Smart Naturals IBPlus Probiotic and Digestive Enzyme Supplement Review

Smart Naturals IBPlus Probiotic and Digestive Enzyme Supplement is a combination supplement which contains a probiotic complex, a prebiotic complex and digestive enzymes. These complexes are designed to reduce the incidence of digestive distress or discomfort associated with the digestive system such as with food intolerance or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). They do this by making the digestion of food much easier which places much less stress on your gut.

Ingredients

  • Lactobacillus acidophilus
  • Lactobacillus plantarum
  • Lactobacillus fermentum
  • Lactobacillus reuteri
  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Bifidobacterium infantis
  • Bifidobacterium breve
  • Bifidobacterium longum
  • Streptococcus thermophilus
  • Protease
  • Amylase
  • Lactase
  • Lipase
  • Inulin

The Lactobacillus species are a very important part of the normal flora in the intestine. As the name suggests they break down lactose, a sugar which is very difficult for some people to metabolize. The presence of the species will make the metabolism of lactose much easier, which place has less stress on the intestine leading to less onset of symptoms. The supplement also contains the enzyme lactase which also breaks down lactose.

The Bifidobacterium species have been shown to play a variety of roles in the human gastrointestinal tract. They are involved with the breakdown of complex sugars some of which humans cannot normally digest. Their effect is helped by the amylase enzyme.

Streptococcus thermophilus also breaks down lactose. The prebiotic inulin stimulates the growth of the natural bacteria in the gut and inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria. This leads to a better balance of the beneficial bacteria in the gut.

The remaining enzymes – protease and lipase break down proteins and fats respectively. Again this place is less stress on the intestine to digest all of the nutrients after the meal which reduces the chance of symptoms occurring.

Dosage

The supplement is delivered in a capsule form. One capsule can be taken in the morning before a meal. Each capsule contains 6 billion total colony forming units.

Possible Side Effects

The manufacturer has warned that it is possible to be allergic to some of the ingredients. They also say that this product is not safe for women who are breastfeeding or are pregnant.

Price

One package, which contains 60 capsules, can be bought online for $24.99. Although this is a product for long-term use, there appears to be no discount for buying bulk and no monthly subscription is available. The shipping fee is $3.99.

Guarantee

This product is protected by a 60 day money back guarantee. There are nine customer reviews provided by the manufacturer which all seem to support this product. However, when examining the reviews on third-party websites there are some negative ones. These reviews report that the product did not work and the one review stated that the product increased flatulence.

Our Smart Naturals IBPlus Probiotic and Digestive Enzyme Supplement Review – Conclusion

The ingredients present in this product appeared to be well considered and they are offered at a reasonable price. It compares quite well to many of the products designed for similar results. Nonetheless, it falls slightly short because it does not contain any anti-inflammatory ingredients, which are also essential  for reducing IBS or food intolerance symptoms. There are also manufacturers which offer a discount for buying package deals which makes the long term use of their product much simpler and cheaper.

Click here to learn about our Top IBS Products.

Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Review

This is our review for a product called Raw Probiotics. Both Raw Probiotics for Men and Raw Probiotics for Women are designed to provide support to bowel regularity, digestive function, healthy nutrient absorption and healthy microbial balance, which then prevent Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The manufacturer claims that their probiotics are kept in a controlled temperature to ensure that more live nutrients, probiotics strains and enzymes are kept alive, which provides the utmost aimed health benefits for individuals.

Ingredients

  • Vitamin C
  • Molybdenum
  • Vitamin D
  • Chromium
  • Vitamin E
  • Manganese
  • Thiamin
  • Copper
  • Riboflavin
  • Selenium
  • Vitamin B6
  • Magnesium
  • Folate
  • Iodine
  • Vitamin B12
  • Calcium
  • Pantothenic Acid
  • Raw Whole Food Probiotic Blend
  • Eastern European Raw Fruit & Veggie Blend
  • Dairy Digesting Enzyme Blend

Other ingredient: Vegetable Cellulose, organic rice, organic potato starch and organic acacia fiber.

This product has the longest list of ingredients that we have come across. We could not include all the ingredients in the list. The probiotic blend contains more than 30 types of probiotics, the Raw Fruit and Veggie Blend contains seven types of fruits and vegetables, while the Dairy Digesting Enzyme Blend contains four types of enzymes that are not listed in this review. Probiotics are known for their effectiveness in protecting the stomach from harmful bacteria, while enzymes are helpful in breaking down protein, fiber, carbohydrates, and fats. According to research, Lactobacilllus  do not interact well with each other and might have a negative effect on your stomach. Blending the ingredients also decreases the effectiveness of the product, which is a concern.

Dosage

The recommended dosage for Probiotics for Women is three capsules per day in divided servings, with or without food. The manufacturer suggests that the dose can be gradually increased up to nine capsules.  It is not explained or clarified why it can be increased, which is concerning because it may lead to an overdose.

The recommended dose for Probiotics for Men is also three capsules per day in divided doses, taken with or without food.

Possible Side Effects

You may experience increase in stomach gas, excessive fever, insistent cough, rash, itching, trouble in breathing, and swelling of tongue due to allergy reaction. These cases are rare, however you need to consult with your doctor immediately if you experience any of them.

Price

Raw Probiotics can be purchased online, from the manufacturer’s website and from various retailers. Both Raw Probiotics for Men and Raw Probiotics for Women cost between $38.49 and $41.96 for 90 capsules.

Guarantee

The manufacturer offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied about any of their products purchased from their website, you can return it to them within the 30 days for a refund.

Our Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Review – Conclusion

Gardern of Life Raw Probiotics has a potential to assist those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome and other digestive issues. It contains natural ingredients that have been proven to be effective and beneficial to your stomach. However there are too many ingredients in this product and we are worried that they may affect each other negatively and then reduce the effectiveness of the product. Research has indicated that different species of Lactobacilllus compete when consumed at once, which can have a negative effect on your health. We are also concerned that the dosage for Raw Probiotics for Women can be increased up to nine capsules, without indicating the circumstances in which this can be done. Increasing the dose in a product that already has too many probiotics and enzymes is worrying especially with all the possible side effects that you might experience. 30-day money-back guarantee makes things even worse because it is not enough time to determine the effectiveness of the product. We recommend that you look for a product with fewer ingredients that have been proven to work well together and one that is supported by at least 60-day money back guarantee.

Click here to learn about our Top IBS Products.

Ethical Nutrients IBS Support Review

The following  review is for a product called IBS Support. IBS support is a dietary supplement designed to manage medically diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The manufacturer claims that this product is able to decrease the symptoms of IBS, support natural bowel function, and promote healthy digestion and healthy bacterial flora. It contains probiotics that have been clinically proven to reduce abdominal pain and flatulence within four weeks.

Ingredients

The main ingredient in this product is Lactobacillus  Plantarum. The manufacturer claims that each capsule contains 20 billion Lactobacillus  Plantarum organisms. This organism is a certain kind of bacteria that is usually found in a number of fermented food products, anaerobic organic matter and in human saliva. It has one of the largest genomes recognized amongst the lactic acid bacteria. Once in your stomach, Lactobacillus Plantarum forms a healthy wall in your colon to keep harmful bacteria from going through the lining of your bowels and penetrating your blood stream.

Dosage

Ethical Nutrients IBS Support is intended for people over five years of age. The recommended dose is one capsule daily for mild cases, and one capsule twice a day for severe cases, or as advised by a healthcare practitioner.

Possible Side Effects

You may experience some bloating from taking this supplement, due to Lactobacillus  Plantarum. You are advised to consult with a healthcare provider if the condition does not change after taking this supplement. We noticed that IBS Support needs to be stored in the fridge. We are concerned that it might be harmful to health if you forget to put it in the fridge.

Price

IBS Support can be purchased online from pharmacies and Health Food stores. The price ranges between $21.99 and $27.50 for 30 capsules, and between $54.95 and $66.95 for 90 capsules. You would need to shop around to find a cheap deal, as there is a huge difference between prices charged by retailers. Discounts are available from some of the retailers.
You can also purchase these supplements over the counter as well if you wish.

Guarantee

We searched through the entire manufacturer’s website and the retailers’ websites, and we could not find any information relating to guarantee or return policy. This is a concerning for a product that seems so promising. The lack of guarantee indicates that the manufacturer is not confident with their product.

Our IBS Support Review – Conclusion

Ethical Nutrients IBS Support contains 20 billion organisms that are known to be good probiotics that prevent harmful bacteria from penetrating the lining of your stomach. It has been clinically proven that probiotics help manage IBS. However, we are concerned about this supplement because we noticed that it needs to be stored in the fridge, which means that individuals that do not have a fridge are already excluded. It also means that when there is a power failure or if you forget your supplements outside the fridge, they will go off, wasting all your money. The manufacturer has not indicated how long IBS Support can stay out of the fridge for, or if it can even stay for a short while.  This is even worse when the manufacturer has no money-back guarantee to offer you because you have no protection whatsoever. With so many IBS products on the market, it is better to go for a product that is supported by a strong manufacturer’s guarantee and one that does not need to be stored in the fridge.

Click here to learn about our Top IBS Products.