8 Best Gut Health Supplements, According to Dieticians

Chances are, you’ve heard about the importance of gut health. You may have even sipped on kombucha or noshed on yogurt in the name of nourishing your gut microbiome. But did you realize that the benefits of a healthy gut extend far beyond digestion or stomach ease?

In fact, “a healthy gut also supports your metabolism, immune system, mental health, and overall well-being,” explains Maggie Moon, RD, a registered dietitian and author of The MIND Diet: 2nd Edition. And while a well-balanced diet along with healthy lifestyle choices can do wonders to benefit your gut health (more on that later), a gut health supplement like the best probiotics or prebiotics may also offer the support you need.

Vogue’s Favorite Gut Health SupplementsBest Overall: Daily Nouri Hormone Balance Probiotic with Prebiotics, $24Best Synbiotic: Seed DS-01, $50Best Probiotic: Align 24/7 Digestive Support, $27Best Prebiotic: Thorne FiberMend, $40Digestive Enzymes: Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes Ultra, $64Below, we’ve consulted experts and gathered information on the best gut health supplements—their benefits, what to look for, and the eight best options to try.

In This StoryHow can you improve your gut health?What ingredients support a healthy gut?Do you really need supplements to heal your gut?What are the signs of an unhealthy gut?Meet the expertsBest Overall: Daily Nouri Hormone Balance Probiotic with PrebioticsNouri

Hormone Balance Probiotic

Why We Love It: This turmeric supplement came highly recommended by Renee Korczak, PhD, RD, a registered dietician, speaker, and researcher. “I love that this company has developed a line of supplements for all ages and stages of life. They understand the unique needs of their consumers and how to support the gut microbiome with science-backed probiotic strains,” she says, noting that the supplement features a unique blend of seven probiotic strains, to support gut and hormone health. What’s more, the formula features additional gut-supporting ingredients, like omega-3 fatty acids.Key Ingredients: Omega blend, probiotics, tetraphage blendForm: CapsuleServing Size: One capsuleNumber of Servings: 30Best Synbiotic: Seed DS-01Seed

DS-01 Daily Synbiotic

Why We Love It: To support a healthy gut microbiome, both probiotics and prebiotics are crucial. That’s why a synbiotic supplement, like Seed DS-01, can be a great choice for nourishing the gut. “Probiotic diversity is critical for overall health,” says Ella Davar, RD, registered dietician, Founder of Gut-Brain Method. “Products like Seed DS-01 offer multi-strain formulations, and are excellent for increasing diversity.” She also notes that many studies highlight that a diverse gut microbiome is associated with better immune, and neurological outcomes.Key Ingredients: Probiotic blend, polyphenolic precursors (prebiotics)Form: CapsuleServing Size: 2 capsulesNumber of Servings: 30Best Probiotic: Align 24/7 Digestive SupportDaily Probiotic Supplements

Why We Love It: Align probiotics came highly recommended by many of the experts we spoke to. Dr. Korczak loves that this specific supplement contains Bifidobacterium longum 35624, which is a specific strain that may be helpful for those who suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and associated symptoms such as gas, bloating, and abdominal discomfort.Key Ingredients: Probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum)Form: CapsuleServing Size: One capsuleNumber of Servings: 28Best Prebiotic: Thorne FiberMendThorne

Prebiotic Fiber Powder

Why We Love It: Prebiotic-rich foods can help feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut, leading to a healthier microbiome, explains Davar. You can also get this gut-friendly perk from a supplement with prebiotic fiber, like this one from Thorne, which contains a soluble fiber blend that is easy to digest (which means no unwanted bloating, cramping, or gas that sometimes results from fiber supplements).Key Ingredients: Pectin, green tea phytosome, arabinogalactanForm: PowderServing Size: One scoopNumber of Servings: 30Best Digestive Enzymes: Pure Encapsulations Digestive Enzymes UltraPure Encapsulations

Vegetarian Digestive Enzyme Supplements

Why We Love It: “Digestive enzymes can help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, improving nutrient absorption,” says Davar. She personally recommends Pure Encapsulations digestive enzyme supplement, which has vegetarian enzymes that help support overall digestion—including ones that are specifically helpful for anyone who experiences bloating or discomfort when they eat dairy.Key Ingredients: Enzyme blend (protease, amylase, lactase, etc.)Form: CapsuleServing Size: Two capsulesNumber of Servings: 90Best for Inflammation: Garden of Life Organics Extra Strength TurmericGarden of Life

Turmeric Inflammatory Response Tablets

Why We Love It: Davar notes that inflammation in the body can wreak havoc on the gut, which is why taking a supplement with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties (like turmeric and ginger) can be a wonderful addition to your routine. Davar says this supplement, in particular, is great for anyone who deals with a sensitive stomach, plus it contains probiotics, for extra gut-nourishing benefits.Key Ingredients: Turmeric, black pepper, ginger, probiotic blendForm: TabletServing Size: One tabletNumber of Servings: 60Best L-Glutamine: NOW Foods Supplements, L-GlutamineNow Foods Solutions

L-Glutamine 500-mg Supplements

Why We Love It: L-Glutamine is “an amino acid that nourishes and repairs the intestinal lining,” says Davar, which is why she often recommends it to patients dealing with gut health challenges. This amino acid is also incredibly beneficial for immune support, among other important functions in the body.Key Ingredients: L-GlutamineForm: CapsuleServing Size: One capsuleNumber of Servings: 120Best Postbiotic Supplement: Microbiome Labs PyloGuardMicrobiome Labs

PyloGuard Postbiotic Gut Health and Immune Support Supplements

Why We Love It: When probiotic bacteria consume prebiotics, they produce a bioactive compound known as postbiotics (yep, there’s a whole lot going on in your gut you probably didn’t realize). And, in some cases, it may be beneficial to supplement with a postbiotic itself, as it can, “directly support the production of short-chain fatty acids, which are crucial for colon health,” says Davar, who recommends this option from Microbiome Labs.Key Ingredients: Postbiotic (Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM17648)Form: CapsuleServing Size: One capsuleNumber of Servings: 30How can you improve your gut health?

“Nourishing the biodiversity of healthy bacteria in the gut and supporting their optimal function is key to improving gut health,” says Moon. But how, exactly? The first step is nutrition: “Eat a balanced diet with enough fiber and polyphenols to nourish and defend your gut microbiome, plus plenty of living probiotics,” she says, “which translates to eating colorful fruits and vegetables, lots of whole grains, seafood, and fermented foods.”

It can also be helpful to minimize sugar and processed foods, to keep inflammation at bay.

Your lifestyle choices can also play a major role in the state of your gut health. “Find ways to be physically active, manage stress, have good sleep hygiene, and avoid smoking or chronic drug and alcohol use,” says Moon. “These lifestyle factors reduce inflammaging that can lead to microbiome imbalances.”

What ingredients support a healthy gut?

Again, eating a healthy, well-rounded diet can do wonders to support your gut health. That includes prebiotic-rich foods like garlic, onions, asparagus, and green bananas, which feed beneficial bacteria in your gut, says Davar. She also recommends eating probiotic foods such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi, and sauerkraut. “Polyphenol-rich ingredients found in wild berries like currants, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, green tea, and dark chocolate act as antioxidants and fuel for gut bacteria,” she says, while, “Omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish and flaxseeds are remarkably beneficial for lowering gut inflammation and improving the integrity of the gut barrier.” Lastly, herbs such as berberine and oregano oil, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, can be beneficial, says Davar.

As far as supplementation goes, there are a few key options worth considering:

Probiotics: Probiotics are live microorganisms or bacteria that support your gut. Different strains can have varying benefits in the body, but overall, “clinically studied probiotic strains, especially those that produce butyrate, help regulate metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation,” says Moon.Prebiotics: “Fiber and polyphenols act as prebiotics or food for good gut bacteria,” says Moon. While you can get this from food sources, a supplement can be a convenient way to reap the benefits—you’ll often find this in a powdered form.Postbiotics: Postbiotics are the bioactive compound that results from probiotics digesting prebiotics, and they can be incredibly beneficial to your gut health. These can result from taking either of the latter gut health supplements, or taking a postbiotic (like butyrate) directly.Digestive enzymes: These are proteins which help break down food into smaller, more manageable components that can be absorbed. While they’re naturally present in the body, some people have trouble producing enough (such as individuals with lactose intolerance)—that’s why a digestive enzyme supplement can be helpful.Various vitamins: “​​Vitamins A and D are essential to the integrity of the gut lining,” says Moon, “which is a barrier that prevents harmful substances from entering the blood stream.” You can get these nutrients through food or supplementation.Omega-3: “Anti-inflammatory bioactives like omega-3 fatty acids and flavonoids help defend the gut against everyday wear-and-tear as well as stronger insults,” says Moon.Turmeric: “As a longevity nutritionist, I love recommending turmeric supplements for their scientifically-backed benefits,” says Davar. “I also recommend it for gut health, as curcumin supports gut lining integrity and promotes a healthy balance of gut bacteria.”Do you really need supplements to heal your gut?

“Food and daily dietary intake come first, but supplements can be a strong ally when used strategically,” says Davar. A healthy diet can certainly help your gut, but for anyone with nutrient deficiencies, issues with the integrity of your gut lining, or an imbalance in gut bacteria, “targeted supplements like probiotics, L-glutamine, or berberine might speed up healing. They’re tools, not shortcuts, and only work if paired with smart lifestyle changes.”

Moon shares this sentiment, noting that the question of whether or not to take supplements always depends on your starting point. “Given the stats on the standard American diet and rates of lifestyle-related diseases, it’s obvious many of us would benefit from strategic supplementation for gut health,” she says.

What are the signs of an unhealthy gut?

Since gut health is so integral to overall health, the signs of an unhealthy gut can range widely, “from GI distress in the form of gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and cramping, to signs that may surprise people like skin, sleep, mood, fatigue and autoimmune issues,” says Moon.

Davar notes that she uses a comprehensive symptom checklist when evaluating clients. These include: persistent bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation, or heartburn; as well as less obvious symptoms like skin issues (eczema, acne, rosacea, dr itch skin), chronic fatigue, mucus, snoring, frequent colds, sugar cravings, and mood disturbances like irritability, PMS, anxiety or depression. “Food intolerances, difficulty losing weight, hair loss, brittle nails, and joint pain can also signal gut dysfunction,” she says. “These symptoms often indicate underlying issues such as dysbiosis (imbalance in gut bacteria), leaky gut, or inflammation.”

At the end of the day, if you’re concerned about potential issues, listen to your gut (pun intended) and seek the help of a healthcare provider before making drastic changes to your diet or supplement routine.

Meet the experts

Maggie Moon, RD, is a Los Angeles-based registered dietitian and author of The MIND Diet: 2nd EditionElla Davar, RD, registered dietician, Founder of Gut-Brain MethodRenee Korczak, PhD, RD, is a registered dietician, speaker, and researcher