re simply trying to absorb as many nutrients as you possibly can from a supplement you’re taking, probiotics are a great compliment.

What to Look for in a Probiotic Supplement

There are a number of factors to consider when you’re shopping around for a probiotic supplement. Not all products are created the same, and some will offer far more benefits than others. Here’s what to look for.

The Correct Probiotic Strains

Think about why you’re considering take a probiotic supplement. If you’re simply a man over the age of 50 that cares about their health and wellness like I do, then you’re looking for a versatile product that contains multiple, popular strains like Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterococcus, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Escherichia, and Bacillus. If you’re looking to accomplish more specific purposes like managing your weight or boosting your immune system, then you may want to select a product that has those very specific strains in mind.

A Trustworthy Brand

It’s imperative that you purchase a probiotic from a trustworthy brand. This is true for any supplement, but probiotics are only beneficial if they’re manufactured a very specific way, and the bacterial strains can survive the storage process. Otherwise, you’re not getting nearly enough CFUs per dose. A trustworthy brand will have a large following of customers, they will include positive reviews on their website, and they should describe how their product is made, what they use and why it’s used. The more information that you can access from a probiotic brand, the better.

Other Men Over 50 Success Stories

Since you’re a man over 50 that’s looking to improve your health by way of a probiotic, see if you can track down real life reviews from men that are in the same position as you. It’s nice to read that a female in her 20s was able to decrease inflammation and improve their gut health with the use of a specific product, but this may not apply to you. Look through reviews to see if you can find information that is relevant to you and your situation.

My Top Probiotic Supplements for Men Over 50 Years Old

It’s time to talk about the important information regarding probiotic supplements for men over 50 years old. There are my top seven products that I recommend to all of my friend and family, many of them whom are men nearing the age of 50 or are over that age.

#1. Seed Daily Synbiotic

seed daily probiotic for men 50

Use Seed Coupon Code FHM15 for 15% off

I chose Seed Daily Synbiotic as the best probiotic supplement for men 50 years and older because it is a combination of prebiotics and probiotics in one, and has 24 clinically and scientifically studied probiotic strains to support older men's health and wellness.

The clinically studied probiotic strains that make up Seed Daily Synbiotic can provide the following benefits for men over fifty:

  • Digestive health
  • Gut immune function
  • Gut barrier integrity
  • Cardiovascular health
  • Micronutrient synthesis
  • Skin health

The capsule itself is made with ViaCap Delivery Technology, which safeguards the ability to work successfully through digestion and provides simple deliverability to your colon. The outer part of the capsule serves as a barrier to oxygen, which means you don't need to refrigerate Seed Daily Synbiotic.

Overall, this probiotic and prebiotic combination has accumulated thousands of positive reviews and makes for the perfect men's over 50 probiotic supplement.

Use Seed Coupon Code FHM15 for 15% off

#2. Biotics8 Men’s Probiotic Formula for Overall Gut Health

Men's Probiotic Biotics8

Biotics 8 Men’s Probiotic Formula for Overall Gut Health combines a number of beneficial ingredients, such as probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, fiber, and vitamin D. Altogether, this formulation will help support men’s overall gut health and well-being over the age of 50. It helps balance your immune system thanks to multiple probiotic strains, protecting you from disease and illness. Biotics 8 also helps break down your food more efficiently and gently, so you don’t experience discomfort or decreased nutrient absorption. You may even be able to benefit from a boost in your overall mood when you’re using this product.

Pros

  • Supports healthy and calm digestion
  • Reduces bouts of gas and bloating
  • Improves your immune response
  • Increases your energy levels
  • Helps you focus

Cons

  • This is a fast-acting formula with large amounts of probiotics. You should expect an adjustment period for your GI system.

#3. Primal Harvest Probiotic

Probiotic Primal Harvest

Primal Harvest’s Primal Probiotics supplement contains a very specific formulation that offers powerful support for the gut, especially in men over 50. It contains both probiotics and prebiotics, including 12 clinically backed probiotic strains. There are 31 billion CFUs in this product, including strains like L. acidophilus and L. reuteri. The prebiotics in Primal Harvest Probiotics help to improve the growth of a healthy bacterial environment inside your gut.

Primal Harvest Probiotics help to boost your natural immune response. With more than 70 percent of your immune system is inside your gut, you’ll be able to improve your ability to fight off pathogens, bacteria, disease, viruses and free radical damage with the regular use of this product. Primal Harvest is reputable and transparent about all of their products, and I highly recommend this supplement.

Pros

  • Supports a healthy digestive process
  • Increases energy levels naturally without the use of stimulants
  • Doesn’t contain any gluten or dairy
  • Contains 31 billion CFUs
  • Manufactured in a GMP-certified facility
  • Includes prebiotics as well

Cons

  • The use of probiotics along with prebiotics can help you immensely with your digestion, however it will result in a brief adjustment period that can include some gas and bloating.

#4. Ritual Synbiotic+ (Prebiotic, Probiotic and Postbiotic Combination)

Ritual Synbiotic+

Ritual’s Synbiotic supplement offers support for the gut, digestive system and whole body. If you’re a man over the age of 50, you are targeting whole-body health when you use this supplement regularly. It can help reduce GI issues like bloating, gas, constipation, irregularity and diarrhea. It can also boost your body’s natural immune response, increase your energy levels and make you feel more focused and positive.

The strains of probiotics included in Ritual Synbiotic + include LGG and BB-12. A postbiotic has also been added to help heal the gut lining. It’s essential for anyone dealing with leaky gut symptoms, but it’s also a really versatile product for all ages and genders. A delayed release capsule design has been used to ensure that your probiotics get to where they need to be without breaking down too soon.

Pros

  • This product does not require refrigeration
  • Designed with a delayed release capsule design that boosts absorption rate
  • Contains traceable ingredients
  • Helps heal your intestinal lining
  • Third-party testing confirms purity and safety
  • Free of all major allergens

Cons

  • It’s slightly expensive, but you get quality from your purchase

#5. Mindbodygreen probiotic+

Probiotic mind body green

Minbodygreen Probiotic+ contains a unique formulation of four different strains of bacteria that are productive for reducing bloating, aiding in the normal digestive process, improving your immune response and overall creating a more healthy and diverse gut microbiome. This product from mindbodygreen contains 32 billion CFUs that are shelf stable. Some of the strains include Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07, Bifidobacterium lactis B420, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM.

Pros

  • Reduces prevalence of bloating
  • Improves your digestive function
  • Helps with nutrient absorption
  • Supports healthy weight management
  • Contains 32 billion CFUs of bacteria

Cons

  • This is definitely one of the more expensive probiotics you’ll come across, priced at about $80 for a one-time purchase
  • The product only becomes affordable when you subscribe to save money

#6. 1st Phorm Probiotics

1st phorm probiotic

You can utilize 1st Phorm Probiotic if you’re a man over the age of 50. It is designed to help maintain a more diverse microbiome, so you experience benefits such as improved digestion, a boosted immune response and better metabolic health overall. Over the age of 50, men can start to have difficulty managing their weight. This leads to decreased cardiovascular health, so taking 1st Phorm Probiotics can help you keep your weight at a healthier level, especially if you’re prone to weight gain around your middle section.

1st Phorm Probiotics can also help reduce bowel irregularity, constipation, diarrhea, food sensitivities, skin issues, mood problems, etc. There are eight billion, shelf stable CFUs in each dose of this probiotic supplement, including strains such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. No artificial ingredients have been added.

Pros

  • Boosts metabolism
  • Supports a healthy immune response
  • Aids in proper digestive health
  • Contains eight billion CFUs in each dose
  • Can be used to heal a damaged gut or compromised gut lining
  • Helps maintain a healthy weight, which can be challenging over the age of 50

Cons

  • Certain prescription medications can result in you not being able to use this product

#7. Zuma Nutrition Multi-Strain Probiotic Complex

zuma nutrition multi-strain probiotic complex

You can utilize ZUMA Nutrition Multi-Strain Probiotic Complex to address a variety of gut health problems that may have developed once you hit the age of 50. If you’re dealing with frequent bouts of constipation, poor nutrient absorption, candida overgrowth, leaky gut symptoms or a decreased immune response, this may be the supplement for you. ZUMA’s Multi-Strain Probiotic Complex can help you restore a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut microbiome while providing you with more energy, less stress, improved focus, and better-quality sleep. Zuma Nutrition has included eight different strains of probiotics in this product to make it very versatile and beneficial.

Pros

  • Contains strains of bacteria that have been clinically studied to great lengths
  • Helps balance your microbiome
  • Improves digestion
  • Extremely shelf stable design, so you don’t have to worry about refrigeration
  • Third-party lab testing is used

Cons

  • It’s recommended that you pair this product with some of the other supplements from Zuma Nutrition. I prefer a more all-in-one approach.

#8. Transparent Labs Probiotic

Probiotic Transparent Labs

Transparent Labs Gut Health Series Probiotic is a very comprehensive probiotic supplement that includes very powerful, 100 billion colony-forming units of probiotics in each serving. This probiotic has been formulated with 10 different clinically studied strains of probiotics, including Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Streptococci. This supplement can help you achieve optimal overall health and longevity by helping to regulate your immune response, balance your endocrine system, aid in optimal digestion, regulate your bowels, boost cognitive function and help you maintain an optimal body weight.

Pros

  • Enhances nutrient digestion
  • Encourages a healthy body weight
  • Vegan-friendly
  • Doesn’t contain any GMO ingredients
  • Promotes a healthy immune system
  • Supports bowel regularity

Cons

  • I wish Transparent Labs included a bit more organized information on their website for their products, but you can still get a pretty good idea of what’s in each supplement

Conclusion

There seems to be ongoing research on the topic of probiotic use, but many people have used them with great success. They are recommended by the medical community for a variety of health issues. If you’ve spoken with your healthcare provider and have been cleared for the use of probiotics, this is a great supplement to add into your daily routine. It covers so many different aspects of your health, helping you feel good, look good and you may even be able to turn back the hands of time a bit.

If You’re a Man Over 50, Should You Consider Taking a Probiotic?

While you can source probiotics from food that you eat (yogurt, fermented sauerkraut and miso to name a few), most men over the age of 50 aren’t getting enough from their diet alone. If you feel like your body just isn’t working as well as it did when you were younger despite following a healthy diet and exercise routine, a probiotic can elevate your health, so you feel youthful again. I’ve provided you with some excellent probiotic options that I as a wellness enthusiast appreciate and recommend to others. You should be able to achieve some pretty impressive results with any of these products.

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Courtney D'Angelo, MS, RD

Courtney D'Angelo, MS, RD, earned her masters degree in Nutrition and Foods from the University of Georgia. She's a Registered Dietitian at Morrison Healthcare and has a strong passion in helping people improve their wellness!

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