How To Reduce Probiotic Side Effects
If you are taking probiotics and experience any of the above side effects, you dont need to stop taking them completely. Lowering the dosage is often the best way to keep any gastrointestinal discomfort or other side effects at bay.
Most often, your body may just need to adjust to the sudden dose of beneficial bacteria. This initial adjustment period should usually only last the first few days as your guts microflora begin to rebalance. Try to reduce your dosage by half until the symptoms have disappeared then proceed to the suggested dose.
Along with reducing your dosage, you should also:
- Take your probiotics on an empty stomach Probiotics can produce gas when combined with certain foods. Taking your probiotics on an empty stomach ensures that that wont happen and ensures the maximum survivability of the beneficial bacteria. Take your probiotics at least 30 minutes before you eat. If you are still experiencing problems, try taking your probiotics on an empty stomach before bed.
- Drink plenty of water Many of the side effects are a result of your digestive system undergoing the process of detoxification. Staying hydrated will speed up the process and keep you from getting dehydrated if you have diarrhea.
- Stay patient It can take up to two weeks for your body to adjust to the probiotics before the benefits kick in.
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What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Taking Probiotics During Pregnancy
Probiotics are live microorganisms that are similar to the good bacteria that live in your gut. Research suggests that probiotics may offer a number of health benefits, including reducing the risk of certain infections and alleviating symptoms of digestive problems.
Probiotics are also thought to play a role in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. Some studies have found that taking probiotics during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of developing preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in the urine.
The advantages of probiotics for pregnant women are extensive and have an impact on the following areas:
- Occasional constipation
- Morning sickness
Probiotics may also help to prevent premature labor and relieve symptoms of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. While more research is needed to confirm these effects, probiotics are generally considered safe for pregnant women. Talk to your doctor about whether probiotics may be right for you during your pregnancy.
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When Not To Take Probiotics
If youre in a fasted state , then this isnt the ideal time to take probiotics.
Its also best to take your probiotics before a meal, or with a meal, but not after eating. A general rule of thumb is to wait 23 hours after your last meal to take your supplement especially if you ate a big, heavy meal.
Keep in mind that another important way to support the growth of good guy bacteria in your gut is by regularly eating probiotic-rich fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt and kefir. Additionally, including fiber-rich, prebiotic foods in your diet, such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and legumes, will help to feed healthy bacteria in the gut.
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What Has Science Shown About The Effectiveness Of Probiotics For Health Conditions
A great deal of research has been done on probiotics, but much remains to be learned about whether theyâre helpful and safe for various health conditions.
Probiotics have shown promise for a variety of health purposes, including prevention of antibiotic-associated diarrhea , prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis and in premature infants, treatment of infant colic, treatment of periodontal disease, and induction or maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis.
However, in most instances, we still donât know which probiotics are helpful and which are not. We also donât know how much of the probiotic people would have to take or who would be most likely to benefit. Even for the conditions that have been studied the most, researchers are still working toward finding the answers to these questions.
The following sections summarize the research on probiotics for some of the conditions for which theyâve been studied.
Choose The Right One For Your Health Condition
If you have a particular health condition, you may want to consider a specific strain of probiotic or consult a medical professional to find one thats best for you.
Experts agree that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains benefit most people .
In particular, Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii may reduce your risk of antibiotic-related diarrhea, while E. coli Nissle 1917 may help treat ulcerative colitis (
Summary
For a probiotic to work, its live microorganisms must reach your large intestine and colonize it. Look for a supplement that guarantees at least 1 billion live cultures on the label and ask your healthcare provider whether a particular strain is best for you.
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What Happens When You Take A Probiotic Every Day
Many people have no idea what they are taking and how it affects their bodies. Probiotics are actually good bacteria that are usually found in the digestive tract.
When they are there, they help your digestion process and keep you regular. But sometimes they get lost in other bacteria that make up the digestive system.
When you take a probiotic every day, you will increase the number of good bacteria in your digestive tract.
Many of the antibiotics used to treat conditions like inflammatory bowel disease can have some serious side effects.
You could end up having diarrhea or other problems as a side effect. If you are taking antibiotics for a longer period of time, you could even be making your own bacteria disappear!
This is why many people who are taking antibiotics for other ailments, as well as pregnant women, cannot take probiotics. They undo all of the good work that the original antibiotics have done.
Probiotic bacteria need a steady supply of carbohydrates and protein to survive.
If you change your diet so that you are getting enough carbohydrates and protein, and you eat only raw or uncooked vegetables and fruits, you will start to see the benefits almost immediately.
You may find that you have more energy, feel better, and have more rest. If you are taking an antibiotic, you may experience a decrease in the size of the bacteria or an increase in the opposite type.
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Why Are Probiotics Important
The bacteria in your lower intestinal tract of the large intestine have many important jobs! It is truly an activity hub where bacteria digest food and support immune health. Sometimes, life happens and bacteria become unbalanced or disrupted. Common digestive disruptions occur due to stress, interruptions from medication, and eating too much sugar and processed foods. When this happens, bacteria levels can dip below where they should be, and probiotics can help restore balance.
Plus, probiotics can assist with occasional and uncomfortable and embarrassing digestive issues. In 2017, a study published in Antibiotics stated that across several studies, probiotics helped relieve diarrhea experienced after taking antibiotics. Another study in the The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported that probiotics helped ease constipation in adults. These are only two of many studies and clinical research that show the benefits of probiotics on human health.
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What Are The Side Effects Of Too Much Probiotics
Symptoms of Taking Too Many Probiotics Diarrhea, gas, bloating, and other gastrointestinal symptoms Amines in probiotic foods cause headaches. Histamine levels may be raised by certain strains. Certain ingredients have the potential to cause allergic reactions. For certain people, probiotics may increase the risk of infection.
Whens The Best Time Of Day To Take Probiotics
Certain probiotics have specific recommendations for when they should be taken. Be sure to read the instructions before taking a new supplement. Because of the varying types of probiotic strains that have different effects, and the best time of day to take probiotics depends on the strain and formulation.
Some probiotics outline that they should be taken on an empty stomach, whereas others should be taken with a meal.
Some medications may adversely interact with probiotics, so you may need to take medicine and probiotic supplements separately. Since daily use of probiotics has been shown to be safe and effective for many health benefits, choosing a time of day when you will remember to take your probiotic supplement is the best way to ensure consistency.
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Mistake #: Youre Not Prepping Your System Prebiotics
Prebiotics are food for good bacteria. But Nielsen warns that most of the research on prebiotics is done with high doses , which can be hard on the stomach, especially for those with gastrointestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome.
So, how do you get the benefits of prebiotics to get the benefits of probiotics? I recommend eating a diet high in plant foods, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains, says Nielsen. A high-fibre, plant-centred diet has been shown to have an overall beneficial effect on the flora, and will naturally include prebiotic foods such as wheat, legumes and onions.
Is It Ok To Take A Probiotic Every Day
Is it safe to take probiotic pills every day? This is a popular question concerning probiotics. While there are a few exceptions to this rule, the general response is that taking them everyday is safe and typically advised. Its important to remember that probiotics are a natural supplement, not a drug.
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What Is The Recommended Dosage For Probiotics
Currently, there is little guidance of dosage of probiotics. There are, however, some guidelines in the dosage to prevent hospital-acquired diarrhea: 109 1010 CFU/day of Lactobacillus rhamnosus during 7 days 11and to cure antibiotic-associated diarrhea in children: 3.108 CFU of spore-forming bacteria, 3 times daily.12
Overall, it has been suggested that the consumption of 109 1010 CFU/day would be necessary to induce an effect on the gut microbiota and potentially heal your gut.13, 14
When Should I Take My Prebiotics And Probiotics
You can take your prebiotic around the same time that you take your probiotic, but youll want to space them out around 10 to 15 minutes. Otherwise, the two could interact too early, before they reach the large intestine which may lead to bloating. Its best to take your probiotic first, on an empty stomach.
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How Often Should I Take Probiotics The Surprising Answer
If probiotic supplements were in a popularity contest right now, they would definitely win. And with popularity sometimes comes misconceptions . Theres no doubt that the research about probiotics is exciting we know more than ever before about how important gut health is, and its actually pretty amazing what your gut does for you on a daily basis! And the ecosystem living inside of it, your gut microbiome, is home to the bacteria that everyone is talking about right now. This leads to one big question: how often should I take a probiotic? Lets see what some of the experts say.
Best Time To Take Probiotics
While choosing a quality supplement is important for getting the most benefits from probiotics, when we take our probiotic supplements also determines how impactful they will be.
In order for healthy microbes to work, they need to make it through our stomachs and to our intestines, which is not necessarily an easy journey, due to the presence of stomach acid, enzymes and high heat.
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Primal Harvest Primal Probiotics
Image courtesy Primal Harvest
Bacillus coagulans, sometimes called Bacillus subtilis or Bacillus licheniformis, is a more powerful form of Lactobacillus probiotics that creates beneficial “spores” that can develop and proliferate in your intestines when combined with stomach acid.
This product includes the patented form of Bacillus coagulans known as LactoSpore® that has been clinically-backed in over 20 studies to encourage a healthy gut microbiota, alleviate digestive issues, and promote immune health.
They’ve also incorporated PreforPro®, the “probiotic booster,” into Primal Probiotics to help you get the most gut-supporting benefits. The incorporation of this clinically verified prebiotic cocktail ensures that the beneficial bacteria in this formulation proliferate throughout your intestinal tract.
PreforPro® is a safe and effective way to accelerate the growth of probiotic species in the gut, as shown by over 20 studies.
How Much Should You Take Daily
The gut microbiome is unique to every person, so the amount of probiotics needed daily likely varies widely between individuals. Many factors influence the environment of your gut, such as your genes, health conditions, medications, including antibiotics, stress and diet. In addition, many different strains of probiotics are linked to different health benefits, and the amount of probiotics necessary to achieve a health benefit varies.
The dosage of probiotic supplements is listed in colony-forming units . Were still learning about the optimal amount of CFUs needed, but research shows that probiotics with between 1 million and 1 billion CFUs are adequate to produce health benefits. However, some probiotics have been shown to provide benefits at much lower amounts, and others need much higher doses.
The delivery mechanism is also important as it can offer probiotics protection against deterioration during manufacturing, storage and digestion. Techniques like freeze drying the good bacteria and rehydrating them in water prior to intake are used to help CFUs arrive as viable, live cultures to your large intestine, where they will be most impactful.
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Start Your Day With A Parfait
To get a jump on your probiotic consumption, simply top a breakfast bowl of yogurt with your favorite granola and some antioxidant-rich berries, says Stefani Sassos, MS, RDN, CDN, a registered dietitian at The Good Housekeeping Institute in New York City. Yogurt is cultured or fermented milk that has been soured and thickened by adding live active cultures that promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
While theres plenty of yogurt available at the grocery store, making it at home is simple too. For convenience, make it the night before so its ready and waiting for you in the morning, Sassos adds. I start with my favorite Greek yogurt, add two tablespoons of organic granola, and then top that with frozen organic berries. Place that in the fridge and, when you wake up, the berries will be perfectly defrosted. If you like your granola crunchy, store it in a separate container and add it just before serving.
Are Probiotic Supplements Beneficial
Much of the information you will find on probiotics is biased, as it is put out by probiotic supplement manufacturers who want you to buy their products. To provide healthcare providers with objective information for their patients, the American Gastroenterological Association published a set of guidelines to help clarify the role of probiotics in the management of gastrointestinal disorders. These guidelines form the basis of our recommendations in this article.
âProbioticsâ is a general term for many different microorganism species, including different types of bacteria and yeasts. Different strains have different effects in the body, so we canât make blanket statements about probiotics being helpful or not. It depends on the strain or strains and the health status of the person taking them. It should be noted that there is still a great deal of research to be done on the microbiome and the role of probiotic supplementation. This information may change as new strains are discovered, and new combinations of strains are found to impact our health.
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Should I Take Probiotics In The Morning Or At Night
Probiotics are most effective when they have been taken on an empty stomach to make sure the good bacteria makes it to the gut as quickly as possible. The best time to take a probiotic is either first thing in the morning before eating breakfast or before going to sleep at night.
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The Consequences Of A Probiotic Overdose
So, what happens if you consume too many probiotics at once? By too many, we mean a deliberate effort by consuming 10x the recommended dosage of a probiotic supplement. Will you drop dead in your tracks?
No, you wont instantly croak. In the worst-case scenario, you may experience some minor adverse reactions. In a previous post, we discussed the possible side effects of probiotics. These include migraines, gas, skin rashes and nausea. These side effects dont occur in the majority of users only among a minor number of first-time users. However, if you take probiotics in mega-doses, then you elevate the risk of one or more of the side effects manifesting. Furthermore, the unwanted reactions may be more pronounced.
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Double Check With Your Doctor On Mixing Probiotics And Antibiotics
There may be situations where your doctor doesnt want you to take probiotics with antibiotics. So please, for your own safety, check with your doctor to make sure taking antibiotics together with probiotics is the right call for you. The more health conditions and the more complicated your medications schedule is, the more important it is the check with your doctor.
How Are Probiotics Regulated In The United States
Government regulation of probiotics in the United States is complex. Depending on a probiotic productâs intended use, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration might regulate it as a dietary supplement, a food ingredient, or a drug.
Many probiotics are sold as dietary supplements, which donât require FDA approval before they are marketed. Dietary supplement labels may make claims about how the product affects the structure or function of the body without FDA approval, but they arenât allowed to make health claims, such as saying the supplement lowers your risk of getting a disease, without the FDAâs consent.
If a probiotic is going to be marketed as a drug for treatment of a disease or disorder, it has to meet stricter requirements. It must be proven safe and effective for its intended use through clinical trials and be approved by the FDA before it can be sold.
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