Garden Of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care Review

Product Name:  Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care

Overall Rating: 

Type:  Capsule

Capsule Size:  19mm X 6mm

Price:  $45.59

Serving Size:  Adults take 1 capsule daily (with or without food)

Servings Included:  30

Cost Per Day:  $1.52

Live Cultures Guaranteed Through/At:  Expiration date (Under recommended storage conditions. Store in a cool, dry place.)

Main Ingredients and Cell Count(s):  100 billion CFU with 34 probiotic strains in a Replenish Blend – [ISS Bif™ Bifidobacterium lactis (SD-5219), Lactobacillus acidophilus (SD-5221), Lactobacillus paracasei (SD-5218), Bifidobacterium lactis (SD-5220), Raw Whole Food Probiotic Blend: Bulgarian Yogurt (milk) Concentrate, ^Eastern European Wild Kefir Culture containing Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus fermentum, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens, Lactobacillus kefirgranum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus cremoris, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus kefir, Lactobacillus parakefir, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis biovar diacetylactis, Leuconostoc lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc cremoris, Leuconostoc dextranicum, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Bre‑anomyces anomalus, Debaryomyces hansenii, Saccharomyces unisporus, Saccharomyces turicensis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces exiguus, Torulaspora delbrueckii], Protein-Digesting Enzyme Blend 50 mg [Protease, Acid Protease, Protease S], Eastern European Raw Fruit & Veggie Blend 45 mg [Red Bell Pepper (Fruit), Green Pea (Seed), Carrot (Root), Plum (Fruit), Cherry (Fruit), Strawberry (Fruit), Raspberry (Fruit)]

Satisfaction Guarantee?:  Yes

Best Used As:  Supplement for a specific ailment to help restore the good bacteria lost and improve digestive function and immune health

Where To Buy:  Click Here

Overall Opinion:

I’m a longtime fan of Garden of Life and have loved a number of their probiotic supplements over the years.

So I’m a bit disappointed that Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care didn’t live up to my expectations.

This probiotic is as potent as they come and has 100 billion CFU, 34 probiotic strains, a protein-digesting enzyme blend, and a raw fruit & veggie blend.

I love packing in as many nutrients and beneficial ingredients in the smallest amount whether it’s a pill or powder, etc.  However, these capsules are even smaller than average, and I just don’t know how you cram that many probiotics in one singular capsule PLUS a whole extra set of enzymes and a fruit and veggie blend.  It makes me think there are just microscopic amounts of these and maybe not likely enough to make a big difference.

To further that note, I didn’t see any noticeable benefits or improvements with my IBS symptoms, food allergies, or overall digestion.  I just had cramping and bloating side effects for the first few days as my body adjusted to them and that was it.

I always say that these super strong probiotics usually don’t ever perform well for me and sometimes it’s just too much of a good thing and they compete with each other.

I do like that Raw Probiotics is a whole-food probiotic that mimics eating fermented food.  It’s made up mainly of Bulgarian yogurt concentrate, Wild European kefir grains and scobies, and concentrated clinically studied probiotics strains.

Adults are suggested to take 1 capsule daily, with or without food, and the capsules can be opened up and mixed directly into water or juice.  This probiotic isn’t intended for children.

The capsules are shelf-stable and refrigeration isn’t necessary due to the desiccant-lined bottle.

But overall, Raw Probiotics misses the mark for me and goes over the top without providing much of any benefit and at a high price tag.

The Details:

Ingredients/Strain Profile

We’ve got a ton going on with this strain profile and ingredient line up.

Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care has 100 billion CFU and 34 clinically studied probiotic strains.

This is one of the most intense ingredient lists I’ve seen in quite a while.

When probiotics have this much going on, it usually misses the mark for me.

It’s just too much and a lot of these strains will end up competing with each other and they aren’t as effective as say 6-7 probiotic strains would be.

They also use a bunch of strains I’m not familiar with, which is hard to do after reviewing multiple hundreds of probiotics over the years.

Of all the strains used, I’m really happy that they included Bifidobacterium lactis.

This is a powerhouse probiotic and has been shown to be beneficial with helping improve immune function and intestinal health.  B. lactis may help alleviate constipation, digestive tract infections (H. pylori), painful symptoms associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and may even reduce infections like the common cold.  Other promising studies have shown the potential for it to help with weight management, blood sugar balance, and heart health.

Another probiotic superstar used is Lactobacillus acidophilus.  This is one of the most highly researched of the friendly bacteria and has a wide range of health benefits.  Studies show that L. acidophilus may improve symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), prevent and reduce diarrhea, lower cholesterol, prevent and reduce cold and flu symptoms, alleviate allergy symptoms, and treat and prevent vaginal infections.

I do like that Raw Probiotics is a whole-food probiotic that emulates eating fermented food. It’s made with mainly Bulgarian yogurt concentrate, Wild European kefir grains and scobies, and concentrated clinically studied probiotics strains.  They say that it’s created below 40º F and 30% humidity so that what you see on the label is what you get in the bottle.

This formula also includes a protein-digesting enzyme blend.  The blend is made up of Protease, Acid Protease, and Protease S.  I like this addition because digestive enzymes are a good companion for probiotics for aiding in overall proper digestive health, function, and proper nutrient absorption.

Lastly, this probiotic has an Eastern European Raw Fruit & Veggie Blend, which has Red Bell Pepper, Green Pea, Carrot, Plum, Cherry, Strawberry, and Raspberry.  It’s a nice addition of natural ingredients but I don’t suspect a ton of nutritional support because the capsules are quite small in size, making it incredibly hard to pack so much into them with meaningful amounts.

Allergy Concerns

Yes, these probiotics do contain milk.

Other than that, they seem very allergy friendly.

They’re NSF certified gluten free, soy free, and non-GMO verified.

The capsules are vegetarian and raw, whole food probiotics.

Raw means the probiotics are uncooked, untreated, unadulterated, with no binders or fillers and no carriers.

This supplement does include some ingredients that aren’t commonly found in probiotics, a raw fruit & veggie blend including:  Red bell pepper, green pea, carrot, plum, cherry, strawberry, raspberry.

The other ingredients in the capsules are vegetable cellulose (capsule) and organic rice (hull).

Price/Value

This probiotic comes with a hefty price tag.

I bought mine online at the Garden of Life website for $45.59.

You get 30 capsules, which is a 1-month supply.

It winds up costing a whopping $1.52 per day.

That’s much higher than your average probiotic.

You do get free UPS ground shipping (2-5 days), so that’s a nice bonus, especially when you’re paying that much.

Normally, I’m all for shelling out more money if the product is worth it.

Unfortunately, I just don’t think the quality of this probiotic lives up to its higher price.

Side Effects

This is one of the strongest probiotics I’ve personally seen or tried.

I was definitely expecting some side effects with it and my suspicion was correct.

The first few days I definitely had some belly cramping and bloating.

It wasn’t awful but I was aware of the symptoms.

I had the side effects for the first few days as my body adjusted to the potent probiotic.

This is certainly not a probiotic you try off hand if you’re new to the world of probiotics.

It says you can open these capsules up, so if you have a sensitive belly or if this is more than you’re used to, maybe try half a dose and increase after you’ve gotten used to the smaller dose.

This is just my personal recommendation, but it may help ease you into this more potent probiotic!

Also, I didn’t see any noticeable benefits while taking this probiotic. :(

My IBS symptoms, food allergies, and overall digestion stayed basically the same the entire time taking these, which is such a major let down.

Guarantee

Luckily, Garden of Life does have a guarantee!

I’m happy to see one because this supplement is more expensive than most.

If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, you can return the item within 30 days of purchase.

All refunds will be applied to the original method of payment.

To return an item, contact their Customer Service at 800-365-7709 or [email protected].

You’ll need your name, order number, and the item number of the product you’re returning.

They ask not to return your items to their corporate address and any items returned to their corporate office won’t be refunded.

Where To Buy

To buy Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care, click here.

Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care: Summary

Factor	Garden of Life Raw Probiotics Ultimate Care
Overall Rating
Best Used As	A supplement for a specific ailment to promote healthy digestion and immune function
Ingredient Profile	100 billion CFU with 34 probiotic strains, protein-digesting enzyme blend, and raw fruit & veggie blend
Allergy Concerns	Yes, the capsules contain milk
Price/Value	$45.59 for 30 capsules (1-month supply)
Side Effects	Yes, some belly bloating and cramping for the first few days
Guarantee	30-day, satisfaction guarantee
Where To Buy	Click Here