Microbes in the lower intestinal tract help us digest food, fight harmful bacteria, and regulate the immune system. But sometimes an imbalance of microbes occurs, leading to diarrhea and other health problems. When the gut becomes unbalanced with unhealthy levels of certain bacteria, probiotics can help restore the balance. They've been shown to secrete protective substances, which may turn on the immune system and prevent pathogens from taking hold and creating major disease.
But we are still learning to understand how probiotics may promote health. Some studies that suggest if you take a probiotic while taking antibiotics, you're less likely to get diarrhea caused by the antibiotic. Probiotics taken as a supplement may also reduce the number of colds you'll have in a year. Probiotics are commonly used to reduce gastrointestinal symptoms that are not due to acute illness, such as gas, bloating, and constipation.
But we need more studies to determine who will get symptom improvement, particularly in older people. Many types of probiotics are on the market.
Some have been well studied, and some haven't. One theoretical risk of probiotics is if someone has an immune system weakened by illness or medication, that person could get sick from probiotics. Another concern about probiotics is that they're considered dietary supplements, not drugs. As a result, the FDA doesn't monitor the manufacture of probiotics. It's not clear if probiotics that can be bought at pharmacies and health food stores are high-quality products.
It's even possible that some lower-quality products may not even contain the probiotic bacteria that are listed on the label. Plain Greek yogurt is a good source of probiotics. Sweeten the taste with fresh berries, which are rich in antioxidants and fiber. Supplements aren't the only way to get a daily dose of probiotics. There are many foods loaded with these cultures of good bacteria.
The top sources include. Trying to get probiotics from food sources alone can be tricky. Food manufacturers are not required to show a specific dose of a specific probiotic, so they don't. You might have a more consistent dose in a supplement, but it's best to speak with your doctor before beginning any probiotics regimen. Our clinicians specialize in functional medicine and get to the root cause of your chronic health issues so you can finally feel better. Parsley Health Inc.
Health Concerns. Probiotic supplements can help keep your gut — and entire body — healthy. Read on to get the full scoop. What are probiotics? Why take probiotic supplements? Depending on the person and the type s of bacteria involved, taking a probiotic supplement—or eating probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kombucha—may help: Create a healthy balance of gut microorganisms after an illness Support immunity Boost mood Improve digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea Research shows probiotics may also help treat digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome IBS , and even aid with fat loss.
Do probiotics need to be refrigerated? Try Parsley Health. Learn More. Parsley Health is the only medical practice that leverages personalized testing with whole body treatments. Schedule A Free Consult. Join Now. Supplement Store. Sign in. Accessibility Statement. Cases of the stomach flu or food poisoning are often due to an overload of these bad bacteria passing through the stomach and into your small and large intestine where the body tries to get rid of them very quickly via diarrhea or vomiting.
The quality of the probiotic supplement is one of the most important factors to consider. High-quality probiotic supplement manufacturers make gastric acid resistance and survivability a top priority when formulating the probiotic.
Many probiotic bacteria are freeze-dried and then filled into capsules. Freeze-drying is a mechanism to preserve the probiotic bacteria, which is a good thing. If stomach acid is the first liquid they come in contact with, many probiotic bacteria die due to the high exposure to stomach acid.
This process allows the freeze-dried bacteria to wake up in an environment that strengthens them, rather than killing them. In addition, we add prebiotic foods to the powder to provide a food source. Now, the bacteria are properly activated and rehydrated so they can pass through the stomach acid with a much higher success rate.
Your stomach is a very smart organ. The more food you eat, the more digestive enzymes and stomach acid it secretes.
Also, the more you eat, the longer it takes for the food to move through the stomach. It typically takes about 4 to 5 hours for food to move through the stomach. Taking a probiotic right before or right after a large, heavy meal means that the probiotic has to endure the acidity of the stomach for much longer before it can move to the small intestine.
The recommendation is to wait hours after eating before taking probiotics to better 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 going to bed plays a major role in how empty your stomach is. This is why we recommend waiting hours after eating before taking your probiotic.
Not all probiotics are created equal. The combination of strains included in the probiotic supplement plays a critical role in determining its impact on a range of health outcomes. Each probiotic strain performs a different function.
Depending on what the probiotic is trying to accomplish, you will find different strains in the composition. Furthermore, several studies, including this powerful study by Visconti et al. A high-quality, science-based probiotic supplement will contain strains that are mindfully combined for optimal impact.
Probiotics colonize the lining of our digestive system and ensure that the natural intestinal flora can perform its role in vital functions in your body. Probiotics are good bacteria that naturally occur in a healthy intestine.
Our intestine consists of billions of bacteria that are critical to many important processes within the body, including digesting food, absorbing nutrients, eliminating toxins, and preventing pathogens e.
When this world of bacteria is disrupted by a poor diet, stress, or strong medication, probiotics help to restore the balance within our intestine. Taking a high-quality probiotic supplement can improve and maintain your long-term health and wellbeing.
Some individuals experience minor side effects like mild bloating , flatulence or more frequent bowel movements for the first few days of taking a new probiotic. This is your body getting used to the probiotic and potentially cleaning out harmful substances like pathogens.
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