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Emma vs. Custom Probiotics: Are High CFUs Hype or Help?

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Laurel Ash, ND, MS— Written by Natalie Brooks — Updated on 09/01/25
Emma vs. Custom Probiotics: Are High CFUs Hype or Help?
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Probiotics are everywhere. And let’s be honest—some of them sound almost too good to be true. You’ve got brands promising to flood your gut with “trillions” of good bacteria and others boasting double-digit CFU counts you can barely pronounce. One of the most talked-about in that category? Custom Probiotics.

But here’s the real question: do sky-high CFU counts and multi-strain formulas actually fix what’s wrong with your gut—or are they just more bugs in a broken system?

Enter Emma: a plant-based supplement that skips the probiotic hype and focuses on what’s really causing your digestive issues—like methane-producing microbes, damaged gut lining, and sluggish bile flow.

In this comparison, we’ll break down what Custom Probiotics actually does, how it stacks up to Emma’s root-cause approach, and which one delivers real, lasting relief.


What is Custom Probiotics?

Custom Probiotics is known for one thing: serious potency. They sell freeze-dried, high-CFU-count probiotic powders and capsules—many offering 60 to 100+ billion CFUs per serving. The brand is especially popular among people looking for targeted probiotic strains, like those with IBS, SIBO, or chronic gut dysbiosis.

The formulations are ultra-clean (no fillers, additives, or common allergens), and they offer both single-strain and multi-strain options.

🟢 Custom Probiotics Benefits:

✔️ Offers 100+ billion CFUs per capsule or scoop

✔️ Free of dairy, gluten, soy, corn, and GMOs

✔️ Strains selected for IBS, IBD, and immune support

✔️ Trusted by functional medicine practitioners

🔴 Limitations of Custom Probiotics:

❌ Doesn’t address harmful overgrowths like methane-producing archaea
❌ No ingredients to repair gut lining or support bile flow
❌ Probiotic survival varies—many don’t reach the colon intact
❌ CFU counts alone don’t guarantee effectiveness

While Custom Probiotics may help populate the gut with beneficial bacteria, it’s still just one piece of the puzzle—and not a complete gut health solution.


What is Emma?

Emma is a doctor-endorsed gut health supplement that skips traditional probiotics entirely—and for good reason. Rather than add bacteria, Emma targets the real reasons your digestion is off: methane-producing archaea, a damaged gut lining, and slow, sluggish motility.

Emma’s plant-powered ingredients are backed by clinical research and work in a strategic 3-phase protocol: remove, repair, and restore.

✅ Emma’s 3-Step Gut Reset:

  1. Targets and Eliminates Harmful Gut Invaders
    Emma uses Berberine to help promote digestive balance by targeting unwanted gut microbes, including methane-producing organisms, which may contribute to occasional bloating and constipation. These harmful organisms slow digestion and cause toxic buildup in the intestines. By targeting these invaders, Emma helps restore balance to the gut microbiome and promotes natural, healthy bowel movements.

  2. Repairs and Strengthens the Gut Lining
    Ingredients like Quercetin and Resveratrol help repair damage caused by chronic inflammation and digestive distress, while Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL) protects the gut lining and encourages healthy mucus production for easier digestion.

  3. Relieve Digestive Distress
    Star anise relieves digestive distress and improves IBS symptoms including abdominal discomfort and pain, bloating, diarrhea, and constipation severity.

🌿 Key Ingredients:

Berberine – Kills methane-producing archaea that slow digestion (NIH).
Quercetin – Repairs the gut lining and prevents inflammation. (NIH)
Star Anise – Relieves digestive distress and improves IBS symptoms (NIH)
Resveratrol – Supports a balanced gut microbiome (NIH).
DGL (Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice) – Helps restore the protective mucus layer in the intestines. (NIH)


Emma vs. Custom Probiotics: Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature Emma Custom Probiotics
Core Strategy Remove, repair, and restore digestion Reintroduce beneficial bacteria
CFUs / Probiotic Strains ❌ None – not probiotic-based ✅ Up to 100+ billion CFUs per serving
Targets Archaea / Overgrowths ✅ Yes – targets root microbial imbalances ❌ No – only adds bacteria
Gut Lining Repair Support ✅ Yes – quercetin, DGL, resveratrol ❌ None
Bile Flow & Motility Support ✅ Yes – star anise and berberine ❌ No
Best For Chronic bloating, constipation, slow motility Maintenance or replenishment post-antibiotics

Who Should Choose What?

  • Choose Emma if: You’ve tried probiotics before and they didn’t make a dent—or even made things worse. Emma addresses microbial imbalances and physical dysfunction in your gut, helping you reset digestion at the source.

  • Choose Custom Probiotics if: You’re working with a practitioner who’s recommending high-dose probiotics for a specific reason (e.g., post-antibiotic support), and you’re not experiencing underlying issues like methane bloating or leaky gut.


🚀 Gut Health Insights You Might Not Know

  • Probiotics alone may not fix chronic bloating—especially if harmful microbes are already overpopulating your gut (NIH)

  • A damaged gut lining (“leaky gut”) can lead to fatigue, skin problems, and even autoimmune flares (NIH)

  • Your digestive system isn’t just about breaking down food—it also helps regulate your immune response, hormones, and mental health (NIH)


Why Emma Wins for Real Gut Repair

Custom Probiotics delivers massive numbers of beneficial bacteria—but that doesn’t mean they’ll survive, colonize, or solve the root issues behind your gut dysfunction.

Emma skips the CFU hype and focuses on what really matters: eliminating microbial overgrowth, repairing your gut lining, and getting your digestion back in sync.

With doctor-endorsed ingredients and a no-filler formula, Emma isn’t just another gut health product—it’s a complete reset.

✅ No probiotics or fiber overload

✅ No guesswork—just science-backed ingredients that work

✅ Designed to fix, not just feed, your gut

👉 Ready to get to the root of your digestive issues? Click here to learn more about Emma

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This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither the author nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.