Reviewed product: Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra

General score: 5/5 stars

Form of presentation: capsules

Serving dimensions: 8mm x 23mm

Cost: $33.99

Recommended dosage: 1-3 capsules/ day

Packaging content: 90 capsules

Daily cost: $0.37/ $1.13

Viability: at/ through time of manufacturing

CFUs count: 5 billion CFUs in a base of homeostatic soil organisms (HSO)

Ingredients: a Proprietary Probiotic Blend (Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bifidobacterium breve, Bifidobacterium lactis, Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus paracasei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus salivarius, Saccharomyces boulardii), alongside barley grass (produced using the Poten-Zyme Fermentation Process), oat grass (produced using the Poten-Zyme Fermentation Process), iron (1.8mg from ionic plant based minerals), and ionic plant based minerals (290 mg)

Customer satisfaction: not guaranteed

Product category: daily usage probiotic and specific illness alleviator

Purchasing: via official distributors

General review

As you can probably guess by the 5/5 stars review, Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra has quickly become one of my all-time favourite probiotics so far, with a wide array of good qualities to its name and very few drawbacks to take away from the general image of this supplement.

Firstly, I was particularly impressed by the ingredients Primal Defense Ultra contains: 13 distinct strains of probiotics, oat grass, barley grass, iron, etc. Moreover, there are no preservatives or artificial substances in the capsules, which makes each dosage both gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly. Needless to say, this is a big advantage for Primal Defense Ultra, since it can then be adapted to a wide variety of lifestyles.

At 5 billion CFUs per serving, Primal Defense Ultra is able to cater to your digestive, immune, and general health needs on a day-to-day basis, whether you go for the full administration dosage recommended on the label (namely 3 capsules/ 15 billion CFUs) or adapt this serving size to your gastrointestinal needs over time. My general experience with Primal Defense Ultra resulted in improved digestive patterns, less bloating or abdominal discomfort, and an overall enhanced sense of wellbeing throughout the administration period.

I personally have to deal with many food allergies and ugly symptoms of IBS, so it’s very pleasing to find a product like Primal Defense Ultra which checks admirably in both these compartments. Not to mention that you don’t have to refrigerate this probiotic in order for the microorganisms to remain active, making it ideal even for when you’re travelling or simply on-the-go all day.

Now for the negative points – as much as I enjoyed testing Primal Defense Ultra, there were a few drawbacks that unfortunately caught my eye – and my tummy – in the process. Thus, you should keep in mind that the label instructions are there for a reason when it comes to this probiotic. These suggest beginning with 1 capsule daily and working up your way to the 3 capsules/ day range in a gradual manner. Because I took the full dosage from the start, I ended up experiencing intestinal pain and other unwanted side effects. Consequently, be absolutely sure you follow the recommendations exactly as they are on the packaging so as to avoid my own situation.

Secondly, it is clearly stated on the Primal Defense Ultra label that the product is not intended for children. Aside from the rather elevated CFUs count, the probiotic also contains iron, which can otherwise be poisonous for children in the eventuality of an overdose. If you are using this product and you have kids around the house, then keep it stored in a dry, cool place, out of their reach at all times.

At a general level, Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra obtained a 5/5 stars review owing to its satisfactory probiotic blend (13 strains, 5 billion CFUs/ capsule), good digestive contribution, as well as no refrigeration restrictions. Although not appropriate for children and prone to side effects when used excessively, this probiotic supplement is still among the best I have personally tried and would hence recommend further on to others.

Detailed description

Ingredient list

• Bacillus subtilis – is a ‘good’ bacterium which promotes enhanced enzymatic production, hence leading to better digestive patterns and increased nutrient absorption at the level of the gut. By creating a rough endospore around it, Bacillus subtilis is able to resist in harsh gastrointestinal conditions (pH, acid, bile, etc.), further protecting the body against pathogens and other harmful microorganisms.

• Bifidobacterium bifidum – is the probiotic component you want and need when you are faced with intestinal imbalances (like diarrhea or constipation, for example), microflora shortages, and visceral discomfort alike. It has been demonstrated that having substantial colonies of Bifidobacterium bifidum inside your stomach, intestines, and colon will generate improved food decomposition patterns and strengthened immunity.

• Bifidobacterium breve – is employed alongside prebiotic elements in order to alleviate intestinal issues such as ulcerative colitis, for example. Moreover, Bifidobacterium breve can highly improve bowel motility patterns, screen the body against disease-inducing pathogens, and boost overall wellbeing levels in both healthy and sick individuals.

• Bifidobacterium lactis – also known as Bifidum animals, this ‘friendly’ microorganism has the ability to actively combat stomach discomfort, bowel irregularities, instances of ulcerative colitis, etc. Since it already is a natural component of the human body, it can better adapt to its internal conditions and thrive there for longer periods of time, hence enabling better health and gastrointestinal wellbeing.

• Bifidobacterium longum – by decomposing tough sugars and producing lactic acid, Bifidobacterium longum improves lactose intolerance responses, eases digestive patterns, and enables improved nutrient assimilation inside the gut. Other advantages of having this particular probiotic as a constant part of your intestinal microflora include alleviated symptoms of ulcerative colitis and better immune responses (for instance, in the case of common cold episodes).

• Lactobacillus acidophilus – as the name suggests, Lactobacillus acidophilus represents an ‘acid-loving’ bacterium which will improve your digestive responses towards milk and dairy products alike, as well as facilitate your general food decomposition patterns. Moreover, it can combat cases of antibiotic-induced diarrhea and ‘traveller’s diarrhea’, as well as protect the organism against both Salmonella typhimurium and Campylobacter jejuni infections.

• Lactobacillus brevis – can be successfully used to improve digestion, boost cellular immunity, enhance liver wholesomeness, and even contribute to the wellbeing of both the vaginal and urinary systems. As demonstrated clinically, Lactobacillus brevis can inhibit the overgrowth of most harmful pathogens (like Helicobacter pylori, for instance) and improve overall health in the process.  

• Lactobacillus casei – a favourite culture starter and probiotic component of many dairy manufacturers, Lactobacillus casei can ward off against episodes of antibiotic-induced diarrhea, prevent intestinal permeability (after inflammatory responses), effectively manage Clostridium difficile infections, reduce bloating and flatulence, etc.

• Lactobacillus paracasei – owing to its strong fermentative capacities, Lactobacillus paracasei is thus capable of maintaining long-lasting gastrointestinal wellbeing and health. For instance, it has been shown to strongly protect the gut against common pathogens like Salmonella enterica and Helicobacter pylori, as well as alleviate unwanted symptoms normally associated with ulcerative colitis.

• Lactobacillus plantarum – is a probiotic organism that generates intestinal wellness through its potent antimicrobial and digestive-boosting properties alike. As such, Lactobacillus plantarum can improve digestive rhythms, meliorate visceral discomfort – especially that created by IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) – and generate enhanced lactose tolerance over time.

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus – is a ‘friendly’ microorganism responsible with dramatically reduced cases of peanut allergies, diarrhea episodes, eczema outbreaks, and respiratory tract infections. Because of its high resistance threshold, Lactobacillus rhamnosus’ positive influence can move beyond the intestinal environment and lead to meliorated health levels of the urinary and vaginal systems too.  

• Lactobacillus salivarius – is a crucial component of any healthy and well-functioning gastrointestinal system. Its active suppression of harmful pathogens and improvement of IBS symptoms recommend it both as a daily usage probiotic for healthy individuals and for those recovering after digestive imbalances or illnesses alike.

• Saccharomyces boulardii – is amongst the few probiotic strains first isolated from a vegetal source. Nevertheless, Saccharomyces boulardii presents the same digestive and immunity-boosting properties as its dairy-derived counterparts, such as better management of acute diarrhea episodes, improved IBS, reduced instances of Clostridium difficile infections, etc.

• Barley grass – obtained via the Poten-Zyme Fermentation Process, this ingredient will provide your organism with a high number of nutrients (vitamins, minerals, protein, etc.) and antioxidant-infused elements, therefore assisting in regulated digestion, improved immunity, and less mood swings.

• Oat grass – as a result of the same type of fermentation process mentioned before, oat grass represents nothing short of a ‘super-food’ by containing nutritious substances like vitamin K, folic acid, protein, beta-carotene, etc. Additionally, oat grass is packed with antioxidants, which then translate into improved digestion, enhanced immunity screenings, and an elevated sense of wellbeing inside the body.  

• Iron – we all know by now that anemia is a very serious health condition, so having a normal amount of iron circulating in your system will prevent fatigue, weakness, and general discomfort. At 1.8 mg derived from ionic plant-based minerals, this dosage should very well ensure good immunity screening and normalized metabolic rhythms as well.
• Ionic plant based minerals (290 mg) – this sort of minerals make sure your body’s natural electrolytes stay within normal ranges, thus leading to correctly performed bodily and mental functions alike. Once absorbed into your own cells, they can then promote overall wellness over increased periods of time.

Allergenic potential

One of the great things about Primal Defense Ultra is that it contains no preservatives, gluten or artificial ingredients, making it suitable even for a vegetarian lifestyle.

The only slightly allergen-unfriendly thing about Primal Defense Ultra would be the fact that the probiotics are previously cultured in dairy bases, but this base disappears during fermentation so it shouldn’t be an issue for individuals facing mild lactose intolerance. On the other hand, if you do experience severe reactions even to traces of lactose, then try to find a dairy-free alternative for your probiotic needs.

Primal Defense Ultra also contains barley grass, rice, oat grass, magnesium stearate (vegetable source), rice maltodextrin, and cellulose (vegetable capsule).

Overall cost

As previously mentioned, each bottle containing 90 capsules of Primal Defense Ultra will bring you to a total of $33.99. In which concerns the daily administration cost, it all depends on the dosage you choose to use regularly.

If you stick to the 1 capsule/ day routine, then your probiotic supplementation will revolve around the $0.37 mark. If, on the contrary, you progressively increase this dosage to the 3 capsules/ day recommended by the product’s label, then the price will raise to $1.13. Compare these numbers to the average probiotic cost per day – namely around 70 cents – and you’ll see the first version is way below this threshold, while the second one becomes more expensive by quite a substantial amount.

Side effects

To my personal misfortune, I did experience some severe stomach cramping and discomfort in the first days of using Primal Defense Ultra, but only because I blatantly ignored the instructions on the label. This means that, instead of starting off with one capsule and gradually working my way up to 3 servings, I went for the full administration dosage, which clearly backfired.

Once I followed the probiotic instructions correctly, there were no unwanted side effects when using Primal Defense Ultra, so be sure not to ‘overdose’ on probiotics like I did to significantly improve your global experience with this dietary enhancer.

Manufacturer guarantee

I was disappointed not to find any sort of manufacturer guarantee regarding Primal Defense Ultra (although some distributing websites do offer variations on the money-back policy). Add to this the fact that you are only guaranteed probiotic viability by the time of manufacturing and you might find yourself frowning upon the company’s actual care for its customers in this aspect.

Purchasing

If you want to try out Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra, then you can easily buy through a number of official distributors.

Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra – general view

Category	Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra
General rating	5/5 stars
Recommended usage	daily usage probiotic & specific issues
Ingredients	5 billion CFUs, 13 distinct strains of bacteria
Allergenic potential	Lactose intolerance
Cost	$33.99 for every bottle containing 90 capsules
Side effects	Stomach cramps during the first few days of administration
Manufacturer guarantee(s)	Not offered
Purchasing	Via official distributors