Gut Health · 4 min read
Probiotics: the strain matters more than the CFU count
50 billion CFU sounds impressive. It's also mostly meaningless without the strain names.
A probiotic label with just a big CFU number and 'Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium blend' is telling you almost nothing. Effects are strain-specific.
Look for full strain designations — genus, species, and strain code, e.g. Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. That's a strain with real evidence behind it.
CFU counts should be listed at the end of shelf life, not at time of manufacture. Anything less is easy to game.
Refrigeration isn't universally required, but shelf-stable claims should be backed by the strain's known stability. Some strains die at room temperature within weeks.
For most people without a specific goal, a fermented food habit does more than a capsule. When you do supplement, buy the strain, not the number.
