Last updated on June 25th, 2025 at 04:55 pm
Poor gut health and inflammation are two of the most common health concerns today. And while they may seem like separate issues, inflammation and gut health are often directly correlated with one another.
There are many ways to improve gut health and reduce inflammation, such as through diet, stress management, and supplementation. This article specifically focuses on the best supplements for gut health and inflammation that you can use to feel better and live healthier.
What is Inflammation?
Inflammation is a word that’s often thrown around, but many don’t know the exact specifics of it. Essentially, inflammation is your body’s natural response to actual or perceived damage in the body. It’s a built-in defense system, like an alarm that goes off when your body senses something is wrong.
There are two types of inflammation:
- Acute: This is an immediate, shorter-acting response to an acute illness, injury, or infection. It comes with the classic symptoms of pain, heat, redness, and swelling.
- Chronic: This is a low-level inflammatory response that can persist for months or even years at a time. It is often triggered by subtle damage or imbalances in the body, sometimes without any obvious symptoms. Over time, it can quietly contribute to significant health problems, even if there’s no actual or clear threat.
When it comes to overall health, chronic (or systemic) inflammation is also a key driver behind many diseases, such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBS).
The Connection Between Inflammation and Gut Health
Inflammation and gut health are highly correlated with one another. Inflammation in the gut can lead to additional health concerns, while poor gut health can also increase the risk of inflammation.
One of the main examples of this connection is that eating highly inflammatory foods can damage the gut lining. Examples of common triggers include:
- Alcohol
- Highly processed foods
- Excessive sugar
- Excess intake of omega-6 fats
- Refined grains
- Processed meats
Many of these foods are consumed regularly in the typical Western diet, which is associated with:
- Reduced good gut bacteria
- Increase in harmful bacteria
- Intestinal permeability (leaky gut)
- Increased inflammation.
Also, if you have any food allergies or sensitivities, consuming these foods can also cause inflammation. This depends on each individual, but common culprits include:
- Gluten
- Dairy
- Nightshades
- Eggs
- Nuts
- Soy
When your gut lining becomes damaged (known as “leaky gut”) this can cause harmful substances to enter the bloodstream, which in turn increases inflammation and other issues. As a result, individuals often experience a vicious cycle of inflammation and poor gut health, which gets harder to resolve over time.
The Role of Supplements in Gut Health
When you’re dealing with gut inflammation, a variety of supplements may be beneficial. Some of the top supplements for gut health and inflammation are:
- Probiotics
- Prebiotics
- Anti-inflammatory agents
- Glutamine
- Soothing herbs
Probiotics
Probiotics are known as the “good bacteria” in your gut. They play several essential roles, such as improving the gut lining and intestinal barrier, reducing inflammation, and supporting digestion. Many people have low counts of good bacteria, which makes probiotic supplementation particularly important.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics are a type of fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut. You can get prebiotics from food or through supplements, such as inulin and fructooligosaccharides. This can improve good bacteria levels, while also reducing gut pathogens and inflammation.
Anti-Inflammatory Herbs
There are many herbs for inflammation and gut health. Some of the top anti-inflammatory herbs include turmeric, boswellia, and ginger. They are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that can help reduce inflammation in the gut and the body as a whole.
In addition, these herbs are some of the best supplements for pain and inflammation, due to their natural healing and restorative properties.
Glutamine
Glutamine is a conditionally essential amino acid, meaning the body requires it under certain situations, such as injury or illness. Glutamine is great for gut health and inflammation because it feeds the cells that line the gut and digestive tract. This helps to repair leaky gut and restore general digestive health.
Soothing Herbs
There are several soothing herbs that are also beneficial for gut health and inflammation, such as slippery elm, licorice root, and marshmallow root. These herbs are sometimes referred to as “demulcents”.
They have mucilaginous qualities that soothe and protect the mucous membranes, such as in the throat and digestive tract. This not only provides soothing properties, it also helps repair any inflammation and damage.
Others
Other potentially beneficial supplements for gut health and inflammation include vitamin C, vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, and magnesium.
How to Find the Best Supplements for Pain and Inflammation
The best supplements for pain and inflammation, based on nutritional science, often include omega-3 fatty acids, curcumin, and magnesium. Omega-3s, found in fish oil, have strong anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce joint stiffness and muscle soreness by lowering levels of inflammatory cytokines. Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has been shown to inhibit key molecules involved in inflammation, offering relief for conditions like arthritis. Magnesium supports muscle relaxation and reduces inflammatory markers, which can be especially beneficial for chronic pain and tension.
Additionally, vitamin D and antioxidants such as vitamin C and alpha-lipoic acid can support immune function and combat oxidative stress, which contributes to inflammation. Combining these nutrients with a balanced, whole-food diet may enhance their effectiveness in managing pain naturally.
To find the best supplements for pain and inflammation for you, browse our selection of vitamins and supplements on SimplyNutrients.com. Simply Nutrients offers a wide variety of digestive and enzyme supplements, as well as products for pain and inflammation that are carefully vetted for quality by our certified practitioners.
Best Supplements for Gut Health and Inflammation
Knowing which supplement to buy can be very difficult. We’ve narrowed this down and listed some of the best supplements for gut health and inflammation below:
- Ortho Molecular OrthoBiotic: Ortho Molecular offers a range of research-backed, highly effective formulas. OrthoBiotic provides seven probiotics, with a total of 23 Billion CFU per serving. They use some of the most well-researched probiotic strains, which work together to promote a healthy gut microbiome, making it one of the best probiotics for gut health.
- Ancient Nutrition SBO Probiotics Gut Restore: Ancient Nutrition has one of the best reputations for safe and effective natural solutions. Their SBO Probiotics Gut Restore formula is one of the most diverse gut health formulas out there. It includes probiotics, prebiotics from medicinal mushrooms, and the gut-healing trio of glutamine, licorice root, and marshmallow root. Together, this formula supports gut and intestinal repair, an optimal gut microbiome, healthy immunity, and digestive strength.
- Microbiome Labs MegaSporeBiotic: Microbiome Labs offers many effective, holistic supplements for gut health and overall wellness. MegaSporeBiotic offers 4 billion CFU per serving from five spore-based probiotic strains. These work together to increase good bacteria in your gut, while supporting healthy gut mucosa and gut barrier function.
Other Ways to Reduce Inflammation and Promote Gut Health
In addition to herbs and supplements, several key diet and lifestyle strategies can help reduce inflammation and promote gut health, such as:
- Eating an anti-inflammatory, “Mediterranean-style” diet, rich in:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Whole grains
- Healthy fats, such as olive oil and avocado
- Fatty fish
- Reduce processed foods, sugar, alcohol, and other unhealthy items
- Practice stress management strategies, such as meditation
- Greater stress can increase inflammation!
- Consume probiotic and prebiotic-rich foods, such as:
- Probiotics: Yogurt, kimchi, kefir, sauerkraut, natto
- Prebiotics: Onions, oats, bananas, garlic (most plant foods in general)
Dealing with gut health and inflammation can seem like a never-ending cycle. Fortunately, it can often be resolved through natural strategies, such as dietary modifications and the use of anti-inflammatory, gut-supportive supplements. By giving your gut what it needs to thrive and removing common offenders, you can experience reduced inflammation and improved overall wellness.
FAQs
What is the best probiotic for gut health?
There is no best probiotic for gut health for all scenarios. It depends a lot on individual factors, such as one’s gut microbiome diversity. With that said, the most effective probiotics typically have multiple strains for more diverse benefits, and they should also be resistant to stomach acid, so that they can reach the large intestine, where they have their most beneficial effects.
All three of the products mentioned above are effective probiotics to consider for your first time using.
Can poor gut health cause inflammation?
Yes, poor gut health can cause inflammation in various ways. For example, impaired intestinal lining can cause unwanted particles to enter the bloodstream, where they trigger an inflammatory response. In addition, an unhealthy gut microbiome (characterized by too many bad bacteria and not enough good bacteria) can promote inflammation.
What are the best herbs for inflammation?
The best herbs for inflammation are ones that are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Some of the best herbs for inflammation are:
- Turmeric, especially due to its high concentration of curcumin
- Boswellia, which contains boswellic acid and other anti-inflammatory chemicals
- Ginger, which contains gingerols and other beneficial compounds
- Green tea, which is rich in EGCG
Whatever your gut health needs are, Simply Nutrients offers vitamins and supplements, including the best probiotic for gut health, to help with your health journey.
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* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
