Are Probiotics Vegan? Best Probiotic Supplements For Vegans

Are probiotics vegan? The short answer is yes, they can be. Read the label carefully!

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Jump to:

• Are probiotics vegan?
• What products are vegan?
• How do probiotics work?
• Benefits of using probiotics
• Vegan food that contains probiotics
• 💬 Comments

When it comes to our overall health, we can often turn to the food we eat and the supplements we take to ensure that we are enjoying a balanced diet. One of the concerns some people have is when they follow specific diets and lifestyle choices such as veganism. Is it possible to get what you need from a vegan diet? Are probiotics, which can be seen to have many health benefits, including digestive health, vegan? I wanted to explore this question in more detail.

Are probiotics vegan?

Probiotics are a great way to give your body that extra boost of good bacteria, but while you may spend time browsing the probiotics aisle, find one that ticks all the boxes, only to check the ingredients and find that it contains dairy products or another ingredient not suitable for a plant-based diet. A vegan diet means not digesting or using any animal products, so what can you do? There are some probiotics that are vegan, but not all of them. So it is essential to ensure that you check the ingredients list when looking for a vegan probiotic supplement that is suitable for a vegan diet.

What products are vegan?

There are some great vegan options when looking for probiotics. Websites like Amazon have a great selection as do health food stores, online or on the high street if you prefer to shop locally. Probiotic supplements contain live microorganisms but are usually taken just as you would any other supplement, making them easy to take. Here are some of the best vegan probiotic supplements available.

BetterVits Probiotic Complex

One capsule a day provides 11 beneficial bacteria strains and includes prebiotics.

BioCultures Complex

This product contains 16 live probiotic bacteria strains and is a great option to consider to improve gut health. BioCultures is a well known and respected brand so you can be assured that this is one of the best vegan probiotics out there.

Neocore Vegan Probiotics

This is great value for money. 60 capsules each contain 6 live strains and prebiotics to help with your mental health and immune system.

How do probiotics work?

Probiotics are the good bacteria that live within our bodies and taking them each day helps to give your body that extra boost. They mostly are focused on the intestine area but have been proven to help with your immune system and mental health, as well as your gut health. A vegan diet means not eating, drinking or using any animal products and while some probiotics contain animal products there are vegan alternatives. If you are shopping in-store a quick glance at the ingredients list will help to identify if the probiotic is vegan. Taking them as capsules is a quick and easy way to get that good bacteria and probiotic strains into your body. You digest them as you would any other vitamin.

In addition, there are probiotics available specifically for bloating, offering relief from that uncomfortable sensation. These specialized probiotics for bloating are designed to target bloating and come in both vegan and non-vegan options.

Benefits of using probiotics

You may be thinking of incorporating probiotic products into your diet but what are the main benefits? Here are some of the main ones - I'm sure you will agree that these are a good reason to use probiotics:

• Gut health - Improves bowel movements and optimises digestion and assists with a healthy gut microbiome by reducing bad bacteria with good gut flora
• Healthy skin
• Supports the immune system
• Managing irritable bowel syndrome / inflammatory bowel disease and better working digestive system
• Promoting good mental health
• Helps to create a healthy metabolism

Vegan food that contains probiotics

There are a number of vegan-friendly probiotic-rich foods. These include fermented products where the fermentation process requires bacteria. You will also find probiotics and live bacteria in other plant-based foods such as in dairy-free yoghurt and plant-based milk products and some sourdough bread options. Other vegan probiotic foods that naturally have live cultures which could positively benefit your own gut bacteria include:

• Kombucha
• Fermented tea
• Kimchi
• Sauerkraut
• Fermented soy: Miso and Tempeh (miso soup for example)
• Lacto fermented pickles

Some of these foods can be an acquired taste and if you don't fancy a kombucha tea every morning it is fine to include friendly bacteria in your diet by taking them in a supplement form, especially if you take a supplement without any animal-derived ingredients.

I hope this has made you more aware and confident as to whether probiotics are vegan. If you take plant-based probiotics let us know which you recommend in the comments box below and let us know if they have helped your digestive tract or any other probiotic benefits that you have experienced. Other vegan dietary supplements recommendations gratefully received! 

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