Here’s our Onnit Total Gut Health review, including a dietitian’s insights and recommendations  

Onnit Total Gut Health overview

Onnit Total Gut Health is a daily supplement of four capsules you take with meals. It claims to reduce bloating and support your digestion with a unique blend of ingredients. Let’s break down what’s inside and how it might help.

Onnit Total Gut Health ingredients and benefits 

This comprehensive formula contains over 30 ingredients, which is a lot to cover, but they fall into three main groups: probiotics, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes.

Probiotics are live microorganisms found in certain foods and supplements, like bacteria and yeast. Adding them to your diet can support gut, immune, and metabolic health. (3) Onnit Total Gut Health offers a blend of seven well-researched probiotics from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families. 

• L. acidophilus helps block the growth of harmful organisms in your gut, eases inflammation, and helps digest lactose—a sugar in dairy foods that can cause bloating. (4) 
• L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, B. lactis, and B. infantis may relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms like bloating and abdominal pain. (5, 3) 
•  B. subtilis and B. coagulans could improve nutrient absorption and reduce bloating. (6, 7) 

This blend delivers 10 billion CFUs (colony-forming units) per dose, which represents the number of active probiotic organisms. While there’s no official recommendation, experts suggest you need at least 1 million CFUs per dose to notice any real benefits. (8) Most supplements aim for 1 to 10 billion CFUs to help the probiotics survive digestion and reach the gut. With 10 billion CFUs, this product fits right in with other top-tier options.

Additionally, Onnit’s formula includes 5 billion CFUs of Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast at a dosage that may help with antibiotic-related diarrhea. (9, 10) 

We like that Onnit uses these well-researched probiotic strains. However, they don’t share the exact CFU amounts for each one. This detail matters because different strains are most effective at specific doses. Without that information, it’s harder to compare this product to clinical studies to gauge how well the product might work. While the overall CFU count is impressive, more transparency about each strain would make it even better, allowing you to supplement with additional strains if needed.

Prebiotics are substances, usually fibers, that feed probiotics, helping these healthy gut flora work better. (11) Onnit’s Total Gut Health formula includes a special blend of prebiotics and herbs. It features organic Jerusalem artichoke and dandelion roots, which provide inulin—a prebiotic fiber that supports probiotic growth and activity, particularly Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus strains. (12)

This blend also includes organic fennel seed and ginger root extract, two herbs traditionally used to relieve bloating and nausea. (13, 14) However, like the probiotic blend, Onnit’s prebiotic blend doesn’t show the amounts of each ingredient, so we don’t know if the doses are enough to see real benefits.

Digestive enzymes are produced by your body throughout your digestive tract, including your mouth, stomach, and intestines. They break down the foods you eat so you can absorb nutrients properly. Different enzymes handle different foods—for example, amylase breaks down carbohydrates, protease breaks down protein, and lipase breaks down fat. 

If your body doesn’t produce enough of a specific enzyme, you might feel discomfort after eating certain foods or macronutrients. (15) Therefore, supplementing will help bridge those gaps.

Onnit Total Gut Health includes proprietary blends of multiple digestive enzymes to cover all your bases. However, we believe it’s best to figure out specific enzyme deficiencies rather than taking a bunch of enzymes you may not need. 

For additional digestive support, Onnit also includes betaine HCL. This amino acid may boost stomach acid, helping with digestion after meals and protecting your gut from harmful bacteria. (16) 

Dosing and use

A dose of Onnit Total Gut Health consists of four capsules, each about the length of a quarter. To get the most out of the digestive enzymes, Onnit recommends taking all four capsules at once with your biggest meal. 

Each bottle provides 120 capsules, a 30-day supply. We like that you don’t need to refrigerate this product, which is more convenient. 

Testing and certifications 

A major downside of Onnit Total Gut Health is the lack of third-party testing. Dietary supplements aren’t regulated as strictly as food or medicine. While the FDA requires manufacturers to follow certain safety practices and accurately list ingredients and benefits, they don’t review testing data before a supplement hits the market. (17) 

This leaves it up to the manufacturer to meet these standards. Onnit products are made in an NSF-certified GMP facility. They also say they test each batch internally to ensure it meets label claims and safety standards for heavy metals and contaminants.

While this is reassuring, third-party testing would provide extra peace of mind. Testing by independent labs verifies product claims and holds companies accountable. Since supplement quality can vary under loose regulations, we prefer products with third-party testing, as we find them more trustworthy. 

Aside from this issue, we appreciate that the product uses minimal additives, with only a methylcellulose vegetarian capsule and rice hull concentrate listed as other ingredients. It’s also labeled gluten-, dairy-, and soy-free, so it can accommodate various dietary needs. 

Cost and value 

A typical one-month supply of Onnit Total Gut Health costs $44.99 or $1.50 per dose. However, you can save up to 35% by signing up for one of their subscription programs. This is pretty expensive for a supplement but falls in the mid-range of similar products. 

With its comprehensive blend, you certainly get a lot of ingredients for your money, but you may be paying for more than you actually need. 

Onnit Total Gut Health side effects 

The ingredients in Onnit Total Gut Health are generally low-risk, but there are still a few things to consider.

Probiotics can be risky for people with weakened immune systems and might interfere with how certain medications work. Some people also experience worse digestive symptoms when taking probiotics, since you are introducing new bacteria to the system. (18) 

Prebiotics like inulin are fermentable fibers, meaning they can increase gas. While prebiotics help the feeding of probiotics, you may want to avoid these fibers if you follow a low FODMAP diet for IBS relief. (12, 19) 

Digestive enzyme supplements can trigger allergic reactions or worsen digestive symptoms for some people. They can also interact with certain medications. (20) 

While each ingredient has its risks, the combined effects of Onnit Total Gut Health aren’t clinically studied. Some users report nausea, gas, or bloating when first starting the product.

With these side effects in mind, It’s important to talk to your doctor before using this supplement to ensure it’s safe for your health needs.

Specs

We’ve featured Onnit Total Gut Health in:

• The best probiotic supplements, according to experts
• The best prebiotic supplements, reviewed by a certified holistic nutritionist
• The best supplements for heart health, reviewed by a registered dietitian

Who Onnit Total Gut Health is recommended for:

• Adults who want a comprehensive gut health formula to support healthy digestion, a healthy immune system, and overall well-being.
• People looking to support gut health with a high-quality, dairy-free, soy-free, caffeine-free probiotic supplement.
• Individuals struggling with frequent bloating, particularly after meals. 

Who Onnit Total Gut Health is not recommended for:

• Immunocompromised individuals. (3)
• Preterm infants. (3)
• People with underlying medical conditions who have not consulted with their doctor. (3)

People following a low FODMAP diet. (19)

Compare Onnit Total Gut Health

	Onnit Total Gut Health	Transparent Labs Gut Health	Ritual Synbiotic+	Nutricost Probiotic Complex	Legion Athletics Biome	VSL#3 Capsules
Rating	3.2/5	3.9/5	4.2/5	4.0/5	4.1/5	4.1/5
Cost per serving	$1.50	$1.53	$1.80	$0.25	$1.67	$2.20
Daily dose	4 capsules	2 capsules	1 capsule	1 capsule	2 capsules	2 capsules or 1 powder packet, up to 4 times
Key ingredients	7 probiotic strains, digestive enzymes, prebiotics	10 probiotic strains, prebiotics	2 probiotic strains, prebiotics, postbiotics	10 probiotic strains	3 probiotic strains	8 probiotic strains
	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
		Read Review		Read Review

How we test probiotic supplements 

Our goal is to give you all the information you need to choose a supplement that aligns with your health goals and lifestyle. We extensively research all of the products included in our reviews, using our supplements testing methodology for scoring.

For our probiotic evaluations and reviews, we use our testing methodology and scoring system for probiotics. Based on our general testing methodology system, the probiotic testing and scoring is more specific and includes eight primary categories such as strain type and dose, testing for safety, and cost per serving.

FAQs