6 Best Probiotics For Candida Proven By Science To Work

If you’ve ever had candidiasis, you know that it’s one of the most uncomfortable and annoying afflictions to suffer from, and it can mess up your life in a variety of different ways. 

Thankfully, scientific research now shows that with the right probiotic strains, it’s possible to reign candida overgrowth in and keep it in check. 

There are 1000s of probiotic supplement options, most of which, unfortunately, are completely ineffective.

To help save you time, money, and pain, we’ve spent over 50 hours of research to find 5 supplements that actually help with overcoming and curing candida overgrowth. 

And then at the bottom of the article, we go over what candida overgrowth is, what causes it, the research behind the 3 main probiotic strain types, and what to look for when choosing a supplement.

For those who want a quick overview, below is our comparison table:

• The 1st Best Probiotic:  Amy Myers 100 Billion PROBIOTIC – Best Overall For Curing Candida Overgrowth
• The 2nd Best Probiotic: Just Thrive® Soil-Based Probiotic – (Best For Exciting New Research)
• The 3rd Best Probiotic: Nature’s Way Fortify Optima Daily Probiotic
• The 4th Best Probiotic: Visbiome – High Potency Probiotics
• The 5th Best Probiotic: NOW Supplements, Saccharomyces Boulardii

Our #1 Amy Myers 100 Billion PROBIOTIC – Best Overall For Curing Candida Overgrowth

If you’re looking for a probiotic strain to help cure your candidiasis, this 100 billion BTU probiotic from Amy Myers is the one you want. 

Formulated by physician Dr. Amy Myers, this probiotic comes with 14 research-backed strains and a whopping 100 billion CFUs in each capsule. 

Yes, you read that right–fourteen different strains–that’s double the minimum of 7 strains I recommend when choosing a probiotic supplement. 

The strains included–lactobacillus and bifidobacterium–are the most well-researched probiotic strains available, and have an enormous amount of research backing their efficacy and effectiveness at curing candida overgrowth. 

On Amy Myers’ site, they have a candida protocol that includes 5 different supplements to help overcome candida overgrowth–and this is one of the ones included. 

Another thing I love about this one is that it’s GMP certified. 

As you may already know, probiotics have no governing board like the FDA to validate that the supplement contains what it’s supposed to contain. As a result, I strongly recommend supplements with 3rd party certification called Good Manufacturing Practices. 

This means that it has been manufactured according to Good Manufacturing Practices to ensure safety, quality and efficacy. Basically, it works as advertised. 

The only real downside, and it’s not totally a downside, is the price. It’s about $2.10/serving compared to our #2 and #3 options which are both $1.67/serving. So it’s on the higher side of cost, but I can’t tell you how much money people waste trying to find a budget probiotic that simply doesn’t work. 

So if you can afford it, and you’re serious about curing your candidiasis, I don’t think the price should be a dealbreaker here.  

Now for the reviews, and boy does it have amazing reviews–534+ reviews and almost a perfect 5 star rating. 

The comments are honestly inspiring–this probiotic that has helped people who’ve been struggling with candida for YEARS, and you can just see how excited people are that actually worked to fix their candidiasis.

Lastly, I should note that Amy Myers comes with free shipping.

Pros

• It’s third-party tested
• Shelf-stable and doesn’t require refrigeration
• 14 strains & 100 billion CFUs per capsule
• Free from fillers and gluten, GMOs, dairy and soy
• It’s backed by a 30-day return guarantee

Cons

• Most expensive (but well worth the price)

Final Thoughts: If you’ve tried everything to beat candida without success, this 100 billion CFU probiotic is the game-changer that you’re looking for. It’s 3rd-party certified, has 534+ reviews, a nearly perfect 5-star rating, and is a fast-acting powerhouse of a probiotic that has helped hundreds of people to overcome candida overgrowth. And the fact that it was formulated by an experienced physician (who also happens to be a New York Times bestseller) speaks volumes to us. That’s why it’s our #1 option.

The 2nd Best Probiotic: Just Thrive® Soil-Based Probiotic – (Best For Exciting New Research)

Our number 2 option is this 100% soil-based probiotic from Just Thrive that only consists of 4 bacillus strains delivered in 3 billion CFUs per capsule. If you’re wondering why it only has a few strains, that’s because there are only a few well-researched soil-based probiotic strains that have been shown to be beneficial, and three of them are included here. So that in and of itself is a good sign. 

So while I highly recommend a wide array of strains for lactobacillus/bifidobacterium probiotics, for a soil-based probiotic like Just Thrive, 4 is actually what you want to see. 

Because it’s a soil-based probiotic, it can naturally survive stomach acid and it doesn’t need to be refrigerated to stay alive. Because of its high survival, 3 billion CFUs is more than plenty to get rid of your candidiasis.

While this simple formula might not seem like much, it was actually developed with the help of a probiotic expert named Dr. Simon Cutting, and one of the patented strains (Bacillus indicus HU36) produces an antioxidant that improves its absorption once it gets into the gut. This might be why it works so quickly and effectively.

The research behind the strains in this probiotic supplement shows that it has the ability to kill off pathogenic organisms while feeding the existing good bacteria. It’s a great probiotic to use if our first two options didn’t work for you due to a lactobacillus allergy, which some people have. 

And with 960 reviews and a 4.6 star rating, it’s hard to complain, especially when you see testimonials like these:

Pros

• Contains 4 soil-based probiotic strains
• 3 billion CFUs per capsule
• No fillers, Gluten-free, non-GMO, and dairy-free
•  Guaranteed to survive stomach acid
• Contains antioxidants that maximise absorption

Cons

• Doesn’t have as much research backing it as our first 2 options

Final Thoughts: Just Thrive is a fantastic probiotic that has some exciting research behind it. While there is simply more research on strains contained in our first 2 options on our list, if you have tried either of those first 2 options (or another lactobacillus/bifidobacterium probiotic) without success, Just Thrive soil-based probiotics is the one you want to try next. It’s from a reputable company, has a ton of fantastic reviews, and has exciting new research showing its an excellent solution to helping get rid of candida overgrowth.

The 3rd Best Probiotic: Nature’s Way Fortify Optima Daily Probiotic

Coming in at our #3 ranking is this probiotic from Nature’s way.

Each capsule offers up to 35 billion CFUs–good, not great–of 15 lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains.

This includes the strains we mentioned above, such as Lactobacillus Plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Bifidobacterium lactis to name but a few. 

While not my top recommendation (and being honest here, I haven’t tried it myself), it has great reviews and has what you want to see in a solid probiotic. 

Pros

• Certified gluten-free and non-GMO with no additives
• Comes with 15 lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains 
• Delayed-release capsules are made to resist stomach acid 
• Third-party tested 

Cons

• Only 35 billion CFUs

Final Thoughts: While still a solid option, this probiotic from Nature’s Way is not the best option on this list–if you’re having issues with candida overgrowth, you simply want more than 35 billion CFUs for a lactobacillus/bifidobacterium probiotic.

The 4th Best Probiotic: Visbiome – High Potency Probiotics

Formulated 25 years ago by Professor Claudio De Simone, Visbiome was sold under the name VSL3 until recently. The company decided to relaunch with greener packaging and gave the product a new name in the process. 

Over the past two decades, Visibiome has created a solid reputation for itself as being a high quality, research-backed supplement. A lot of people swear by it, particularly because it’s evidence-based. 

The formula itself is backed by over 70 clinical trials and it contains a healthy balance of both Bifidobacterium and lactobacillus strains.

But, what prompted us to include this probiotic here is the fact that it contains 8 strains of live bacteria (which is solid) and a whopping 112.5 billion bacteria per capsule (woah mama). Yes, you read that right: 112. 5 billion. 

This is the most potent probiotic on our list and it’s definitely made for those with serious gut issues. 

It also has solid reviews with a 4.6 average rating and over 1,000 reviews:

The reason it didn’t get a higher spot on the list is the fact that it only has 8 strains of bacteria. While this is decent, for a lactobacillus/bifidobacterium probiotic, having one that has 14 strains like our #1 option with Amy Myers, gives you the best chance for healing candida overgrowth. 

Pros

• Contains 112.5 billion CFUs 
• Free from starch, gluten, and GMOs
• It contains the highest concentrations of live bacteria per capsule I’ve seen
• Third-party tested 
• Trusted manufacturer with a solid track record

Cons

• Does not offer any delayed-release properties 
• Only 8 strains 

Final Thoughts: With 8 researched strains, and 112.5 billion CFU per serving, this is definitely a probiotic powerhouse that can help those with severe candida overgrowth issues. However, we would like to see more than 8 strains here

The 5th Best Probiotic: NOW Supplements, Saccharomyces Boulardii

This probiotic from NOW supplements uses a strain of probiotics called Saccharomyces Boulardii. Saccharomyces Boulardii is a beneficial yeast that targets opportunistic pathogens like candida.

While it doesn’t have as much research as lactobacillus/bifidobacterium strains, the 100+ studies conducted on it show it can be effective on helping with candida infections. This is one study that has shown some promising research on its positive effect on candida.

While I highly recommend going for a 100 billion CFU probiotic for lactobacillus/bifidobacterium strains, the 10 billion CFU contained in this probiotic is more than enough.

The formula also includes organic inulin to protect the capsules from stomach acid, so the probiotic can survive long enough to get to the small intestine.

The reviews on this one are also solid.

This one would be great to take if a lactobacillus/bifidobacterium strain (like our first 2 options), as well as the soil-based strain (Just Thrive) were ineffective. 

Some people simply respond better to Saccharomyces Boullardii strains than the other strains, so I always recommend to friends and family to try this one as a backup option. 

Pros

• Contains a well-researched strain called Saccharomyces Boulardii
• Great reviews 
• Free from fillers, GMOs, dairy and gluten

 Cons

• Not third party tested 
• Not as well researched as lactobacillus/bifidobacterium stains found in our first 2 options

Final Thoughts: This probiotic from NOW supplements uses a strain called Saccharomyces Boulardii, which has some exciting research to back it. I wouldn’t recommend this one until you’ve tried a lactobacillus/bifidobacterium probiotic like Amy Myers or 1MD, and a soil-based strain like Just Thrive. If either of those didn’t do the trick for you, this is the one you want to try next.

Choosing The Best Probiotics For Candida Overgrowth

Now that we’ve established the probiotics on the market, let’s dive deep into why we chose the options we chose. Below, we’ll go over what candidiasis is, what causes it, the research behind how probiotics can help, and what to look for when choosing a probiotic. 

What Is Candidiasis?

Candida is a naturally occurring fungus that we all have in our bodies. When it’s present in small amounts, it doesn’t cause any harm. But, in a suitable environment, the yeast can over multiply uncontrollably causing candidiasis or candida overgrowth. 

Over 20 different candida can cause infection but the most common is the candida Albicans. It can be found in places like the mouth, belly, skin, and even in the vagina, in the case of women.

How do you know if you have Candida Overgrowth?

All of us have a yeast strain known as candida and it plays an important role in our internal ecosystem. Although it’s supposed to be there, candida should be kept under control. 

Candidiasis is when this yeast overgrows and starts eating nutrients that should go towards supporting the body. At this point, it also starts to poop out toxins that overburden the liver while causing inflammation throughout the body, brain, and skin. 

The spread of the candida yeast in the mouth and throat leads to a condition called thrush. It’s the most common fungal infection of the mouth and it’s prevalent among people with weakened immune systems.

When the yeast spreads to the genitals, it is referred to as a genital yeast infection. When the yeast enters the bloodstream and spreads to other parts of the body, such as the kidney, spleen, bones, muscles and joints, or eyes, it is called invasive candidiasis.

Other indicators of candida overgrowth are:

• Mental fatigue
• Brain fog
• Lethargy
• Mood swings
• Multiple food sensitivities 
• Constipation
• White tongue and bad breath (oral thrush)
• Itching in or around the private areas
• Athlete’s foot 
• Itchiness 
• Increased acne or even bacne
• Dandruff flakiness around the scalp. Some people get it around the mouth or nose. 
• Digestive problems like bloating after meals and abdominal discomfort. 

These are signs that your microbiome is in dysbiosis.

How Does Candida Become a Health Issue?

Poor and imbalanced bacterial communities can lead to an imbalance in immune response and chronic inflammation which opens the door for candida overgrowth, among other issues. These imbalances are often caused by: 

• Poor Diet:

Yeast is known as an opportunistic organism. If you give it a little bit of extra space or food, it will thrive. After all, whatever we eat is going to feed bacteria, yeast, and different organisms in our gut. 

When we eat high-carbohydrate, highly-processed, and high-sugar diets, we’re going to end up with high levels of candida. Foods that are high in sugar, artificial sweeteners, and starches are what yeast species love to consume. 

• Chlorine:

Chlorinated water can also be a problem because chlorine can kill off the good bacteria which is what helps to protect the body against candida overgrowth. 

• Stress:

Stress and lack of sleep can also set us up for an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast, including other ‘bad guys’ that occupy the gut’s ecosystem. 

• Heavy Metals: 

Things like dental fillings and processed foods that have high amounts of mercury and other heavy metals can help protect candida and it will use it as a shield to protect itself from the immune system. These heavy metals also lower our immune response making it easier for candida to run rampant. 

• Antibiotics:

The use of antibiotics or eating meat that has had antibiotics injected into it can create an environment that’s ripe for yeast. Also, most people don’t realize this, but whenever you take a course of antibiotics, you’re supposed to follow it up with a probiotic to prevent yeast overgrowth.

What Strain of Probiotic Is Best For Candida?

Beneficial bacteria are a powerful defense mechanism against opportunistic infections such as candida. They are what keep the gut balanced. Here are some of the best probiotic strains to curb candida overgrowth and keep colonies of bad bacteria in check. 

• Lactobacilli:

The lactobacillus species are like the police of the digestive system. They secrete various kinds of chemicals to keep the bad guys in check, such as hydrogen peroxide and they are acidophilic in nature, which allows them to maintain balance. 

When lactobacillus numbers drop off, bacteria and yeast such as Candida Albicans get the upper hand, creating a negative shift in the entire gut. 

Some of the best Lactobacillus strains for candida overgrowth include lactobacillus Plantarum and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. These well-researched strains boost different aspects of immune function, particularly in the small intestine, which is the area that you want to improve. 

Lactobacillus acidophilus has also been shown to have excellent therapeutic properties for candida overgrowth, particularly vulvovaginal Candida infections. Thanks to its antibacterial effects, Lactobacillus reuteri is very effective at curbing candida growth. 

• Bifidobacterium:

You also want to add bifidobacterium strains to your anti-candida protocol as they inhabit not only the gastrointestinal tract but the mouth and vagina. Bifidobacterium longum and Bifidobacterial Lectins are two popular Bifidobacterium strains in the large intestine that when used in conjunction with the lactobacillus strains mentioned above, can be very effective at getting rid of candida overgrowth. 

• Soil- Based Organisms (SBO) Probiotics:

As the name implies, soil-based organisms are a type of probiotic that’s derived from the soil. They’re naturally resistant to stomach acid because they stay in a dormant state until they reach the small intestinal wall where they start to flourish. This means they’re naturally shelf-stable and don’t require any coating to protect from stomach acid.

They also come in a variety of strains, with the most researched being bacillus coagulans, bacillus subtilis, bacillus clausii, and bacillus licheniformis.

Soil-based organisms are the secret weapon behind the soil fertilizers utilized by gardeners, and we all depend on soil-based organisms to digest our food.

Thanks to their powerful anti-fungal properties, SBOs are very effective against Candida Albicans, as evidenced by this 2017 research study. Basically, SBOs recondition and bring balance to the gut. 

• Saccharomyces Boulardii: 

Saccharomyces boulardii is a beneficial yeast that was discovered in 1920 by French microbiologist Henri Boulard during a trip to China. He noticed that a part of the population managed to avoid the scourge of cholera by drinking a type of tea that contained a unique yeast called saccharomyces. Fast-forward a century later and saccharomyces is one of the most well-researched probiotic strains in the world. 

Saccharomyces is a type of bacteria that likes the human body temperature so much that it thrives and grows rapidly in it. But, because it doesn’t penetrate cell walls it can never become a systemic problem. 

Even in vitro studies show it to be very beneficial against a wide range of pathogens, and because it’s a yeast, it can’t be killed by antibiotics.

Saccharomyces boulardii pushes out pathogenic forms of bacteria and yeast while boosting your secretory immunoglobulin levels to keep your gut wall intact and your immune system strong. 

For best results, we recommend you take a probiotic capsule with a combination of saccharomyces, lactobacillus, and bifidobacterium strains, or at least several lactobacilli and bifidobacterium strains. When we have balanced bacterial communities, it becomes easier to regulate the immune system and keep opportunistic infections at bay. 

We highly recommend starting out with a high-quality probiotic with the lactobacillus and bifidobacterium strains mentioned above when starting out. Luckily, most manufacturers pair these strains together when formulating anti-candida probiotic supplements, so it shouldn’t be hard to find one.

How To Choose a Probiotic To Help With Candida Overgrowth

There are many different types of probiotic supplements. Some are effective, some are useless. How do you know you’ve found the right one for you? Make the following considerations when choosing a probiotic to help with candida overgrowth:

Know Your Supplier

When buying probiotics, you have to place a lot of trust in the manufacturer and/or supplier. This goes for any dietary supplement that you have to take on a long-term basis. 

You need to know who produced it and in what kind of condition. Where they get their raw materials from, and what type of research has gone into the product.

At the end of the day, numbers don’t lie. While it’s not foolproof, choosing a brand with a strong history of providing great supplements and reviews to boot, is a great idea. 

Make Sure It Has Enzymes

The best probiotics for candida are ones that have enzymes in them. That’s because the enzymes kickstart the gut and improve the acid-alkaline ratio of the stomach in the small intestine. They also create a more favorable environment for beneficial bacteria to grow.

Basically, they annoy the bad stuff and encourage the good stuff.

Of course, enzymes are also known for their ability to break down food effectively so that it’s easier for bacteria to consume.

Even if your probiotic doesn’t have enzymes, you’ll do well to take an enzyme supplement during the course of your probiotic protocol. 

Diversity

Because there’s a lot of diversity in your gut bacteria, your probiotics should have a lot of variety as well. 

Look for a multi-strain probiotic with a combination of lactobacillus strains for the small intestine, as well as Bifidobacterium strains for the large intestine. A minimum of 7 strains is required. 

Culture count 

This is the total amount of bacteria per capsule, also known as colony-forming units (CFUs). 

With probiotics, more is better, and the best products typically feature 30, 50, 80, 100, and even 200 billion CFUs. 

Expiration 

It’s important to check the expiration date of your probiotic if you’re going to buy it from a grocery or superstore where the shelf life may not be checked that often. You should see it on the side or bottom of the bottle.

Also, look for one that guarantees potency through to the end of the expiration date and not just at the time of manufacture. 

Testing

You also want a probiotic that is pharmaceutical grade or third-party tested. Third-party testing will guarantee that the strains survive long enough to reach your gut and that they’re effective by the time they get there. 

Additives

You should also avoid probiotics with useless additives as they can be harmful to an already imbalanced gut. This includes additives like rice starch or grain, which can be difficult to digest if you have an autoimmune disorder. 

To get the full benefits of a probiotic, it’s important to make sure that it doesn’t contain any needless additives. 

Price

When it comes to probiotics, it’s advisable to not go for cheap options. While expensive doesn’t mean better, I highly recommend not to “penny pinch” when looking for a probiotic

Shelf Stability

If a probiotic needs to be refrigerated, then it’s probably not as hardy as probiotics that don’t require refrigeration. It’s all about the survival of the probiotic from the time that it’s manufactured, to the time that it makes it to your stomach. 

With that said, probiotics do prefer stable temperatures and they should ideally be kept cool. They don’t have to be refrigerated, but they don’t like humidity or wide temperature fluctuations either. 

Keeping your probiotic cool in a pantry or cupboard is best. 

Delayed-release

Delayed-release probiotics are designed to withstand stomach acid to help get CFUs to the intestines. 

Pro Tip! Remember to eat as many prebiotic foods as possible when taking a probiotic. Prebiotics are especially found in fruits and vegetables, and they make it easier for the body to absorb the probiotics. 

Wrapping It Up – Which Probiotic Is Best For Healing Candida Overgrowth

Candidiasis is an opportunistic infection that’s caused by a gut imbalance. This imbalance is, in turn, brought on by a number of causes, such as eating foods that are high in antibiotics, consuming antibiotics, and extreme stress. 

These and other causes reduce our immunity and widen the imbalance, leading to a build-up in candida colonies in the gut.

Taking a multi-strain probiotic is a great way to bring the gut back into balance while warding off pesky candidiasis symptoms, and the Amy Myers MD probiotic is a good example of this. With 14 different strains and 100 billion CFUs in each capsule, this is the best probiotic to help with candida overgrowth.

If you are looking for more solutions to combat candida, check out our article on the best candida cleanse, that includes a solid probiotic (like the ones mentioned in this review), as well as 2 other scientifically-proven supplements–enzymes and caprylic acid–that can help. 

Still Unsure Which Option Is Best For You? Here’s The Recap, Based On Our Testing & Research

• Amy Myers MD 100 Billion CFU: This is the best overall probiotic for curing candida overgrowth. It contains 14 research-backed strains and 100 billion CFUs per capsule. It is third-party tested and free from fillers and harmful additives.
• Just Thrive® Soil-Based Probiotic: This is the second best probiotic for candida overgrowth and has exciting new research behind it. It contains soil-based bacillus strains and 3 billion CFUs per capsule.
• Nature’s Way Fortify Optima Daily Probiotic: This is the third best probiotic for candida overgrowth. It is certified gluten-free and non-GMO with no additives. It contains lactobacillus plantarum, lactobacillus rhamnosus, and bifidobacterium lactis.