Total Restore Review

Total Restore, produced by Gundry MD, is a supplement that’s supposed to boost the health of the gut, reduce the symptoms of leaky gut, and provide boosts of energy. The formula contains a wide range of ingredients that specifically benefit the gut, from herbal extracts to fruit.

The formula is a little different from most of the formulas that I review because it’s sold in capsules rather than a powder, so it’s going to be really interesting to see if the capsules can really pack a punch.

Although the Gundry MD company has been put under scrutiny a few times, and not everyone agrees with CEO Steven Gundry’s thoughts on nutrition, this formula is extremely popular, so maybe it’s popular for good reason!

If you’re thinking of buying Total Restore, or you’re keen to take a look at this Gundry MD capsule supplement, check out my full Total Restore review below.

Check out my recommendations for the best probiotic supplements for men!)

Total Restore First Impressions

I’m not crazy about the Gundry MD website at an initial glance, as everything looks a little too clinical and the branding seems to lack personality. Nonetheless, there’s a good selection of supplements, with each supplement having clear photos and a mass of informative content about them, which is important!

Looking at the Total Restore product, again, I’m not blown away and the branding still looks clinical and very serious, although, I think I’ve realized that that must be the Gundry MD aesthetic.

However, I am pleased to see a wide range of information about the formula, the ingredients, the benefits, and a number of customer reviews.

Overall, I’m neither here nor there about the formula, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how it stands up to my test.

Other Gundry MD supplements I have reviewed:

• Vital Reds review
• PrebioThrive review
• Primal Plants review

Background on Gundry MD

Gundry MD was founded in 2016 by cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Steven Gundry. Gundry is also a popular author, with some of his books becoming New York Times bestsellers.

The company was founded after Gundry decided he wanted to provide health to all, with his number one mission to “dramatically improve human health”. The brand produces a wide range of supplements, with Total Restore sitting beside a red powder and a prebiotic supplement as a best seller.

Unfortunately, the brand does have a few complaints on the Better Business Bureau, but most of the complaints have been dealt with by the company.

Total Restore Ingredients

Total Restore contains 24 ingredients in total, including the ingredients that make the capsules. The ingredients label contains one small fruit proprietary blend, but apart from that, the amount of each ingredient is shown.

I have concerns though as the amount of each ingredient is very small which brings about concerns of efficacy. Although, we’ll take a look at that in closer detail later in this review.

Here is the supplement facts label:

How does Total Restore Taste?

Due to the fact that the Total Restore formula exists within capsules, there’s no taste, as long as you swallow before the capsule disintegrates.

Side Effects

Gundry MD doesn’t specifically provide any side effect warnings. However, the brand does advise consulting a medical professional before consumption, and they mention that the formula contains shellfish.

I think this is good advice, however, I would recommend not consuming the formula at all before you’ve talked to a medical professional if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or you have a medical condition.

In addition, I also think it’s important to state that this formula isn’t vegetarian, even though the capsules are vegetarian. Although that’s not a side effect warning, it’s important to state that it contains fish as I think the use of vegetarian capsules may mislead some vegetarians to think it’s suitable for them!

Does Total Restore Work?

Unlike most of the other supplements that I review that are available in powdered form, Total Restore is a capsule supplement. As you’ll probably know if you’re a regular Lifehacker Guy reader, I don’t like it when brands use capsules!

Although capsules might be easy to take, tasteless, and easy to carry around with you, most capsule supplements contain insufficiently dosed ingredients, meaning they probably actually won’t provide the consumer with any benefits at all.

Looking at Total Restore, this issue seems to ring true. The brand isn’t open about the amount of formula in each capsule, but from the ingredients label, we can see that the total amount of whole food ingredients within the formula is 792mg, or 0.79g. This is a ridiculously small amount of formula, even if taken three times a day as suggested (this would work out at 2,448mg or 2.45g.

Although nearly all of the ingredients don’t have standard recommended doses, if we look at the maitake mushroom recommended dose compared to the amount in this capsule, it’s very concerning!

The recommended dose for maitake mushroom is 3mg/kg of weight. So, if you weigh 60kg, you would need 180mg per day.

In Total Restore, there’s only 34mg of maitake mushroom, meaning that even taken three times daily, you’d only receive 102mg. This means you’d have to weigh only 34kg for the maitake mushroom in this formula to benefit you, which is simply crazy.

Overall, I’m very hesitant when it comes to the efficacy of Total Restore, especially after looking at the dosing of maitake mushroom. I think it’s fair to say that although some of the ingredients in these capsules could provide health benefits, the majority of them will be underdosed.

However, it is good to see that the amount of the majority of ingredients is shown.

Total Restore Reviews

Total Restore is available on Amazon, and there are nearly 3,000 reviews of the product on there, which is a huge number of reviews! However, overall, Total Restore is rated 3.8 stars out of 5 stars, which isn’t a good score!

Nonetheless, let’s take a look at some of the reviews, from the best to the worst!

This product is AMAZING! Best friend of 63 years after a colonoscopy diagnosed with twisted sigmoid colon with extreme diverticulitis. Dr. Said the only option was a colonoscopy. After 6 months of intestinal pain, passing blood and constant bowel problems I shared with my wife (RN) his problem. Her comment was leaky gut disease. Found Total Restore purchased and delivered to a friend from Amazon. He called morning to say 5 days free of pain and bloody stools. He had been taking Total Restore for 9 days. Miracle he said.5-star reviewer

My husband has had great success with total restore. He had his gallbladder removed and for several years suffered from diarrhea after eating many foods. He was afraid to be far from home. Since he began to take the pills (within 2 weeks), the diarrhea has stopped and we have been going out to eat more often. He still chooses a more healthier meal. Unfortunately, total restore did not work for me. I suffered from insomnia , nausea, and indigestion. I had to stop taking them.3-star reviewer

If I could give this a -100 stars I would. I took it for 2 weeks and had actually made an appointment with the doctor to see why I was so sick. The muscles in my legs were on fire with pain and every day I woke up with nausea. It finally dawned on me it might be this supplement, two days after stopping I started feeling better, by the end of the week I was back to riding my horse. I did not buy this thru Amazon but feel obligated to let people know possible side effects.1-star reviewer

Money-Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

Gundry MD offers a 90-day money-back guarantee, which is great to see! However, this money-back guarantee doesn’t cover shipping costs.

Where to buy Total Restore?

You can buy Total Restore from the Gundry MD website and from Amazon.

Is It Worth The Price?

One bottle of Total Restore contains 90 capsules, and with a serving size of three capsules, one bottle contains 30 servings.

One bottle costs $69.95, which means the cost per serving works out at $2.33. You can save money by purchasing multiple bottles.

Three bottles of Total Restore costs $191.85 in total, with the cost per serving working out at $2.13. Six bottles of Total Restore costs $317.70 in total, with the cost per serving working out at $1.77.

People that look at Total Restore may initially think that the cost of the formula is inexpensive, seeing as the formula contains 90 capsules. However, seeing as the serving size is actually three capsules, the formula is nowhere near as cheap as you might initially think!

Regardless of the specific cost, whether it’s the discounted option or full price, I think this formula is overpriced. It’s unclear whether these capsules will actually provide benefits seeing as the formula is probably underdosed, and there’s a multitude of negative reviews on this product saying that it has caused side effects or simply isn’t working.

The Bottom Line

Unfortunately, I’m not impressed with the Total Restore capsule supplement. Obviously, my main cause for concern is the fact that the formula very likely contains insufficiently dosed ingredients and therefore the formula probably won’t work.

Other concerns about the product are the small serving size, the multitude of negative reviews, the steep price, and the fact there aren’t many benefits associated with the formula in relation to improved gut health.

My advice would be to choose a gut health supplement, or a super greens formula that benefits gut health, that has a fully disclosed ingredients label, contains sufficiently dosed ingredients, and is sold as a powder, not as capsules!

With insufficiently dosed ingredients, a fairly expensive price tag, and some really negative consumer reviews, I would certainly not purchase or consume this formula.

I would recommend you to look elsewhere and choose a super greens formula that has a fully disclosed label and actually contains sufficiently dosed ingredients, without the added sugar.

ProbioSlim has a unique twist on the traditional probiotics supplement in that it's primarily a diet supplement that claims to also help people shift stubborn fat.

I have been researching probiotic supplements recently and so this brand has caught my attention. Also, a visitor did ask if I can take a look at Force Factor ProbioSlim too.

Although, I very rarely review weight loss supplements though because I believe most of them have exaggerated claims with little science to support their claims. That said I have reviewed a similar product before, Bio X4, that also claims to be probiotic weight loss supplement.

So, here is my ProbioSlim review, where I take an in-depth look at this digestive diet supplement that claims to be the answer to gut health and a slim waist.

Probioslim First Impressions

Supplements combining weight loss and probiotics are not that common, which is surprising considering the link between digestive health and weight.

ProbioSlim combines both prebiotics and probiotics, a few fig and fruit extracts, alongside green tea extract, to help support digestive health as well as aiding weight loss.

From a quick glance at the label, the formula is not exactly mind-blowing, and I am unconvinced it would do much to encourage fat loss. Although the inclusion of patented probiotics compound this formula may help to re-address the balance of good bacteria in the gut.

Other probiotic formulas I have reviewed:

• Total Restore Review
• Bio X4 review
• Probioslim review

Background on Force Factor LLC

Force Factor is a nutrition supplement company that claims to help unleash your full potential.

They are based in Pennsylvania in the United States, with also a presence in Canada and Australia, and have been in business since 2009 when two former Harvard University rowers founded the company.

The brand appears to be mostly aimed at guys as they stock a number of testosterone boosting supplements, alongside Nitric Oxide (N.O.) boosters, fat burners, male health, and probiotics.

I counted over 40 different brands in total!

Although the company has an outstanding rating on the Better Business Bureau, the makers of ProbioSlim (NutraClick) did receive warnings from the FTC in 2016 for deceptive billing practices in the form of automatically billing customers each month.

ProbioSlim Ingredients

ProbioSlim combines digestive and weight loss ingredients in one proprietary formula that’s called LS3664 Whole Health Superblend.

Now, the use of proprietary blends means we don’t get to know the exact breakdown of the formula and the weight of each ingredient. We just know the total weight of the formula, which is 541mg (the ingredient label is below).

How to take ProbioSlim?

It's easy to take this supplement as each daily serving of ProbioSlim is two capsules. You take one capsule at breakfast, and one capsule with lunch. There are no additional recommendations so as you would take any supplement, we took these with water.

Side Effects

The supplement should be safe for most people but it’s worth mentioning the caffeine content here. It’s unclear how much caffeine is inside each capsule and so if you’re sensitive to this stimulant you may wish to be wary. You should also be mindful of over caffeine sources you consume during the day too.

Sometimes probiotics can cause mild digestive complaints too but these tend to be short-lived and occur if you’re not used to consuming them.

Does ProbioSlim Work?

Force Factor make strong claims with their ProbioSlim supplement, saying;

Combines one of the most efficacious and resilient probiotic strains with advanced weight management ingredients for holistic healthy living.

I am keen to assess just how effective ProbioSlim really is, so I take a look at the three main ingredients in the formula, the compound LactoSpore, Super EGCG Green Tea Leaf Complex, and caffeine in the form of another Green tea extract.

LactoSpore is a patented compound produced by Sabinsa Corporation which has been shown to ease symptoms associated with occasional diarrhea, constipation, gas, and bloating.

Whilst Sabinsa has studies confirming the significance of their patented probiotic compound, it's not clear in what dosage that ProbioSlim uses and if how this compares to the original research.

Green tea leaf extract has been accredited with a number of health benefits but the most popular one has been helping weight loss, and the reason they are found is so many diet supplements (Source).

Looking closer at the research there are studies that show consuming a green tea extract capsule containing 50 mg of caffeine and 90 mg of EGCG can increase fat burning for 24-hours Source). This has led to support for the weight loss properties of these ingredients.

The effect on weight loss is not massive though and only shown when consuming green tea extract capsule and caffeine in certain dosages. We don't know how much of these ingredients are present in the ProbioSlim formula.

For me, this highlights a big question mark on the effectiveness of this formula.

The rest of the formula is mainly fiber, but considering the serving size, the amount of fiber is not likely to be that high.

To assess how well the ProbioSlim formula works we would need to know the ingredient weights within the blend and because they are not revealed it's impossible to know for sure.

ProbioSlim Reviews

I took a look at the third-party reviews on Amazon to see how customers got on with ProbioSlim.

So far 849 customer ratings have given an overall 3.8 out of 5 stars for ProbioSlim, which isn’t too bad.

As is often the case with diet supplements, results are very mixed from customers. Here is a selection of some of the feedback.

If you have digestive issues AND want to lose weight … worth the money but be prepared to blow out your bathroom within an hour of eating. 5-star review

The hype did not match up to the product. I really have not seen a great difference since using it. 3-star review

After two weeks of taking these as directed and eating healthy, I have not lost any weight. 1-star review

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

The official website has a “money-back guarantee” badge in the footer but I struggled to find any information about the conditions.

Checking through the terms and conditions I could see that any return requests need to be authorized first by calling their phone number and only after receiving an RMA number can they be returned. As to how much money you get back is not clear.

Where to buy ProbioSlim?

You can buy ProbioSlim online from the official website and also from their Amazon store.

Other third-party retailers also stock Force Factor supplements, such as Walmart and GNC being popular options.

Is It Worth The Price?

The cost of one bottle of ProbioSlim is pretty steep, costing $69.99 for 60-capsules. That’s a whopping $2.33 per day working out to be over $1 per capsule!

For such an expensive supplement I would expect more and wouldn’t be willing to spend this amount of money.

On the plus side though it's 30% cheaper than Bio X4 from Nucific!

My Verdict

I am not persuaded by the marketing of ProbioSlim and in my opinion, it’s simply too expensive for a formula we just don’t know how effectively it’s dosed.

The proprietary blend means we can’t be sure of effective dosages and I am not convinced the inclusion of green tea extract is going to shift the fat as claimed.

For the price, I would much prefer opting for either a dedicated probiotic or an all-around health supplement that provides nutrients to support a healthy diet (check out superfoods containing probiotics).

As with most diet supplements I believe this is very much the case of over-marketing and under-delivering. ProbioSlim would not make it onto my supplement wish list.

LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation

Some Call This An "Extreme" Step...

Most super greens supplements are disappointing.

I learned this the hard way. After creating this blog in 2018, I spent months buying and testing all the most popular brands.

I wasn’t happy with the results so I did something you might call "extreme"....

In 2019 I created my own brand that ticks every single box of what I look for in a super greens product:

• No hidden ingredient amounts - we have full disclosure labelling, so you know EXACTLY whats inside
• Ingredient amounts that make a difference - we include the minimum effective amounts supported by research, and most of the time, MORE
• Ingredients that help immunity, boost mental clarity and shake off brain fog - making for a much more productive and happy lifestyle

No more worrying about ineffective ingredients or too low dosages. I finally have a product I KNOW does the job it’s made to do.

I use it every day and, after years of battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), I now have my energy (and my life!) back.

The good news? I made my brand available to the public so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.

Read Review

Probiotics have received a lot of press lately, and it is claimed that they can do so much for the body, way beyond gut health.

Claiming they can help you sleep, improve heart health, improve immunity, and reduce anxiety, one of the additional claims is that they can help with weight loss.

Researchers have recently started looking at claims that improving gut biodiversity can help with general overall body mass along with brain health.

You can look at some other product reviews I have written on my probiotics for men article.

I’ve recently come across a product called Bio X4 from Nucific, a hugely popular (on social media) product which claims to help with a clutch of digestive issues and boost metabolism.

Bio X4 First Impressions

The Nucific brand itself looks like an example of these cure-all products we are now all too familiar with (weight-loss plus probiotic), and their website is structured so you jump straight onto a page to purchase the product.

No preamble here, just pure sales.

In fact, there’s very little else in terms of substance to the site.

Stay on the homepage long enough and you gradually get driven mad by the pop-up that tells you someone has just made a purchase.

The branding is clear and unfussy, which is appealing, although it isn’t immediately clear what the product is, so this could potentially be a little confusing or misleading. It is simply labeled as a diet supplement. In fact, there’s so little information, I don’t even know why the product is called Bio X4.

Perhaps if I do some further digging I might be able to find out more.

Other probiotic formulas I have reviewed:

• Total Restore Review
• Peptiva review
• Probioslim review

Background on Nucific

Dr Amy Lee is a bariatric doctor – with degrees from the University of Illinois and UCLA – who also happens to have a popular video on Facebook regarding diet, weight loss and appetite. This video is accompanied by an infomercial for Nucific Bio X4, which were you not to spot, you would be otherwise unaware that she was trying to sell a product.

What she says in her video is quite scientifically correct: limit intake of salt and sugar, eat more whole foods, combine good fats with fiber. It’s all very above-board. But she IS trying to sell a product, a weight-loss, appetite suppressant pill (Bio X4).

It’s hard to get more leverage on Nucific. There aren’t a lot of reviews on health sites. There do appear to be a lot of ‘fake sellers’ on Amazon. There isn’t really much out there except the views and advice of Dr Amy Lee.

On social media you would be forgiven for thinking it is the next big thing, so I’m going to take a closer look at the ingredients in Bio X4 and what reviews I can find to see if there’s more to it than meets the eye.

What Ingredients inside Bio X4?

The capsule consists of a probiotic blend, dietary enzymes, and caffeine.

Let me just say again that this formula is not ground-breaking. There are plenty of products out there that combine probiotics with caffeine and digestive enzymes and claim to boost metabolism and aid gut health (with the intended outcome being weight loss or better weight management).

Here are the full Bio X4 nutritional facts from the label.

Are There Any Bio X4 Side Effects?

Fortunately, Nucific Bio X4 causes ‘no known side effects’.

According to their own website FAQs: it;

is made up of pure ingredients. They only help your system and are gluten-free, allergen-free capsules, so you can take them no matter what your diet restrictions may be

This should be reassuring, however the more quizzical amongst us might be asking whether something which is a powerful digestive aid should actually cause some sort of side effect.

Research into green tea extract suggests that long term use may affect liver toxicity. Canadian health promoters are looking into claims that liver damage has been caused by supplements containing green tea extract.

Does Bio X4 Actually Work?

BioX4 claims to work in the following ways:

Reduce cravings, promotes weight management, supports smoother digestion, boosts metabolism.

These are claims that will appeal to a large number of consumers, especially in the U.S. where people weigh, on average, around 10kg more than European counterparts. So there are big problems to be solved, and big bucks for people who can sell a product that achieves this.

But for every claim, there is an equally compelling counter-argument.

Firstly the pills are supposed to help reduce cravings. Assuming this means food cravings, picture this – you are supposed to take the pill with a meal. Ta-dah! No food craving! (because you are already eating).

But seriously, the feelings of satiety will depend on the food you are eating at each meal and their passage through the gut. I personally don't see how a supplement is going to affect this, but Bio X4 claims that lessening cravings is one of the factors that could lead to weight loss. Ok. But this is a lifestyle change and one that takes more than a supplement to change.

There is plenty more to discuss in this article on Healthline about cravings, satiety and weight-loss. Much of the medical evidence shows that in order to maintain a feeling of fullness you need to eat protein-rich food and combine it with high fiber foods to ensure appropriate passage through the gut (not least to help with fat metabolism and reduce cholesterol, which soluble fiber has a hand in).

Eating an appropriate amount of – for example – psyllium husk should do this. Also, this can help with satiety.

There is some evidence (from one study) on Caralluma Fimbriata to suggest it can suppress the appetite and it has been used traditionally (for example in Ayurvedic medicine) for this aspect. Studies have looked at 1000mg daily doses. So it is unlikely that even with three pills a day you would be achieving this.

The study also suggests that it may take up to a month for Caralluma extract to help in appetite suppression.

As for the digestive enzymes, these are necessary to help the probiotics do their work. There is mixed evidence supporting the supplementation and efficacy of probiotics for health, but a good starting point is studies looking at their use in treating disorders such as IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).

This could be because they aid digestion (see above claim of Bio X4 to ‘help ensure a smoother, more comfortable digestion’) but I would question why you wouldn’t take a specific IBS-related digestive aid if you had these particular syndromes, which may be better studied for effectiveness.

Also, there is a worrying trend in using incorrect probiotics to treat certain pathologies and this is another reason why it’s important to check that your probiotics are the correct strains, used in the correct amounts, and whether they are living at the time of purchase – see Examine.

How probiotics are manufactured, stored and transported are all important factors when you take them.

I wrote more about this on other reviews, and suffice to say I’m not fully sold on the notion of healthy individuals taking supplementation for gut bacteria for weight loss when the evidence suggests it is only helpful in certain cases.

Lastly, let’s look at caffeine.

The caffeine in this product claims to ‘boost metabolism’. This is by no means the first of its kind to suggest caffeine affects weight loss through boosting metabolism, so where can we find out more?

The ECGC mentioned on the Bio X4 site which is found in green tea has been studied but the benefits are yet to be fully understood.

Examine.com says the following:

The benefits of green tea catechins on lipid oxidation and related fat-burning pathways are achieved in a dose-dependent manner. Significant effects in humans are noted only at high doses, such as 400-500mg EGCG equivalent per day (most Green Tea Extracts are roughly 50% EGCG). Fat burning effects are highly synergistic, almost dependent, on not consuming caffeine habitually.

The study further suggests “Green tea catechins, notably EGCG, seem to be poorly absorbed in the intestines mostly due to there not being a transporter that takes them up from the gut into the body.”

There are also studies that suggest Green tea may lead to liver problems, and Health Canada has recently changed its stance on the safety of products using Green Tea extract.

But remember, as the Bio X4 site says, all individuals are unique and results will vary!!

Bio X4 Customer Reviews

I’m not sure about the reviews on Amazon as I can’t verify the product. The reviews on the Nucific Bio X4 site are, however, glowing, claiming the following:

Less bloating4 stars

Feeling great5 stars

Game changer for me5 stars

Feeling like a new man5 stars

Aided my diet plan5 stars

How to Take Bio X4

You take one capsule with each meal (three times a day). You can take two capsules with every meal but you are advised not to exceed 6 capsules per day. The website doesn’t explain why, but remember there are not supposed to be any side effects!

I say this in jest. You should of course check the ingredients thoroughly before taking any dietary supplement.

Any Money Back Guarantee?

Nucific offers a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Where to Buy Bio X4

You can buy Bio X4 at the official website and also Amazon stores stock Bio X4 but they appear to be fake products and do not look as though they are affiliated to the official store.

What’s the Cost of Bio X4?

This is one expensive product.

A single tub costs $99 at the time of writing. It works out cheaper to buy 6 tubs but considering the ingredients and the tiny servings, this is still expensive.

Also bear in mind that you can take up to 6 capsules per day, so this means a tub contains less than one-months supply!

My Verdict: Bio X4

This product is really expensive, if you are looking at a simple probiotic you might consider looking elsewhere.

Taking the recommended dosage will mean it won’t last one whole month, so there’s another reason it could affect your wallet.

But more importantly, this product has made me really think carefully about health claims. Weight loss and appetite suppression are highly prized aspects of our health-obsessed society, with people constantly searching for the golden solution. But the truth, as backed up by research and medical professionals, is that lifestyle changes and exercise are essential in this triangle, not just food and nutrition.

So, if you have a gut disorder and you’re interested in looking at probiotics then please, please, speak to a medical professional before you start self-medicating with supplements that claim to support your digestive system.

And if you’re just curious, maybe start with a cheaper product. Weighing up the pros and the cons, I don’t think this is the Probiotic for me.

LifeHacker Guy Greens Recommendation

Some Call This An "Extreme" Step...

Most super greens supplements are disappointing.

I learned this the hard way. After creating this blog in 2018, I spent months buying and testing all the most popular brands.

I wasn’t happy with the results so I did something you might call "extreme"....

In 2019 I created my own brand that ticks every single box of what I look for in a super greens product:

• No hidden ingredient amounts - we have full disclosure labelling, so you know EXACTLY whats inside
• Ingredient amounts that make a difference - we include the minimum effective amounts supported by research, and most of the time, MORE
• Ingredients that help immunity, boost mental clarity and shake off brain fog - making for a much more productive and happy lifestyle

No more worrying about ineffective ingredients or too low dosages. I finally have a product I KNOW does the job it’s made to do.

I use it every day and, after years of battling Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), I now have my energy (and my life!) back.

The good news? I made my brand available to the public so you can see and feel the difference for yourself.

Read Review

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the often-discussed antibiotics crisis and how we may fall prey sooner or later to some or other strain of antibiotic-resistant bacteria due to the general overuse of antibiotics.

Thus began an interest in probiotics and how they might be beneficial to my overall health. There has been a lot of interest recently in how gut health may affect whole-body health and probiotics are supposed to help to balance gut health (improved digestion being the key to this).

In my research, I came across Peptiva Probiotics and Sleep, a gut health product that claims to aid digestion primarily through its formulation including high-potency probiotic strains.

I have even noticed probiotics and prebiotics in super greens as popular ingredients to offer all-around health. With so many people willing to spend money on such products, what are some of the common claims for probiotics, and do they stand up to scrutiny?

Peptiva First Impressions

I’m taking a look at Peptiva + Sleep Support, a gut health product that claims to aid digestion primarily through its formulation including high-potency probiotic strains but also aids a good night’s rest.

Claiming to be a ‘doctor-formulated nighttime probiotic supplement combining clinically validated probiotic strains with key sleep-support ingredients to restore balance while you sleep’.

While there is plenty to look at on the website I’m immediately struck by the lack of information about what these strains are and what they do. I’m prepared to do a little research myself but I’d expect to see more being said about these ingredients if they are in fact clinically validated and potent.

There is some information buried in the FAQ’s but for the purpose of this Peptiva probiotics review, I would have hoped for a bit more information up-front on their product page.

Other probiotic formulas I have reviewed:

• Total Restore Review
• Bio X4 review
• Probioslim review

Background on Adaptive Health LLC.

Adaptive Health is an umbrella company, which claims to only carry products ‘backed by the latest science’. It carries a number of brands: Instaflex, Nugenix, Lumiday, Healthy Directions, Dr. Sinatra, Dr. Whitaker, Dr. David Williams, Trilane, Life Biome, and Peptiva.

There are a number of clinicians on the medical board (Dr. David Katz is the Chief Medical Advisor at Peptiva), however, I can’t help but wonder about this and the fact that so many medics (certainly in the US) lend their name to so many ‘health’ products so willingly.

For me, it doesn’t necessarily add legitimacy to the brand, I’d rather the claims were backed by science than by clinicians.

Peptiva Probiotics Ingredients

The ingredients in Peptiva + Sleep Support are:

• Lab4 Clinical Cultures – 26 billion CFU – (Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC SD6865, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC SD6866, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis ATCC SD6870, and Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC SD6869)
• Active Microbiome Blend
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus IMC501
• Lactobacillus paracasei IMC502
• Valerian root extract – 50mg
• Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) -100mg
• Melatonin (immediate release) – 0.75mg
• Melatonin (delayed release) – 0.75mg

Now I’m going to slightly swerve a big debate about probiotics here as we could go on all day. Suffice to say the structure and function of the human gut are complex and fascinating. Without going into a human biology lesson here, there has been a huge amount of research on digestion and how the body receives and metabolizes the essential nutrients from food.

Whilst probiotics ‘may’ have a beneficial role in this, the subject is still being researched and therefore the mere presence of these gut bacteria cannot lead us to believe that boosting them could necessarily improve your health.

Similarly, the link between gut health and disease cannot be fully established in all circumstances (for example, does poor gut health lead to disease or is poor gut health a result of pathogenic diseases?) therefore it is difficult to state that improving gut health would lead to health improvements in the whole body.

The specific strains in this proprietary blend have been chosen to mimic those within both the small and large intestine.

Valerian root has been used as a traditional sleep aid and anti-anxiety remedy for centuries. It is thought to enhance GABA (see below) in the brain. Examine.com states that a standard dose is 450mg.

Research on GABA is similarly ongoing. It is a neurotransmitter (with a depressive – or ‘downer’ effect). Studies suggest that because it is so regulated in the body, supplementing with GABA does not have an effect, however, it can interact with other compounds to improve cognition and stress relief due to the depressive effects on the nervous system.

Melatonin is a hormone released by the brain to regulate sleep. Light suppresses melatonin. People who are jetlagged or work shifts often supplement with Melatonin to regulate their sleep patterns (or to get to sleep when they don’t feel physically tired). Recommended dosages begin at 0.5mg rising to 3-5mg.

How Do I Take Peptiva Probiotics?

One capsule a day (the box contains 30 servings). Capsules are about 600mg.

Side Effects

The evidence suggests that probiotics are supposed to assist the digestive health of your gut, however, as with many supplements (and especially new supplements), you may find you experience some digestive discomfort or some unwanted digestive results from taking probiotics.

Does Peptiva Probiotics Actually Work?

The general claim is for supporting health. That is a tough one to quantify or to establish any actual effects owing to taking the product. The FAQ section of the website states the following (for the product Peptiva + Sleep Support):

After ~30 minutes you can:

• Feel calm, relaxed, and de-stressed
• Enjoy deeper, more satisfying sleep

In just 8-12 weeks you can:

• Support the balance of good bacteria within your intestinal tract
• Promote intestinal comfort, function, and regularity
• Reduce occasional abdominal discomfort and bloating

Further on it states “Dosages are also based on published human clinical data on specific strains that show an effect.” Obviously, I want to know what these published data are! It’s a real shame they haven’t included more detail about this in their FAQs.

This is an omission as they have clearly chosen not to state the results of the trials. Instead, they state anecdotally that results of the clinical studies showed improvements in bowel regularity, digestive ‘satisfaction’, and ‘quality of life’. This is a bit disappointing to me.

However, there are a few bonus points awarded to this particular brand for the following:

transparency about their formulation process and the fact that their bacteria are guaranteed to remain potent and active up to the expiration date. This is apparently due to their patented drying process and the way they manage to keep the bacteria (which are vulnerable to heat, moisture, and light) alive and active.

Their CFU (Colony-forming units) is high but more importantly bioavailable. This is a big issue with probiotics and potentially one of the reasons that they are often not included in as many supplements as you might expect.

Peptiva Probiotics Customer Reviews

I found some reviews on Amazon, 273 customer reviews of which 58% were positive. A selection of reviews is below:

Great but costly – I love this product.. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive (for only a month supply).. I’ve had to switch to a cheaper product that has more melatonin and less probiotic just because of the cost5 stars

Not for me. I have insomnia issues and I have digestive issues, thought this might be the answer. Sadly it was just another waste of money– 1 star

I was pleasantly surprised how much I like the Peptiva Probiotics + Sleep Support. In the past, I have taken an otc sleep aid and a separate probiotic which was costly.– 5 stars

Didn’t do 1 thing for me. I’ve had better and more effective probiotics and melatonin products. HUGE waste of money– 1 star

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

Peptiva covers you for 30 days from purchase, you must request a number from the Customer Support team.

Where to Buy Peptiva Probiotics

You can buy Peptiva + Sleep Support from the official website and on Amazon.

Is It Worth the Price?

One 30-day pack costs $59.99 (USD). The answer to this question, as always, lies in what you are trying to achieve and what you hope to see from taking the product. Whether the research really proves the claims of the formula is hard to establish.

The anti-anxiety and stress-busting claims seem a little far-fetched to me, having done a bit of searching around and reading. The research on probiotics (for a multitude of health benefits) seems to remain inconclusive.

I would suggest you save your money and try to support your gut health through diet, and if you have an existing issue speak to your doctor about the best way to support your health in general and address specific health problems. Ultimately one capsule a day may be too small a dose anyway to really see any marked results.

The Bottom Line

I genuinely want to believe in the power of probiotics. I have read enough to know that there is still a way to go in understanding how – if at all – they can support gut health and therefore have any improving effects on overall health.

Therefore products like Peptiva probiotics fall into the area I consider to be supplements-for-supplements-sake, backed by marketing (and promoted by a clinician).

If you feel you are not getting enough from your diet or use superfoods to support your gut health, do a little research and see if you may benefit from supplementing with probiotics, but perhaps read some scientific journals and think about whether or not you want to spend your money on these products.

Unlike supporting your dietary nutritional needs (if you feel your diet is incomplete) there is not enough conclusive evidence that probiotics may need to be supplemented.

Additionally, although the quantities may seem huge when they are counted in their billions (bacteria are microscopic in size after all) don’t be tricked by marketing.

Thinking “more is better”, or even choosing a “better quality” brand, you may still be wasting your money as the science is yet to establish how much – and of which strain – you might supplement with to see any improvements in your health.

One of the products I’ve come across through researching super greens and other products by this company is Dr. Gundry (Gundry MD) and their range of Prebiothrive products. As I’ve already looked into their Primal Plants (and a little at the Vital Reds) I thought a delve into this area of digestive supplements would be interesting.

Prebiotics and probiotics are in an area being continually looked at by medical and dietetics researchers as they are linked with gut health and can therefore be considered to form the base of dietary supplement use – what we eat and drink is after all the foundation of our health.

Prebiotics are largely considered to be the ‘fuel’ for probiotics (the good gut bacteria which promote healthy digestive environments).

So is there such a thing as a supplement that can support good gut bacteria to do even more of a good job? Let’s have a look.

SHOP PREBIOTHRIVE

What is Prebiothrive?

The Gundry MD website describes Prebiothrive as a ‘cutting-edge formula’ of ‘five advanced prebiotic ingredients to help promote a probiotic-friendly environment in your gut’.

This seems like a simple enough formula. But I feel I need to know more, as at $79 USD for 30 days supply this is a rather expensive supplement!

‘Good gut bacteria’ already exist in your gut. This is something research has proven and one of the reasons that probiotic products could be considered to be a waste of money.

If you feel that for some reason your gut environment is not adequate or is underperforming (and there are people out there that will tell you that symptoms of this could be low energy, poor immunity, etc) you may want to think about improving your diet. Likewise, if you suffer from any digestive issues (such as IBS) you may find yourself constantly searching for that product that will ameliorate symptoms.

If you believe that taking probiotics is only half of the story, you may wish to supplement your supplement-taking with prebiotics, giving you an extra dose of ‘fuel’ for your probiotic organisms to keep them super-powered.

Background on Gundry MD

Dr. Steven Gundry MD was a cardiothoracic surgeon who turned to Restorative Medicine as a way of helping patients to turn around health complaints that arise through poor nutrition and lifestyle.

He claims to have ‘discovered unconventional truths’ about human nutrition and is on a mission to bring to the world products which essentially support gut health in order to improve overall health.

He has authored several books (the most popular one being ‘The Plant Paradox’ which seeks to prove that otherwise-assumed ‘healthy’ foods can actually cause disease). I’ve taken a longer look at the background of the doctor and his products in my review of the Primal Plants products.

The story is compelling and the medic seems to have a legitimate vision, with solid research and health credentials, but some of the products he promotes are problematic for a variety of reasons.

I was initially quite impressed by a nutrition professional with this medical background, however, I do feel that at some level the marketing and cynicism take over and the products start to lose their credibility.

With a little further research I have found a few sites seeking to debunk Dr. Gundry and his products, and his Plant Paradox theory. It’s unfortunate that a premise that may have initially had an element of truth and medically-sound thinking has become far too diluted and now Gundry MD is linked with aggressive marketing, misinformation, and scams.

Prebiothrive Ingredients

The product description on the website claims that the ingredients are: acacia gum, agave inulin, flaxseed, galactooligosaccharides, and guar gum. Unfortunately, they don’t tell you how much or how little of these ingredients are included in each serving.

As there are so few, let’s break down what we know about the individual ingredients.

Acacia gum is a water-soluble dietary fiber. Not enough studies have been conducted to give a conclusive recommended dosage.

Inulin is a plant fiber – here they have used inulin which comes from the agave plant (as opposed to the more commonly-used chicory inulin). Inulin has been used in studies to treat constipation.

The recommended dose is 15g daily – we don't have enough in here.

Flaxseed is the seed of the flax plant. Another fiber has been taken to treat a range of digestive disorders (from constipation to diverticulitis), doses of about 30g daily are recommended to treat a range of health issues.

Galacto-oligosaccharides are plant sugars that are characterised in dietary supplements as prebiotics (food for probiotic bacteria). The most common application is in infant colic formula, and the recommended dose for this is around 8g.

Guar gum, like acacia gum, is a plant fiber derived from the seed of the guar plant. Studies have been conducted using guar gum to treat issues ranging from constipation to IBS, where doses of between 5-20g have been used.

These ingredients are plant-based and can be categorized largely as fibers, but you can see from my research above regarding dosage that there is no way the individual serving can contain enough of each fiber to give any meaningful health effects or benefits.

How Does Prebiothrive Taste?

The feedback seems to be that Prebiothrive has no discernable taste, and there don’t appear to be any flavors added.

Side Effects

As with other supplements and foods containing dietary fiber the side effects can be bloating, excessive gas, and digestive discomfort.

It is generally advised that you increase dietary fiber slowly, gradually increasing your daily intake rather than taking large amounts at any one time.

Does Prebiothrive Actually Work?

So, we know what Prebiothrive contains (if not how much), so, what should the effects of this product be? How do we tell if any product would be working, for that matter?

For some customers, it would be about whether or not there was an improvement to an existing (or perceived) issue. We know that no research has been done to ascertain whether a serving of Prebiothrive contains the appropriate amount of dietary fiber for your daily needs, and no research has been done to see whether there has been any benefit for users.

We can look at whether studies have shown other prebiotic products to be effective, and we could look at whether any research has shown prebiotics to have uses beyond just ‘feeding’ good gut bacteria.

I really wanted to understand the case for prebiotics, and I found the below in an article in Today’s Dietician magazine explaining that promoting good gut bacteria could help to reduce the number and effect of gut pathogens.

The most well-studied prebiotics are fructooligosaccharide (FOS), inulin (a type of FOS), and galactooligosaccharides. Once fermented, they're associated with an increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), especially butyrate, acetate, and propionate. These SCFAs help improve laxation, may decrease cancer risks, and provide fuel for colonocytes, helping to maintain a healthier gut barrier to pathogens and other substances that may cause illness

So, if you felt that your diet could use improvement in the sense that you weren’t taking enough plant fiber, you could supplement it.

Again, looking at the article from Today’s Dietician:

According to a recent study by Sanders and colleagues, ingestion of prebiotic formulations can improve calcium absorption, and reduce duration, incidence, and symptoms of traveler's diarrhea; alleviate IBS symptoms; prevent specific allergies; reduce energy intake and markers of insulin resistance; improve body weight management, and increase satiety and decrease appetite.

As prebiotics are naturally-occurring plant components we can assume that it is possible to get adequate ‘fuel’ for probiotics through our diet if we are eating enough plant-based fiber. But here’s the issue, most people aren’t, and so the clever people who make supplements find ways of selling it to us.

At Gundry MD they use their marketing clout to find new and clever angles to inform customers about areas of their diet that may be lacking in order to neatly package and supply these ingredients in an easy-to-take form.

For me, however, I would prefer to take a probiotic and prebiotic blend.

That way I know that I’m boosting my probiotic culture and also feeding it. It looks to me as though the research surrounding taking prebiotic supplements is inconclusive, and, although there can be assumed benefits from improving the gut environment, I’m just not convinced a supplement such as this could do enough.

Prebiothrive Customer Reviews

This is where we really get to know more about Prebiothrive and what people who have bought it and tried it think. I looked for reviews on the Gundry MD website and found no negative reviews for the product, but of course, any feedback would be screened to ensure sales aren’t affected.

There are 633 reviews on their own site.

Some Prebiothrive reviews are penned by people in the medical field who claim to need to have evidence-based facts before they take a product. This definitely gives the product further clout, and the people at Gundry have been clever in ensuring they cherry-pick the reviews to ensure their products are endorsed by such professionals.

Reviewers claim that Prebiothrive helps with conditions such as IBS, digestive reflux, and general bowel health (increased or improved bowel movement).

There are 26 reviews on Amazon, 13 of which are 5-star, and the average being 3.6.

A one-star reviewer on Amazon claims that the product doesn’t dissolve adequately in water. Another says ‘It's gritty and took a little to get used to but it works great in a smoothie’.

Money Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

Gundry MD has a 90-day guarantee.

Where to Buy Prebiothrive?

You can buy Prebiothrive in 30, 90 or 180 day supply at the official website here.

Amazon.com also stock his range of books and supplements too.

SHOP PREBIOTHRIVE

Is It Worth the Price?

For me, no.

There’s not enough evidence that this supplement would be beneficial to my health and I feel that at $79 it is far too expensive for me to experiment with!

I’d personally rather spend my money on nutritionally big-hitters, that is to say, a supplement that has enough nutrient-dense ingredients to really make me feel I was powering up my body with healthy stuff.

It’s also worth noting that Gundry MD recommends taking Prebiothrive alongside another probiotic product which obviously would increase your overall cost.

The Bottom Line

The main issue I have with this supplement, as with many (I’m fast discovering) is that they are not transparent about the ingredients, what (or how much) I’m getting in each serving.

With the little digging I have done I can see that if I really wanted to see benefits from taking plant-fiber as a supplement I would perhaps be better off taking, say, flaxseed in a single dose, or maybe drinking another fermented plant-based product (maybe I should take to kombucha-making?!).

I also don’t feel that I am sufficiently convinced that there is a case for taking prebiotics as a supplement (as opposed to probiotics, which is another matter).

You would definitely be advised to do some more research around the proven effectiveness of the individual ingredients and decide for yourself whether or not Prebiothrive was a product worth buying, but for me, the answer is a no.