Probiotics offer a surprising number of digestive benefits for those who make them a regular part of their diet. Probiotic-rich foods and targeted supplements, along with perks like boosting immunity, can help if you face problems like constipation and diarrhea on a regular basis. Plus, if you don’t have a complicated medical history (autoimmune disease, ongoing cancer treatment, or severe allergies), you can usually start taking probiotics at any time, he said. Dr. Michael Ashikeis a practicing Gastroenterologist at GBMC Healthcare based in Maryland.
According to lab experts, Good Housekeeping Institute, Choosing the right probiotic strain and strength in a convenient daily supplement should be discussed with your doctor as it can help determine more dietary tools for balanced gut health. is the best. This is especially true because supplements such as probiotics are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before hitting the store shelves.
Choosing which probiotics to take isn’t the only decision. Creating a scheduled routine for taking probiotics may provide more benefits than random intake.
Probiotics come with dosage and safety instructions. But most people don’t answer important questions like: when Exactly Should You Take Probiotics? We polled leading experts to determine if it’s best to take it with a meal, on an empty stomach, or at night before bed. Read on to find out when is the best time to take probiotics for maximum gut health benefits.
When should I take probiotics?
Each probiotic supplement often has different instructions for dosage and timing. The most important piece of advice is to choose a time that you can actually stick with. Especially if it’s hard to forget to take your medicine in the first place. “Consistent intake of probiotics is key if you want to reap the potential benefits,” says Dr. Eike.
The time of day is ultimately up to you, but probiotics may work best When taken about 30 minutes before meals — Most effective when taken before breakfast. Probiotics have a greater effect in the small intestine (or large intestine) when taken before meals. “Because the stomach is less acidic during fasting or before meals, probiotic capsules and tablets work well, allowing them to reach the intestines,” he explains.
Should probiotics be taken in the morning and evening?
So adding a probiotic to your routine first thing in the morning will keep your stomach from sabotaging your efforts. “Breakfast is usually eaten at about the same time each day and tends to be smaller and easier to digest,” says Dr. Ashike.
Taking probiotics with dinner or a large lunch can have counterintuitive results. Food-breaking acid in the stomach also “may over-degrade the probiotics in the stomach before they can take effect where they are intended,” added Dr. Ashike. Heavy meals, especially dinners, take longer to digest than other meals because the acids work to process the food into the small intestine, naturally increasing total acid interactions over time.
Should I eat before taking probiotics?
take probiotics in the meantime again rear Diet may negate some of the benefits of supplements, as it increases digestive activity in the gut. However, Dr. Ashike says that several strains of bacteria (Saccharomyces boulardii It is naturally well tolerated by stomach acid (mainly) and can be safely taken with food (sometimes multiple times a day). Selected probiotic packages may have a printed statement stating that they are safe to take with food.
Should I take probiotics daily?
Short answer: yesIf your doctor determines that you need to take probiotics, plan to take them consistently every day. “It’s best to take probiotics at least once a day with water or milk,” says Dr. Ashike. Probiotics available for purchase at wellness corners come in many forms, from powders to capsules, tablets to liquid suspensions, but equally regardless of which strain (or form) of probiotic you take. You should aim to consume it regularly. . If you do not take it as directed, you may miss potential benefits in the long run.
Instead of taking multiple single-strain supplements, Dr. Ashike recommends looking for: multiple species again multiple strains Because you may get more benefits overall. Saccharomyces boulardiieven as Lactic acid bacteria rhamnosusis a popular option that may provide additional relief for people with irritable bowel syndrome, he added. “When it comes to strains, nothing beats other over-the-counter brands. I recommend looking for multiple species or multiple strains. [probiotics]And if the store brand is available, get it. ”
Should I take probiotics with other medications?
It is generally safe to take probiotics with other supplements in the morning or at another time. However, antibiotics should be taken alone. Your doctor may tell you to stop taking other supplements because of a temporary illness. Dr. Ashike argues that probiotics are generally safe for most people, and that while the most likely side effects may be temporary bloating and excess gas, they usually go away on their own over time. do.
Conclusion: Many experts believe that taking a probiotic supplement first thing in the morning, before breakfast (as opposed to before bed), may have more of an impact on gut health. Stomach acid production is thought to be lowest in the morning, and probiotics may reach the small and large intestine before breakfast. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide when to take your probiotics, as long as you consistently take the supplement at the same time each day.
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