Adding live, probiotic microorganisms into the body can help you achieve optimal health. Things like good bacteria, bad bacteria, yeast and other microbes are currently living in our gut microbiome. Some people have a very healthy balance between these microorganisms, but there are also people who don’t have a very diverse microbiome or have more bad bacteria than good. When this happens, it can result in all kinds of health issues from poor digestive health to decreased immune function. While men, women and children can all benefit from taking a probiotic supplement that helps add beneficial bacteria back into your body, I want to look at probiotics from the perspective of a male.
As a male wellness expert, I’ve looked into many different kinds of probiotic supplements and gut health supplements. I’ve learned that there are specific strains that really promote a lot of health benefits in the body, and I’ve tried a number of brands myself. In order to achieve a healthy balance of gut flora that supports nutrient absorption, healthy immune function, optimal energy and a positive mood, I’m suggesting Biotics 8 Probiotic as well as Ritual Synbiotic. I know it can be hard to choose a probiotic with so many options out there, so let’s get started with breaking these two specific varieties down.
Why I Searched for a Probiotic
My focus as a wellness enthusiast began when I was younger and was dealing with some gut health issues. I wasn’t quite sure why I wasn’t tolerating certain foods very well, and I was prone to stomach upset with no apparent cause. My doctor couldn’t find any cause for concern, but I was frequently uncomfortable due to bouts of gas, bloating and irregular bowel activity. After doing some reading on gut health, I was surprised to find how much of our overall wellness relies on our gut microbiome. Things like a healthy immune system, a positive mood, ample focus to get through the day and energy needed to work out each day can all be affected by your gut.
But, I still had a question as a man – should men take probiotics?
As I did more reading and research, I learned about the use of probiotics to create a more diverse and healthier microbiome. When you use the right strains of probiotics (as well as prebiotics and postbiotics), you can help promote regularity, improve gut transit time, relieve constipation and bloating, boost your body’s immune response to illness, decrease inflammation, manage your weight better and balance your blood sugar levels. The benefits are endless. This began my search for the best probiotic out there, so I could use it in my own life and recommend it to the people around me.
How I Narrowed it Down to Biotics 8 Vs. Ritual Synbiotic+
After reading about many different brands of probiotics, I came across two very reputable and powerful products. Biotics 8 and Ritual Synbiotic+ both contain very powerful microbial strains that have unique benefits. They are designed to improve your gut health, but also to protect your heart, increase your energy levels, support healthy hormone production, reduce bloating and constipation and more.
A key feature of probiotics that I learned about was finding a product that had a high survivability rate. You want to make sure that the product that you’re taking will get to the part of the gut where it needs to be absorbed for ample benefits. Both of these products are exceptional in this regard. Their microbes won’t die off before they make it to the large intestine.
About Biotics 8
Biotics 8 is a prebiotic and probiotic supplement that is designed to help improve your gut microbiome, so you feel lighter, healthier and energetic. As a male, Biotics 8 can support health testosterone levels to help regulate your sex drive, promote healthy bone mass, build muscle mass and support the production of red blood cells and sperm. It also helps build a healthy immune response and facilitates an efficient digestive process in order to strengthen the gut-brain axis.
Your body can more efficiently break down any fats, protein and sugars that you consume with the use of Biotics 8, preventing any kind of digestive discomfort like gas or irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. Also added is vitamin D3, to also help benefit the gut, boost serotonin levels and relieve stress.
The Formula
Biotics 8 contains specially chosen bacteria strains. There are 10 live and potent strains of good gut bacteria, providing 20 billion CFUs without any kind of stomach issues or adjustment periods. The main strains are Saccharomyces Boulardii, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. This formula is specifically for men.
A lot of probiotic supplements simply include beneficial bacterial strains in their product, but Biotics 8 has added other ingredients to their formulation like vitamins, digestive enzymes and dietary fiber. Here’s what’s additionally inside each serving:
Alpha GPC
Alpha GPC is a chemical that is made in the body from choline. When you supplement with it, it can improve learning and memory functions. It also has the potential to stimulate the production of male growth hormones.
Huperzia Serrata
This Chinese herb promotes the retention of acetylcholine in the body, which protects nerve cells and neurotransmitters. It’s optimal in the aging male body to prevent cognitive decline.
Lutemax 2020
This proprietary component in Biotics 8 is superior eye health protection. It has been designed to structurally protect the retina and protect against blue light from cell phones, tablets and computers.
Bacopa Monnieri Extract
An important anti-inflammatory, bacopa monnieri extract also promotes mental clarity, concentration and helps the body adapt to stress more easily.
L-Tyrosine
L-tyrosine supports the production of male thyroid hormones as well as the creation of melanin. It can improve your memory, cognitive function and mental alertness.
B-Complex Vitamins
Vitamins such as B1, B7 and B12 have been added to Biotics 8 to help protect the heart, brain and lungs. They can also help with electrolyte exchange between the muscles and bodily cells, which is key for men who work out or have an active lifestyle.
L-Theanine
L-theanine can naturally lower a man’s blood pressure and heart rate. It can also reduce inflammation in the body, boost your immune response, support weight loss and promote gut health.
What I Like
We all know that probiotics are designed to boost your gut health, but I like that Biotics 8 also takes an additional approach to their product for men. The brand claims that their supplement can combat inflammation and damage that has been caused by free radical damage. This damage is something that can affect your gut, but so many other aspects of your health as well. By restoring your gut microbiome, replenishing digestive enzymes and healing the gut, you’ll feel better, stronger and more powerful.
What I Don’t Like
There are a lot of additional ingredients in the formulation of Biotics 8. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, you have to be open to incorporating those ingredients into your routine as well.
About Ritual Synbiotic+
Synbiotic+ by Ritual is a gut health superstar that contains prebiotics, probiotics and a postbiotic. Specially formulated to help with things like overall health, gut support and immune support, this supplement can alleviate bouts of gas, bloating and diarrhea thanks to two popular bacterial strains, LGG and BB-12. The postbiotic included helps with the production of butyrate, which is something our colon and intestines need in order to support healthy gut barrier function. It’s not a product that’s specifically designed with men in mind, but it supports all of the major male bodily functions.
The Formula
This three-in-one formula of prebiotics, probiotics and postbiotic provides essential microbiome support in the form of 11 billion CFUs from two clinically studied strain of bacteria: Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium animalis lactis. This is the probiotic blend inside Ritual Synbiotic+. There is also the prebiotic portion, which consists of LH01 – Myoviridae, LL5 – Siphoviridae, T4D – Myoviridae and LL12 – Myoviridae by way of Ritual’s proprietary PreforPro. This prebiotic will feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut so it can thrive and reproduce. Lastly, tributyrin is included at 300 milligrams per dose to promote optimal bioactive compounds in the body.
What I Like
Ritual Synbiotic+ is a capsule-based product that is intended to be taken daily. I like it because it’s a pretty small capsule compared to some of the other probiotic supplements that I’ve come across. It also has a minty essence to it, which makes it a lot easier to take. I’ve found that this product has really helped my digestive health when I’m using it, though it does take a little bit of time to really see its effects.
What I Don’t Like
This is one of those probiotic products that I felt resulted in an adjustment period when I first started taking it. It’s likely because of how well rounded of a supplement it is, but there was definitely a little bit of bloating, gas and indigestion that I had to deal with. It didn’t take long to get over it and it wasn’t crippling, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.
Comparing Cost and Overall Value
The current cost of Biotics 8 is $59.99 for a one-month supply of the product (90 capsules). If you purchase two months' worth of product at once ($119.99), you get one month free. If you purchase three months of product at once ($179.99), you get two months free. This is an excellent value. A lot of brands are now offering a discount on products if you subscribe for recurring shipments, but this is one of the only brands I’ve come across which is actually giving away a month or two of free product when you buy a larger quantity up front.
The cost of Ritual Synbiotic+ is currently $37.80 per bottle, marked down from $54. While they don’t offer free products based on the amount of product you buy, you are getting a lot for your money. Ritual has included prebiotics, probiotics and post-biotics in one easy-to-swallow capsule. That’s a lot of gut health and overall health support for not a lot of money.
Comparing Formulas
I feel like these two formulas are quite different. While the concept of these supplements and what they’re intended to do are very similar, you get different ingredients from each of the brands. Biotics 8 has included ten of the most commonly used probiotic strains in their product. However, they also have a long list of other ingredients that can benefit your health (if you’re interested).
Ritual Synbiotic+ doesn’t have as many different strains in their product, but they have chosen to include probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in their formulation. This is truly an excellent gut health support product for men, but also benefits your body in other ways as well.
Comparing Results
I find that both of these products produce some very impressive results, but they do so in different ways. Consider why you want to start using a supplement of this sort, and those benefits are what should guide you in deciding which product to opt for. I see Biotics 8 as an all-around great supplement for overall health. Ritual’s product is as well, but it focuses on gut health a bit more (in my opinion).
Main Differences between Ritual Synbiotic and Biotics 8
The strains that are used for these two products are very different. There is a lot of information available regarding the different strains of bacteria that are used in supplements of this type and the health benefits that they can provide. Doing some additional reading on what you’re trying to achieve with your health can help you determine if Ritual Synbiotic+ or Biotics 8 are right for you. Over 10 strains are in Biotics 8, which Ritual has just two probiotic strains and four strains in their prebiotic.
Which is Better for Men: Biotics 8 or Ritual Synbiotic+
Determining which of these products is better really comes down to the amount of support that you need from a probiotic for men. While they’re both formulated with a great deal of scientific information in mind, I would have to say that Biotics 8 contains more beneficial strains as well as other important components that will help you feel your best as a male. Ritual Synbiotic+ can also serve its purpose if you want minimal to moderate gut health and overall health support.
Conclusion
You’ll find that some probiotic supplements are made with men’s health in mind, while others are simply formulated for everyone. As a man who cares about male health and wellness in general, I think it’s always a good idea to choose as specific of a product as possible when you’re considering supplementation. I like that Biotics 8 chose to make a probiotic supplement just for men. Ritual is also a very reputable brand that puts a great deal of thought and research into what they’re selling.
Don’t feel like you have to suffer through gut health issues. You can take a more proactive approach to your health by way of probiotics, and I hope that the information I’ve provided in this article can help you on your way to choosing the best product for your situation.
