What Happens When You Start Taking Probiotics?

Probiotics contain good gut bacteria and yeast. Taking a probiotic supplement can help maintain gut health and enhance immune function. Although the thought of eating bacteria feels strange to many people, probiotic supplementation is becoming increasingly popular as people learn about its benefits to human health.

Please keep reading to find out how probiotic bacteria work and what you can expect when you start taking probiotics for the first time.

What are probiotic supplements?

Probiotic supplements contain live bacteria and/or yeasts that are naturally found in the human microbiome. These probiotic strains are “good” bacteria with many health benefits.

When you take certain probiotic strains, you introduce beneficial microbes into your gut microbiome. These good bacteria help to keep harmful bacteria in check. This is especially important if you have an excess of harmful bacteria, such as an infection (stomach bug). Probiotics can also help to cure antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Taking a probiotic supplement helps balance good and bad bacteria in your body.

There are several probiotic strains. Examples of some common probiotic strains: Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium infantis, and the yeast Saccharomyces boulardii.

These common probiotic bacteria are isolated from humans, are not destroyed by stomach acid after you eat them, and are safe with proven health benefits.

Probiotics work best when taken on an empty stomach, approximately 30 minutes before meals.

Do probiotics affect the immune system?

Probiotics play an important role in boosting immune function. Adding probiotics to your diet helps to stimulate the formation of proteins that strengthen the gut wall. The beneficial gut microbes found in probiotics compete with harmful bacteria for binding sites in the gut lining, thus reducing the effects of the pathogenic bacteria that cause disease.

Probiotics may also block the release of inflammatory substances like cytokines and promote the release of substances that kill bacteria. In addition, a probiotic product can help regulate gut pH.

Recent research has shown that the gut microbiome influences interactions in the gut-brain axis (bidirectional communication between your gut and brain). Therefore, probiotics may have a positive effect on mental and cognitive health.

What happens when you start taking probiotics every day?

When you first start taking a probiotic supplement every day, you may experience some temporary unpleasant effects like gas, bloating, and changes in bowel movements (diarrhea or constipation). Some people develop minor skin reactions (acne-like breakouts), muscle aches, and joint pains.

Evidence suggests that these effects occur because of the changes in gut bacteria and microbially induced chemical reactions. Once your body adjusts to the probiotic bacteria, you should start to feel better.

Will probiotics make you feel worse at first?

Probiotic supplementation can make you feel worse for a short time. However, some people do not notice any changes in bowel movements or other symptoms at all.

Keep in mind that everyone’s gut microbiota is different. So, your reaction to a new probiotic may differ from someone who took the same beneficial microbes. Generally speaking, the longer you take probiotics, the more your gut adjusts and the fewer side effects you experience.

You can reduce the severity of side effects by choosing a high-quality probiotic. Also, make sure you are drinking lots of water throughout the day. Hydration helps to flush out any toxins released by pathogenic bacteria in your gut as your gut flora adjusts. If you still find the symptoms uncomfortable, try reducing the dose of your probiotic supplement to give your gut microbiome more time to adjust.

How long does it take for your body to adjust to probiotics?

The common side effects of probiotics like gas and bloating usually go away in 1-2 weeks. As mentioned, some people may not have any side effects at all. Others may take a few weeks to adjust after they start taking probiotics.

What are the benefits of taking probiotics?

Some of the benefits of taking probiotics include:

Stronger gut lining with reduced risk of harmful bacteria that can make you sick
Better nutrient absorption
Better digestion of food
Balance in gut flora
Faster metabolism, loss of belly fat, and weight loss
Stronger immune system
Better absorption of medications
Production of vitamins

In particular, people with digestive symptoms and certain health conditions can benefit from taking probiotics. These include diarrhea (including diarrhea after taking antibiotic medication), constipation, lactose intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases, urinary tract infection, yeast infections, gum disease, eczema, upper respiratory infections, and sepsis.

Do I need to take a probiotic supplement for gut health?

If you are in good health, you probably do not need to take probiotic supplements for digestive health. The body naturally balances bad and good bacteria found in your gut. Eating a balanced diet with lots of fiber can help with healthy weight management, regular bowel movements, and a strong immune response.

You can also improve the number of good bacteria in your digestive tract by eating probiotic foods that contain certain strains of good bacteria. Examples of effective probiotics include fermented foods and drinks like yogurt, buttermilk, cottage cheese, sourdough bread, tempeh, kombucha, kefir, kimchi, pickles, fermented sauerkraut, and miso soup, which all contain good bacteria.

If you are choosing probiotics in the form of dietary supplements, these are available as foods, drinks, capsules, liquids, and powders.

Who should not take probiotic supplements?

Experts in complementary and integrative health say certain people should exercise caution while taking probiotics. This includes people with compromised immune systems (following chemotherapy, for example) and those who have had a recent critical illness or surgery. Always talk to a healthcare provider before giving probiotics to a child.

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