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Gut health has received a lot of social media attention in the past few years, and for good reason. Everything that we eat and drink goes through our gut, which plays a crucial role in absorbing nutrients to support different body functions. The gut microbiome can impact every single organ in the body and can affect both physical and mental health.
With important conversations around gut health, it's no wonder that probiotics or prebiotics are the third most popular dietary supplement used among adults in the United States, after vitamins and minerals. Ultimately, the best thing you can do for your gut health is to eat a well-balanced diet that includes fiber-rich foods, stay physically active, and prioritize good sleep and stress reduction.
Improving your gut health through food and lifestyle factors is key, and if you are in general good health it is not typically necessary to take a probiotic supplement. But there are certain health conditions that can benefit from taking specific probiotics, and your healthcare provider may recommend one for you.
Seed DS-01 Daily Synbiotic is a popular two-in-one probiotic and prebiotic supplement for adults. Synbiotics are considered a mixture of probiotics (beneficial gut bacteria) and prebiotics (non-digestible fibers that feed probiotics) that work together in the digestive tract.
I have previously tested DS-01 out myself and also spoke with some GH staffers who have been taking the supplement on their own for a few months to get their feedback. Here's everything you need to know about Seed, including how much it costs and whether or not it's worth it.
Our registered dietitians in the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab review and evaluate every single supplement we recommend in accordance with our dietary supplement methodology. We then have a registered dietitian on our Medical Review Board review each article for scientific accuracy. A supplement should do just that: supplement the diet, not replace high-quality, nutritious food and important healthy lifestyle practices. Check with your healthcare provider before starting any dietary supplement regimen.
What is Seed?
Seed is a supplement company that currently offers two different products. Their DS-01 Daily Synbiotic is a 24-strain broad spectrum probiotic and prebiotic for adults, and their PDS-08 Pediatric Daily Synbiotic is designed for kids and teens ages 3 to 17. (For the purpose of this review, I'll focus on the adult DS-01 Daily Synbiotic). The brand prides itself on strict quality control measures and using clinically and scientifically studied probiotic strains in their products.
Pros
- Dual probiotic and prebiotic formulation
- Thoroughly researched strains
- Special capsule designed for optimal absorption
- Third-party tested
- Sustainable packaging features
- Does not require refrigeration
Cons
- Expensive
- Subscription-only model
How does Seed work?
The serving size of DS-01 is two capsules daily, meant to be taken all at once and preferably on an empty stomach as advised by the brand. Seed recommends taking just one capsule for the first three days, and then increasing to the full two capsule dose on the fourth day.
The synbiotic contains 53.6 Billion AFU (Active Fluorescent Units). When selecting a supplement, you likely will see measurements like dosage in milligrams. But for probiotics, there are additional measurements such as CFU (Colony Forming Units) that determine the number of bacterial cells in a probiotic supplement. Seed uses AFU instead of CFU, which it says is considered an advanced and more precise method. But the amount of AFU/CFU are just as important as the type of strains in the probiotic. Here is a breakdown of the blends utilized in Seed's DS-01 Daily Synbiotic, and the brand details strain-specific benefit studies that it funded on their website:
Digestive Health / Gut Immunity / Gut Barrier Integrity Probiotic Blend (37.0 Billion AFU)
- Bifidobacterium longum SD-BB536-JP
- Bifidobacterium breve SD-BR3-IT
- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SD-LP1-IT
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SD-LR6-IT
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HRVD113-US
- Bifidobacterium infantis SD-M63-JP
- Bifidobacterium lactis SD-BS5-IT
- Bifidobacterium lactis HRVD524-US
- Lactobacillus crispatus SD-LCR01-IT
- Lacticaseibacillus casei HRVD300-US
- Bifidobacterium breve HRVD521-US
- Bifidobacterium longum HRVD90b-US
- Bifidobacterium lactis SD150-BE
- Limosilactobacillus fermentum SD-LF8-IT
- Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus SD-GG-BE
- Limosilactobacillus reuteri RD830-FR
Dermatological Health Probiotic Blend (3.30 Billion AFU)
- Ligilactobacillus salivarius SD-LS1-IT
- Bifidobacterium lactis SD-CECT8145-SP
- Bifidobacterium longum SD-CECT7347-SP
- Lacticaseibacillus casei SD-CECT9104-SP
Cardiovascular Health Probiotic Blend (5.25 Billion AFU)
- Lactiplantibacillus plantarum SD-LPLDL-UK
- Bifidobacterium lactis SD-MB2409-IT
Micronutrient Synthesis Probiotic Blend (8.05 Billion AFU)
- Bifidobacterium adolescentis SD-BA5-IT
- Limosilactobacillus reuteri SD-LRE2-IT
Microbiota-Accessible Polyphenolic Precursors [MAPP] (400mg)
- Indian Pomegranate [whole fruit] (Punica granatum) (>40% Polyphenolic + Phenolic Bioactives)
Other Ingredients
- Acid-Resistant Vegan Outer [chlorophyllin] and Inner Capsules [hypromellose, fermented gellan gum, water]
- Organic rice fiber
- Organic rice extract blend
How much does Seed cost?
A 30-day supply of Seed costs $49.99 and is billed monthly through a subscription. But you can save 10-15% if you opt for bulk delivery every three or six months through their Sustainable Refill Program. Shipping is free in the US ($10 for international shipments) and the brand operates on a subscription-based model, but you can reschedule or cancel at any time. You can also try DS-01 risk-free for 30 days and return it if you feel it isn't right for you.
Our testing experience
Ordering
Navigating the brand's website is straightforward — since it only offers two different products (adults or a kids/teens version), you simply select the supplement you want and choose a delivery timeframe. The first delivery of the adult DS-01 comes with a Welcome Kit that includes a refillable glass jar, a glass travel vial (that is able to hold a one-week supply of the synbiotic) and a 30-day supply (60 capsules). Then in subsequent months, you'll receive refills in a small pouch.
Packaging
I found the packaging to be well done, neat and sturdy, and was impressed with the sustainable features like the recyclable glass jar and the compostable boxing. The travel vial kept well in my purse during the week, but it is glass so keep this in mind as it can be fragile and could potentially break in transit. Another GH staffer who has been using Seed for several months said that she has traveled and commuted with the travel vial several times and experienced no breakage.
I liked that the jars are designed to protect the bacteria since they can be sensitive to light, so you'll notice that both the jar and the travel vial are a dark green color. The capsules themselves also contain a special technology called ViaCap which is essentially a capsule within a capsule designed to give the bacteria a better chance at surviving as they go through stomach acid and delivering the optimal dose to your colon. This also means that the pills don't have to be refrigerated.
The capsules themselves are substantial in size and the two pill serving a day may deter some, but it's on par with many other probiotic supplements on the market. Plus, the supplement is tested for dairy, gluten, soy, nuts, shellfish, sesame, GMOs and more and adheres to vegan, vegetarian, ketogenic and gluten-free diets.
Quality
When it comes to the probiotic blends in the formulation itself, both the strains and the potencies are evidence-based. The brand even conducts clinical research for an advanced understanding of how probiotics work, including their safety and tolerability.
One thing I especially appreciated is that the supplement is Prop. 65 Compliant, meaning that it meets strict regulations on chemicals and heavy metals set by the state of California. Plus, Seed conducts extensive testing on their synbiotic including a suite of third-party testing throughout each step of the manufacturing process and on the final product. It tests for everything from potency and survivability to contaminants and allergens.
Results
One GH staffer who has been using DS-01 for a few months said they have noticed a considerable improvement in their bloating. "I had tried out multiple probiotic products prior to Seed, but still I found this to be the best. I take it every morning on an empty stomach and feel like it's a great start to my day. As someone who eats a ton of fiber, I needed a probiotic that could help with any bloat that causes." Another staffer said that they appreciated the subscription model so they don't have to think about replenishing their supply.
I am currently pregnant so I am not taking Seed at this time, but I had tried Seed in the past for about three months and did notice some improvements in bloating as well as immunity during that time period. But these are just personal experiences and it is important to keep in mind that every body is unique. Your diet and lifestyle habits play a tremendous role in your overall health, so it can be difficult to determine if these changes are from Seed or other daily habits.
Who is Seed best for?
Seed says that the DS-01 Daily Synbiotic is appropriate for adults ages 18 and up. However, you'll want to speak with your healthcare provider before starting any new dietary supplement regimen. Your doctor may recommend a probiotic if you have dysbiosis (an imbalance of bacterial composition within the gut), or if you have recently been sick or had a treatment that weakened your microbiome (such as taking probiotics after finishing a course of antibiotics).
There is also evidence to support that probiotics can help a variety of gastrointestinal conditions, as well as certain dental disorders and conditions related to allergies. In general, high-quality probiotics can typically be safely used by healthy adults, though there is a risk for people with severe illnesses or compromised immune systems so always speak with your healthcare provider.
How long does it take Seed to work?
Since everyone's body is unique, it can be difficult to say how soon you may "feel" any difference from taking Seed or another probiotic supplement (or if you will feel anything at all). But the brand notes on their website that it is normal to feel effects in the digestive tract in as little as 24-48 hours, and that other longer term benefits like gut immune function may take some time or you may not notice anything at all. But if you are taking the supplement on a daily basis, those microbes are certainly working throughout your system.
The bottom line: Is Seed worth it?
It's important to prioritize meeting your nutritional needs through a well-balanced diet. But if you are looking for a high-quality probiotic supplement, Seed's DS-01 Daily Synbiotic certainly fits the bill. With extensively researched strains, strict quality control standards and third party testing, it's likely one of the best options on the shelf at the moment. It comes at a premium price and the subscription model may deter some, but you can cancel or reschedule at any time.
Always speak with your healthcare provider before introducing any new supplement, including Seed, into your regimen to ensure it is appropriate for you and won't interact with any current medications you are taking.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
As director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition & Fitness Lab, Registered Dietitian Stefani Sassos handles all nutrition-related content, product testing and evaluation. She stays up-to-date on the latest research to provide evidence-based reporting on all things diet and nutrition. Stefani runs and oversees supplement testing and analysis for Good Housekeeping and has covered several other supplements in the past including women's multivitamins, vegan protein powders, vitamin D, joint supplements and more.
Stefani (she/her) is a registered dietitian, a NASM-certified personal trainer and the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition and Fitness Lab, where she oversees all nutrition and fitness-related content, testing and evaluation. She holds a master’s degree in clinical nutrition from New York University, as well as advanced certifications as a Women's Fitness Specialist and a Behavior Change Specialist. Stefani is dedicated to providing readers with evidence-based content to encourage informed food choices and healthy living. She is an avid CrossFitter and a passionate home cook who loves spending time with her big fit Greek family.
Rachel Lustgarten (she/her), M.S., R.D., C.D.N., is a registered dietitian in clinical practice in New York City. Her primary area of focus is medical nutrition therapy and weight control. Rachel’s passion is sharing her knowledge and expertise of food and nutrition’s role in overall health and wellness. She co-hosts the weekly “Primary Care Medicine” show on SiriusXM Doctor Radio, interviewing expert guests and fielding listener calls and questions about hot topics in health and nutrition. She served as a clinical dietitian at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and served as an Advisor to the Weill Cornell’s Women’s Nutrition Connection monthly newsletter for 10 years. Rachel received a Master’s degree in Clinical Nutrition from New York University, graduating with honors.
