Reviewed product: Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance

General score: 2 ½ /5 stars

Form of presentation: capsules

Serving dimensions: 6mm x 18mm

Cost: $18.29

Recommended dosage: 1 capsule/ day

Packaging content: 30 capsules

Daily cost: $0.61

Viability: through/at the expiration date printed on the packaging/label

CFUs count: 10 billion CFUs

Ingredients: 2 main probiotic strains, namely Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus plantarum 299v (Lp299v)

Customer satisfaction: not guaranteed

Product category: daily usage probiotic

Purchasing: through official distributors

Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance Reviews General Review

At 2 ½ /5 stars, Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance is overall not that impressive as a probiotic supplement and only manages to place itself as a standard dietary enhancer.

Among one of the positive aspects of this product that can be mentioned is its simple and straightforward administration schedule.

All you need to do is take one capsule of Probiotic Balance each day with a meal and you are done! Just keep in mind to pair the supplement with cold food because hot temperatures damage the effectiveness of the live microorganisms.

In addition to this, the Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance capsules are small enough to be taken without that much difficulty (6mm x 18mm), so this is yet another bonus point for the product in question).

Secondly, Probiotic Balance is based on a vegetarian formula, meaning it can be included in a wider variety of lifestyles and other dietary restrictions.

It is nice to see companies such as Sundown Naturals which cater to the needs of wider audiences and make their products more accessible in terms of formula structure.

Speaking of formula, you should also be aware of the fact that Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance is based on a 10 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) count from 2 different probiotic strains (Bifidobacterium longum and Lactobacillus plantarum).

This is a pretty good probiotic boosting on a day-to-day basis, more so when considering that an average person will need anything between 1 billion and 100 billion CFUs inside his/her gut to function at optimal standards.

As a result, Probiotic Balance can offer you a decent health ‘kick’ on a regular basis, while also being mild enough so as to not cause any undesirable side effects during the first days of administration.

Staying true to its wholesomeness-oriented composition, Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance does not contain sugar, sodium, preservatives, artificial sweeteners or colors, which is again a great advantage for the product. Moreover, the supplement is free of major allergens such as wheat, gluten, and fish.

On the other hand, Probiotic Balance does not pass the allergen-friendly test with flying colors because it does have in its composition both milk and soy, which have been known to cause severe reactions in sensitive and/ or allergic individuals.

Consequently, caution is advised when considering Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance as your daily usage probiotic in light of these aspects.

To make matters worse, this dietary enhancer is unfit for children and requires refrigeration after opening.

While the age restriction is somewhat understandable – after all, the 10 billion CFUs can be a bit too much for younger persons – the need for cooling down storage temperature after starting the administration process definitely influences the product’s flexibility and versatility in a negative manner.

It also implies that the probiotic formula is not that stable, to begin with and that improper handling conditions, for instance, might tamper with the supplement’s overall effectiveness over time.

The lack of an adequate manufacturer guarantee is an issue with Probiotic Balance as well. So, while the probiotic microorganisms themselves are guaranteed until the expiration date printed on the label/ packaging, there is no money-back policy offered to clients in the eventuality of an unsatisfactory experience occurring during usage.

Needless to say, this is a very troublesome thing because it implies that the manufacturer does not care about its customers and cannot fully guarantee for the product in question on an extended basis.

All in all, this review places Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance at an average standard of 2 ½ /5 stars owing both to its advantages and subsequent drawbacks.

Among the first, we can mention the simple usage regime, the supplement’s probiotic selection, and the lack of excessive filler ingredients. Even so, Probiotic Balance fails to deliver in terms of allergen safety (it contains milk and soy), the need for refrigeration, children unsuitability, and absence of manufacturer guarantee.

Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance Ingredients list

• Bifidobacterium longum is one of the 32 members of the Bifidobacterium family and a crucial component of any correctly functioning gastrointestinal system. Bifidobacterium longum thus constitutes a resistant and thriving probiotic that can be found inside the gut beginning with the early stages of infancy, which is an equal proof of its importance within the economy of an individual’s health levels. In fact, this beneficial bacterium can dominate by up to 90% a child’s internal microflora and consequently meliorate digestive processes, normalize bowel motility patterns, and improve nutrient assimilation. The result of this positive action over the organism is boosted growth and adequate development over time. As Bifidobacterium longum numbers, unfortunately, decrease with aging, supplementation becomes very important in order to maintain overall wellness. This can be done through a number of dairy products (natural yogurt, soft cheeses, etc.), fermented vegetables (brine pickles, sauerkraut, miso paste, and soup, etc.), and – of course – dietary supplements. The latter usually offer better support in terms of colony stability and, depending on the formula, can be used by people who are otherwise allergic/ intolerant to foods which contain probiotics on their own.
  So why is Bifidobacterium longum actually indispensable to the body’s internal microflora? Well, firstly, this ‘friendly’ microorganism has the ability to transform milk sugars into lactic acid, something which comes in handy for those who are lactose intolerant. Lactic acid is much easier to process by sensitive stomachs and it hence eliminates some of the more unpleasant symptoms of this condition (abdominal discomfort, bloating, flatulence, etc.). And, because Bifidobacterium longum can withstand greater pH and acid variations, it can help alleviate potential side effects of lactose sensibility over extended periods of time. The antimicrobial properties of this probiotic are equally important since they actively shield the organism against pathogens like viruses and fungi. Bifidobacterium longum has long been used to treat ulcerative colitis, reduce the duration of common cold episodes, and induce a sensation of wellbeing in both sick and healthy individuals.
• Lactobacillus plantarum is a component of the Lactobacillus family, a genus renowned for its fermentative, gastrointestinal, and immune boosting capacities. One interesting fact about this probiotic is that it can be found both in the human gut and in vegetal resources, which has allowed it to be used even outside the pharmaceutical field (for example, in protecting silage against the harmful effects of various yeasts and fungi). Similarly to other probiotics, Lactobacillus plantarum can be found in numerous fermented products (brined olives and pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, etc.), as well as in stockfish, sourdough or certain brands of cheese. Its employment in dietary enhancers can also greatly boost digestive wellbeing, particularly since this beneficial microorganism has an elevated tolerance to heat and light variations. One of the first ways in which Lactobacillus plantarum ameliorates digestion is by producing lactic acid and therefore improving digestive processes, accelerating nutrient absorption and reducing lactose intolerance responses. In addition, Lactobacillus plantarum can be used to treat a number of gastrointestinal problems like intestinal permeability, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), colitis, chronic diarrhea, and Crohn’s disease. Not only are digestive problems an ongoing nuisance to try and manage, but they are also often painful and debilitating, so having this type of probiotics as a natural alleviator is definitely on the positive side of things. As many other ‘good’ bacteria, Lactobacillus plantarum exhibits strong antimicrobial capacities that inhibit the overdevelopment of pathogens and maintain their numbers in the minimum in order to protect the intestinal, urinary, and vaginal systems alike. This means it can be used to repopulate gut microflora after prolonged antibiotic treatments, as well as boost the gastric, small intestine, and colon’s natural probiotic count for generally enhanced health.

Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance Allergenic potential

As previously mentioned, Probiotic Balance does exhibit a rather elevated allergen risk in the light of the fact that it contains both milk and soy in its formula.

These two ingredients are notorious for causing severe reactions when consumed by sensitive or allergic individuals, so you should be very careful in this sense.

If you find yourself in the same position, then it would be better to consider a more suitable alternative for your daily probiotic needs.

Nevertheless, if you do not have any troubles with these ingredients, then Probiotic Balance might just be a suitable dietary enhancer for you in light of its good probiotic selection (10 billion CFUs, 2 distinct bacteria strains) and lack of fillers or other major allergens.

As the label states, this product contains no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, sugar, gluten, wheat, fish or sodium.

Overall cost

For every bottle of Probiotic Balance, you will have to pay around $18.29. At 30 capsules per packaging, this then translates into $0.61 per individual serving each day, a price that falls well below the standard $0.70 required by a good probiotic enhancer on a regular basis.

If we were to add the probiotic composition itself to the equation, then the cost-quality ratio becomes even more evident.

As shown before, 10 billion CFUs is a very good number for day-to-day probiotic usage, while the 2 strains of microorganisms should ensure gastrointestinal and immune wellbeing without side effects or by trying to compete with each other inside the gut (for nutritional support, colony formation, etc.).

At one capsule daily, you are bound to use a bottle of Probiotic Balance for up to a month at a time (30 days), something that is also convenient in terms of ordering and being sure you are still ‘on stock’ with your wellness booster at all times.

Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance Side effects

One impressive aspect related to Probiotic Balance is the absence of side effects during the first days of administration.

With most similar probiotic enhancers, the initial stages of usage can be more than tricky due to a number of symptoms such as abdominal discomfort and pain, bloating, gas, nausea, etc.

This occurs due to a bacterial imbalance caused by the new probiotic colonies introduced into the gut, with your own microflora first having to adapt these numbers to its optimal microorganism count.

As a consequence, you are more likely to experience unwanted gastrointestinal effects during this timeframe.

Luckily, this does not seem to be the case with Probiotic Balance. It is a great bonus to have a probiotic supplement that does not interact negatively with your day-to-day life even in the beginning, particularly when having a rather potent CFUs content (10 billion microorganisms per capsule).

Manufacturer guarantee

There is no manufacturer guarantee associated with Probiotic Balance and this does not fare well with the product’s overall quality.

In general, having a company warranty for the supplement is advantageous because it ensures better customer care and attention for the supplement itself.

Money-back policies also reflect a supplement’s image in the sense that they acknowledge the different needs of different individuals, particularities which might or might not have to do with the product per se.

As a result, having the option to return the packaging within 30-90 days of ordering and receiving your investment back (either in full or partially) is something all manufacturers should have in mind.

The sad reality is that very few follow this path – Sundown Naturals included – the absence of a trial period negatively affecting the reputation of many dietary enhancers on today’s current market.

Where to buy Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance?

You can buy Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance via its official distributors.

Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance – general view

Category	Sundown Naturals Probiotic Balance
General rating	2 ½ /5 stars
Recommended usage	Daily usage probiotic
Ingredients	10 billion CFUs, 2 distinct probiotic types
Allergenic potential	Soy and milk
Cost	$18.29 for 30 capsules (1 month’s worth of administration)
Side effects	None
Manufacturer guarantee(s)	Not offered
Purchasing	Via the manufacturer’s main website