In this article, I’m going to be comparing and contrasting two very popular, and highly touted probiotics: Align Vs Seed Probiotic, to see which one is better.
What’s the difference in their formulas? What’s more affordable? Which one is better for digestion, immunity and overall gut health? And how does Align kids probiotics compare and contrast to Seed kids probiotics?
I’ll answer these questions as a nutritionist and a firm believer in getting your diet and fitness in order before even taking a supplement. Then, once that’s in check, consult your doctor to see if Align or Seed could be a good fit for you.
But first, let’s take a look at The Hot Takes!
The Hot Takes of Seed Vs Align Probiotics:
A Glimpse of Seed Daily Synbiotic
Made with 24 strains of probiotics and prebiotics, Seed Daily Synbiotic is designed to withstand your body’s digestive enzymes and stomach acid so it’s highly bioavailable and beneficial. It consists of a prebiotic outer capsule and a probiotic inner capsule.
Seed claims it supports a number of functions in the body, helping with digestive health, gut barrier integrity, immune function, heart health, skin health and micronutrient synthesis. There are 53.6 Billion AFU total in Seed Synbiotic, from four different blends. The brand uses extensive testing, so I consider it to be a product that you can trust with your health because of this added effort and transparency.
Use code FHM15 for additional savings!
A Glimpse of Align Probiotics
Align claims that their probiotics can improve your overall gut health and daily wellness routine. The main strain used in the majority of Align’s products is Bifidobacterium 35624. Unfortunately, this is the only strain that’s used in their 24/7 Digestive Support supplement. If you’ve done any research on probiotics, then you know there are many different strains that can be used together to support all aspects of your health. This specific strain has been studied for the use of improving irritable bowel syndrome and related GI issues.
Comparing Formulas
Formula is everything when you’re trying to decipher what your best option is for a probiotic supplement. Seed has a much more versatile composition, including more than 20 different strains. They are broken down into four different blends, including:
- A digestive Health and Immunity blend that also benefits the gut barrier.
- A dermatological health blend that benefits the skin.
- Heart healthy probiotics
- A micronutrient synthesis blend to increase vitamin availability in the body.
Seed has also added 400 milligrams of microbiota-accessible polyphenolic precursors to their supplement. This has the potential to increase the presence of beneficial bacteria in your gut while slowing down the growth of bad bacteria.
As I mentioned already, there is only one strain of probiotic in Align’s 24/7 Digestive Support product (Bifidobacterium 35624). The brand claims that there are one billion CFU in their product, though this is a confirmation that occurs during the manufacturing process. The actual amount can decrease because of improper storage, the length of time a product has been sitting on a shelf, etc. Refrigeration isn’t required, but that could compromise the integrity of Align’s Probiotics.
Comparing Pricing and Cost per Serving
You can purchase Seed Daily Synbiotic on the brand’s website starting at $49.99 per month for a 30-day supply. Seed provides free shipping with each order, which is a nice bonus. Considering the number of probiotic and prebiotic strains that are included in the formulation for Seed, the price point isn’t bad.
Align’s products are advertised and explained on their website, but you have to purchase them elsewhere. They can be found on Amazon as well as retail pharmacies and stores like Walgreens. The average cost of Align Probiotic is $49.97 for 63 capsules. You get a little more product for your money with this option, but you’re losing out on a lot of health benefits because of the single probiotic strain in Align.
Which Is Better for Digestion?
Seed markets their product as potentially being beneficial for gastrointestinal health as well as whole body health. The digestive system is a very complex part of the body, and Seed really takes a well rounded approach to gut health thanks to blends for digestive health, gut barrier health and gut immune function. As mentioned, over 20 different strains of probiotics are used in this product, many of which have been studied in great length for potential GI health benefits.
Align’s use of Bifidobacterium 35624 as their primary method of supporting gut health has potential. Though, it has been commonly studied for its effects on irritable bowel syndrome. Research is lacking in other areas. There are a lot of aspects of gut health that Align doesn’t take into account. Seed considers the permeability of your gut barrier lining, the relationship between your gut and your immune system and so on. Align focuses a lot of their probiotic and gut health supplements on this one strain of probiotic, missing the mark in my opinion.
Which is Better for Immunity?
Seventy percent of our immune system is located in our gut, making gut health so important for our overall health. Immune cells that are located in the gut interact with the microbiome, which is a collection of bacteria and fungi that live within the gastrointestinal tract. Probiotics help replenish beneficial bacteria. Also, nutrition is a key component of a proper immune response, so optimal gut health can ensure that our body is absorbing nutrients correctly.
Seed could help with immune health because of its GI-focused probiotic blends, but it also includes a Gut Immunity blend for specific immune support. There are 16 different probiotic strains in this specific digestive, immune and gut barrier blend. You also have the potential to experience an increase in absorbed nutrients because of improved gut health, which can help boost your immune system as well. Nutrients help build strong immune cells and antibodies, as well as increase our antioxidant intake.
There is very minimal information available regarding Align’s Probiotic potential to benefit the immune system. While Bifidobacterium 35624 may improve your gut health (which is related to your immune response), the brand doesn’t advertise anything on their website claiming you can use their product to support a healthy immune response. There doesn’t seem to be any clinical studies or research contributing to this prospect either.
Which is Better for Overall Gut Health?
If you’re combining a high-quality probiotic supplement with a healthy diet and exercise, your gut health will receive exceptional support. Seed does take the approach of whole body health with their Synbiotic, but gastrointestinal support is a primary focus. Each of their 24 strains have been clinically and scientifically studied to confirm that there is the potential to experience less bloating, better bowel regularity, hydration of stools and improved GI transit time. Seed also explains that this product has also been designed to withstand the trek through your stomach so all of the beneficial ingredients survive until they hit your intestinal tract. Seed DS-01 Daily Synbiotic seems like the obvious winner to me in regard to gut health benefits.
Align claims that their 24/7 Digestive Support blend “fortifies your digestive system with healthy bacteria 24/7”. They also advertise that their supplement is a top recommendation given by doctors and gastroenterologists. Their single strain probiotic supplement has some research backing its ability to improve GI motility and reduce irritable bowels, but there’s a lot left to be desired.
Align Kids Probiotic Vs. Seed PDS-08 Pediatric Daily Synbiotic
Both Seed and Align makes probiotic supplements formulated with kids in mind. Let’s look at a breakdown of these options.
Seed PDS-08 Pediatric Daily Synbiotic
Designed for kids and teens between the ages of three and 17, Seed PDS-08 Daily Synbiotic contains nine strains of synbiotics. This product could help with easier and more comfortable bowel movements, regularity and less bloating. There are other proposed benefits, such as healthier skin, immune support and respiratory support. Probiotic products, especially those marketed towards the younger population, can often cause some GI discomfort when first starting a supplement. Seed claims that their product is very well tolerated.
Align Kids Probiotic
Align’s children’s probiotic is formulated with a prebiotic (inulin) as well as a probiotic. It may be able to nourish the beneficial bacteria in the gut so it thrives, but it is designed to add in more beneficial bacteria to your child’s gut microbiome. It comes in gummy form, so you’ll probably be able to get your child to take it. However, this is another Align product that only contains one strain of probiotics. Each serving provides 500 Million CFUs.
Choose Seed Daily Synbiotic If…
You’re looking for a probiotic supplement that will replenish beneficial bacteria into your gut microbiome. Seed advertises their product as being beneficial for gut health but also so many other aspects of your health. If you’re looking for something versatile that can transform your health, I would highly recommend Seed Daily Synbiotic. With 24 different highly researched strains, it’s going to be hard to find something that’s better formulated.
Use code FHM15 for additional savings!
Choose Align Probiotics if…
You’re looking to start out with something very basic because of specific GI issues that you might be dealing with (such as irregularity, irritable bowels, etc.). Your doctor may have recommended that you try a probiotic supplement, and this was on their list. However, you can achieve a lot more with a supplement that contains more strains in it, each with specific benefits that it brings to the table.
Conclusion
Don’t let poor GI health bring you down. Uncomfortable trips to the bathroom, a poor immune response, unhealthy skin and nutritional deficiencies all have the potential to improve when you use a probiotic supplement to get better control of your health.
Seed offers exceptional GI and whole-body support through 24 different strains of pre- and probiotics. Align’s formulation is a bit basic, though it is a brand that has gained popularity over the years.
Consider what you are looking to improve with the use of a probiotic supplement, taking into consideration the different strains that are available to you.
My Tip: Eat Healthy, Exercise More for a Healthy Gut!
Before taking a probiotic like Seed or Align, you should really focus on getting your diet and fitness right. Once you put those healthy habits in place, then you can talk to your doctor about taking a probiotic supplement.