Gut Health Can Affect Your Whole Body—Here’s How, Plus How to Get More Gut Support

When you think about gut health, what comes to mind? Is it frequent indigestion? Bloat that always seems to hit at exactly the wrong time? The high-fiber, gut-friendly recipes that are all over your TikTok feed?

Your gut plays a major role in your digestive system, for sure—but that’s just the start. From boosting your immunity to offering cognitive-health support, gut health touches just about every inch of your body’s overall wellness.* Take it from Brittany Michels, MS, RDN: “Our gut is responsible for much more than digestion of food, absorption of nutrients, and removal of waste,” she says. “It’s referred to as ‘our second brain’ because there is an extensive web of neurons, brimming with neurotransmitters, lining the digestive tract.”

In other words, a healthy gut is more than just digestive wellness—it’s a foundation for whole-body health,* which means it’s worth paying attention to. One simple way Michels recommends doing that? Incorporating probiotics and other gut-supporting supplements into your wellness routine. According to Michels, probiotics play an essential role in supporting gut-brain signaling, immune function, and digestion, and a daily supplement containing multiple strains can help support healthy gut flora.*

Prioritizing your gut health is a simple way to support your overall well-being—and The Vitamin Shoppe^® has all kinds of probiotic supplements to help get you started. Check them out, and then keep reading to learn about all the positive effects a healthy gut can have on your whole body.

Shop Gut-Supporting Supplements

Garden of Life Once Daily Women's Dr. Formulated Probiotics $39

ProBioCare Men's Probiotic $55

Ancient Nutrition SBO Probiotics for Women $30

Emma Daily Digestive & Gut Health $60

NBPure MagO7 Ultimate Oxygenating Digestive System Cleanser $42

Vaginal health

Alongside digestive support, many probiotic strains—like Garden of Life’s Once Daily Women’s—support vaginal and urinary tract health, Michels says.* A 2022 study shows that probiotics can help maintain the delicate balance of your bacteria, ultimately keeping your vaginal flora happy and stable.

Colon health

There’s nothing worse than feeling backed up—but Michels says a probiotic that doubles as an oxygen cleanse, like NBPure’s Mag07 Oxygenating Digestive System Cleanser, may help. “The theory of oxygen-based colon cleanses is that friendly gut bacteria are fed with oxygen to create a healthy microbiome,” she says. “The oxidation of oxygen promotes digestive movement, relieving constipation and impaction.”*

Immune health

If you’re looking for seasonal immune support now—or any time of year, really—Michels suggests adding a probiotic to your rotation. “Our microbiome not only influences digestion but also influences immunity by guarding the bloodstream from foreign invaders and neurotransmitter signaling to the brain and other body systems,” she says.

Research shows these friendly bacteria can have big benefits for immune health, playing a key role in keeping your system resilient and ready to defend against whatever comes its way. According to Michels, specific probiotic strains (like the ones found in the daily ProBioCare Men’s Probiotic) interact with your immune cells and natural gut flora to help keep your immune system balanced and strong.*

Mental well-being

Your gut gets the “second brain” nickname for good reason—95 percent of your body’s happy hormone, serotonin, is produced in it. According to Michels, “the gut produces as many neurotransmitters as the brain, and irritation in the digestive tract may send signals to the brain that trigger mood changes and other body system disruptions.”*

Support your gut-brain connection with a supplement like Ancient Nutrition SBO Probiotic, which contains soil-based organisms—a type of natural bacteria that are highly resistant to stomach acid and tolerant to heat (which allows them to be shelf-stable), she says.

Skin health

A healthy gut can also give your skin a major glow-up. Michels says that supplements like Emma Daily Digestive and Gut Health can help to rebalance gut flora, which may help reduce redness, calm skin irritations, and ultimately support clearer, more resilient skin.* Certain probiotic strains may even boost the skin’s natural moisture barrier, helping it stay hydrated and better protected against environmental stressors.

So give yourself the gift of gut support by adding this one simple, low-effort step to your daily routine. From aiding in digestion to brightening your complexion,* The Vitamin Shoppe’s probiotics prove that a happy gut is total wellness goals.

Hey wellness seeker! Friendly reminder that—like all of wellness—the supplements you take are personal. Well+Good always recommends checking in with your health-care provider before adding a new supplement to your routine.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.