Can I Take Probiotics At Night

Should I Take Probiotics In The Morning Or At Night

If youve read our Bio X4 review, then youre probably considering taking a probiotic. Whether you want to start using a probiotic to help ease digestive issues, to try to keep your weight under control, or to simply promote good digestive health, you should try to use high quality probiotics in the right way.

So how do you use probiotics properly?

When is the best time to take a probiotic?

Should you take a probiotic on an empty stomach? Should you take it first thing in the morning or last thing at night?

Lets find out!

How Can Probiotics Benefit You

Good reasons abound to take your probiotics. While the health information surrounding probiotic research is still in the relatively early stages, tons of studies exist that showcase the considerable health benefits of probiotic supplements for specific health issues of all kinds, as well as the general maintenance of overall health and well-being.

As always, you should chat with your doctor about any specific health concerns before beginning a course of treatment on your own, but study after study has shown that for healthy adults, taking probiotic supplements can have a beneficial effect on the following:

• Immune system support
• Your hair health
• Overall mood and mental well-being

And that’s just the start. In fact, if you can think of a positive health outcome, including positive outcomes related to hair wellness, there’s probably a study out there linking it to probiotic bacteria. So there are plenty of good reasons to take your probiotics, but what time of day is best?

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Should Prebiotics Be Taken At Night

Probiotics are best taken before bed, when the digestive tract is at rest. When we sleep, the gut is relatively inactive, so probiotics are more likely to stay around, divide, and be fully assimilated. Taking probiotics before bed also increases the amount of time that these good bacteria spend in the intestines. If taken with food, probiotics have been shown to improve the health of the digestive system.

To achieve optimal health, you should take prebiotics regularly, either in the morning or at night. However, most people do not eat any prebiotic foods before bed. Although they are known to improve digestion, they may also exacerbate uncomfortable conditions, such as diarrhea. It is best to take prebiotics with a glass of water, at least an hour before eating. Prebiotics should be taken on an empty stomach, but you may need to experiment with timing.

While the benefits of probiotic supplements are obvious, taking probiotics during the right time is essential. The stomachs acid content is helpful for digestion, but it is very detrimental to the bacteria in your digestive tract. The best way to take probiotics is to take them in the morning or at night. This will allow you to maximize their benefits. The most beneficial probiotics for digestion occur during the early morning hours, so its important to take them during that time.

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How Time Of The Day Can Affect How Your Body Reacts To Probiotics

While taking probiotics in the morning is the best and the most convenient practice for most people, maybe it isnt the best option for you. After all, we all live different lives. Here are a few options you should consider:

• Taking them with every meal in some cases, this is the best approach, especially if you have issues with your digestive system, such as diarrhea. Continue taking them with every meal until the symptoms pass.
• Taking them before bed research shows that liver issues can have a negative impact on the sleep pattern. Since the gut and the liver are closely related, taking probiotics can help you diminish the symptoms, which will help you sleep better. Also, if you are a night owl, or work until late, taking probiotics before bed is a good idea.
• Taking them in the morning that is generally the best approach, as we have previously explained. It is best suited for people who work the first shift, the same time every day, which allows them to have a home-cooked breakfast, also at the same time each day. If you are an early riser, 30 minutes before breakfast is your best bet.

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When Is The Best Time To Take A Probiotic

Should you take a probiotic in the morning or at night? Do you need to take it with food? When is the best time to take a gut health supplement?

Heres the answer. To get the greatest benefit from probiotics, you need to be using the on a daily basis. Ideally, you should be taking a probiotic at the same time each day before food. The exact time isnt important just do what works for you. Whether you prefer to take it first thing in the morning before breakfast, or just before a snack close to bedtime, it doesnt really make a difference.

The benefits of probiotics are long-term. They dont have immediate, short-term effects. They work by re-balancing your gut microbiome they create a hospitable environment for healthy gut bacteria, and an unwelcoming environment for harmful bacteria. So the exact time you take them is unimportant just take them consistently with food.

Learn more:

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When Is The Best Time To Take Probiotics

According to health experts, nighttime is the right time to take probioticsthe best time to take probiotics is before bed. It has something to do with the fact that its a period of inactivity for your gut area, and it doesnt have to work as hard in the evenings.

Believe it or not, probiotics works best in the presence of stationary bowels. While youre sleeping, ingested probiotics that are taken before bed are more likely to stick around until you poop them out the next day. This gives the probiotics a chance to work proactively in your digestive system, allowing you to experience the maximum benefits of its gut-healing abilities.

You should also aim for the probiotics to move through your stomach acid as quickly as possible. Taking probiotic supplements on an empty stomach can help you make sure of that. Experts have backed this as well.

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Is It Better To Take Probiotics At Night Or In The Morning

“Taking a probiotic on an empty stomach is the optimal time,” Dr. Wallman explains. For most individuals, it means taking a probiotic first thing in the morning , or shortly before bed. Avoiding the afternoon, when your body is likely depleted of nutrients, is important for maximizing the effectiveness of each probiotic strain you consume.

Either way is fine just make sure you take your dose regularly. If you’re not seeing any results after a few weeks, then there may be something wrong with your regimen – talk to your doctor or another health care professional about finding a solution that works for you.

Probiotic Foods Are Better Than Probioticsupplements

Probiotic foods like kimchi, tempeh, kefirand lacto-fermented sauerkraut are great and I encourage you to includethem in your diet. If you already have a healthy gut or if you eat A LOT of probiotic foods,these foods might give you enough healthy bacteria to meet your needs. However ifyoure not eating a lot of probiotic foods or if you have specific health issues, probioticsupplements will provide you with more CFUs .

This chart shows the probiotic content of common probiotic foods.

Bottom line: For the best therapeutic effect, take probiotic supplements.

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Any Side Effects Of Taking Probiotics At The Wrong Time

Probiotics are very well-tolerated in most people, and timing them right is more about ensuring the survivability of these healthy bacteria than about avoiding side effects.

So, whether you take a probiotic day or night, with or without food, you’re not likely to experience any major issuesâat least not as a result of when you take them.

While anyone may experience some temporary gas and bloating when first taking a probiotic supplement, probiotics generally don’t cause significant side effects beyond thatâand if they do, it’s more of an indicator that you’re not taking the right probiotic supplement with the appropriate strains of bacteria.

It may take some trial and error, but by looking for strains that are targeted to the issue you want to treat, you can find the probiotic that’s just right for you.

Best Time To Take Probiotics At Night Before Bed

The recommendation is to wait 2-3 hours after eating before taking probiotics to help the probiotics travel through the stomach as quickly as possible. However, you should always check the intake instructions on the probiotic supplement for the most effective way to take your probiotic.

Taking probiotics late in the day or at night before bed can be very beneficial, especially for individuals who eat dinner on the early side. For most people, the stomach tends to be empty either early in the morning after waking up or at the end of the day before going to bed.

How much and how late you ate before bed plays a major role in how empty your stomach is. This is why we recommend waiting 2-3 hours after eating before taking your probiotic.

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So Should I Take Probiotics In The Morning Or At Night

Determining whether you take probiotics in the morning or in the evening, will come down to a couple of factors.

If youre one who doesnt have the time to create a yogurt starter culture, you can find some in the store or purchase them online and add them to a glass of water and drink throughout the day.

Some people are fine waking up and having a glass of water with probiotics in the morning or evening and others prefer to take them in the afternoon. It really depends upon your lifestyle and what works for you.

You also want to consider the foods that you eat as well as whether you want to take probiotics with food or take them as a supplement.

Probiotics come in a variety of strains, some less active than others, and some require food for supplementation. If you consume only raw foods or if you cook your food at a high temperature, then you need to be sure that you supplement your diet with probiotics.

You should take probiotics every day, even if you eat meat or only take supplements once a day. However, you dont necessarily need to take probiotics with food.

For example, if you eat yogurt with live cultures or sea kelp, then you dont need to supplement with probiotics.

When you supplement with probiotics, you should take a variety of probiotics. You need to be sure that youre choosing high-quality probiotics.

You should make sure that you are getting the full spectrum of probiotics in order to get the full benefits of probiotics.

Powerful Blend Of Strains

When thinking about a quality probiotic, the first thing that likely comes to mind is the blend of bacteria strains included. But, believe it or not, this doesnt necessarily inform when is the best time of day to take probiotics. In any form and at any time of day, there are thousands of different identified probiotic strains busy in your system. The most thoroughly researched for supporting overall GI health are Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Saccharomyces, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Escherichia, and Bacillus. And what these heavy-hitters all have in common is that they must survive the gauntlet of stomach acid before reaching your intestines, making the best time of day to take probiotics an important consideration.

This is really the first indication that the best time to take probiotics is likely when stomach acid is at its lowest.

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Probiotics For Gut Health

Your digestive tract is home to more than 1,000 different species of bacteria, according to a January 2014 report in Gut Microbes. But its not what you think: Instead of making you sick, these bacteria keep your entire body healthy by aiding in digestion, easing symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and improving immune function. The good bacteria also fight against the effects of harmful bacteria that can make you sick.

Probiotics are living microorganisms, sometimes called friendly bacteria or good bacteria, that are introduced into the body to help maintain the concentration of bacteria in your gut. You can get probiotics through fermented foods, like yogurt, sauerkraut or kimchi, or through probiotic supplements. According to Harvard Health, other probiotics benefits include relief from:

• Infections of the digestive tract

But heres the catch: Probiotics are alive and they must remain alive until they get to your large intestine to be effective. Because of this, its important to understand the best time to take probiotics to prevent them from being killed by your stomach acid.

Mistake #: You Think All Probiotics Are Equal

Its not good to assume that all probiotics will provide the same benefits, says Millette. There are a variety of probiotic strains and not all strains have the same health benefits. The human body houses more than 500 different strains of bacteria. Some are for immune support. Some are for digestive issues. Some are for weight maintenance. And there are even strains for heart health.

Examples include: Lactobacillus Acidophilus has been shown to help blood pressure, cholesterol, allergies and digestion, while Lactobacillus Rhamnosus can help with blood glucose, immune function and cholesterol, and Lactobacillus helveticus reduces blood pressure, improves sleep quality and bone health.

Check the packaging, talk to your health care provider or even double-check with a pharmacist to make sure what youre buying is what you need. Thankfully in Canada, foods with probiotic claims must be truthful and not misleading , and supplements must meet requirements for its claims as well as science to support its efficacy, safety and quality.

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Who Shouldn’t Take Probiotics

People with Compromised Immune SystemsAlthough probiotics benefit the immune system, they can potentially pose a danger to people in the following circumstance:1. If a person has a compromised immune systems2. AND they have an open IV or central line 3. AND they are being administered probiotics in powder form.

According to one review article, persons who have the highest risk when taking probiotics are immunosuppressed or are premature infants

Minor risks include having a central venous catheter, having an impaired intestinal barrier, cardiac valvular disease, and those simultaneously taking a broad spectrum antibiotic to which the probiotic is resistant, and taking probiotics via a jejestomy tube.

The authors of the review article recommended that probiotics be used with caution if there is one major risk and one minor risk.13

If you have a weakened immune system you should consult your physician before taking a probiotic supplement.

It Can Depend On The Strain

Finally, its important to note that not all probiotic strains and formulas are alike.

For example, lactobacillus is a common probiotic strain. It relies on glucose to survive in an acidic environment like our stomachs. For that reason, it may pair best alongside sugar and carbohydrates.

However, different probiotic strains, and combinations of strains, may perform differently.

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Probiotics Might Not Do Much Focus On Fiber Instead

Dietary fiber contains prebiotics, compounds that boost the growth of beneficial bacteria

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Probiotics are the latest miracle drug. Swallow a pill full of good bacteria and reap the benefits, including improved digestion, a stronger immune system, and reduced risk of anxiety, depression, and even cancer. But recent research has found that supplementing your diet with probiotics doesnt necessarily mean bacteria will take up residence in your gut. The benefits of a healthy microbiome are indisputable, but the best way to foster good bacteria might not be through eating them.

According to a study published in September, the effectiveness of probiotics can depend on an individuals resident microbiome. In participants with a resistant gut microbiomeabout half of the group studiedthe bacteria from probiotics wound up in the toilet bowl. In fact, increasing evidence suggests that instead of eating new bugs, we should focus on feeding the ones we already have. Their favorite food? Vegetables.

According to Walter, what you feed the bacteria already inhabiting your body is more important than introducing new strains. The good bugs thrive on certain types of dietary fiber, dubbed prebiotics, found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.

How To Use Adult Probiotic

Follow all directions on the product package. Refer to the label directions for your specific product to see if the dose should be swallowed whole, chewed, sprinkled onto food or mixed with liquid. If you are using the liquid form of this medication, carefully measure the dose using a special measuring device/spoon. Do not use a household spoon because you may not get the correct dose. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Some probiotic products may contain live bacteria . Antibiotics may prevent these products from working well. Take any product containing live bacteria at least 2 to 3 hours before or after taking antibiotics. Follow the directions for your specific product.

If you are taking this product for diarrhea due to antibiotics, do not use it if you have a high fever or for more than 2 days, unless directed by your doctor. You may have a serious problem that requires medical treatment.

If your condition lasts or gets worse, or if you think you may have a serious medical problem, seek immediate medical attention.

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