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Here are the answers to your questions about taking probiotics.
Your digestive system hosts an entire ecosystem of microorganisms. There are more bacteria in your gut than there are people on the earth. It’s thought that there are as many as 100 trillion bacteria living in your GI tract. (1) Healthy probiotic bacteria play a critical role in helping your body break down food.
Here are some of the health benefits of consuming probiotics regularly: (2)
Daily Probiotic contains 40 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) to help you improve your digestive and immune health. In this article, we’re going to look at the best way to take Daily Probiotic to optimize your results. We’ll also answer some of the common questions people ask us about taking probiotics.
You can get probiotics in your diet through fermented foods or by taking a probiotic supplement.
Some foods that contain the highest density of probiotics include yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, miso, and kombucha. Including these foods in your diet regularly is a great way to improve your gut health.
However, one problem with relying solely on fermented foods to get probiotics is that many of the bacteria may not survive the acidic environment of your stomach.
Probiotic bacteria are measured in CFUs, which is an estimation of the number of bacteria in a supplement or food. To achieve noticeable benefits from probiotics, you need at least 100 million CFUs to make it to your intestines. (3)
Many supplements contain a buffer to protect the bacteria from stomach acid. Daily Probiotic uses MAKTrek® Bypass Technology, a delayed release capsule, to help optimize the survival rate of the probiotic bacteria in each serving.
One of the big advantages of taking a probiotic supplement is that you know exactly how many CFUs you’re getting each time you take it. The number of CFUs in fermented foods varies widely depending on how long they’ve been fermented for and how old they are.
For Daily Probiotic, we recommend splitting your daily dose of two capsules into two servings. You can take one capsule in the morning and one in the evening about twelve hours apart.
The time of day you take probiotics doesn’t seem to matter as much as how full your stomach is.
In one study, researchers compared the survival rate of a probiotic supplement containing the strands Lactobacillus helveticus R0052, Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011, Bifidobacterium longum R0175, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii when taken before, after, or during a meal. (4)
The researchers found that the bacteria had the worst survival rate when taken 30 minutes after a meal of oatmeal and 1% milk. They concluded that the best time to take a probiotic supplement was either 30 minutes before or during a meal. They also recommended consuming a small amount of fat with a probiotic supplement.
As we just mentioned, research suggests that the best time to take probiotics is either before a meal or during a meal with a little bit of fat. (4) Some healthy sources of fat you could eat when taking a turmeric supplement include the following:
In the same study we just mentioned, the researchers found that eating more probiotics survived when taken before 1% milk and oatmeal than before apple juice or water.
It may not be a good idea to drink your probiotics with a hot beverage like tea and coffee. The high temperature of these drinks has the potential to damage the probiotic bacteria in the supplement.
Research looking at the best time to take probiotics is limited. An older study published in 2005 suggests that carbohydrates and sugar may also help probiotics survive in an acidic environment. (5)
Taking a smoothie with a small amount of fat and natural sugars from fruits may be a good way to increase the survival rate of the probiotic bacteria.
Research suggests that carbonization doesn’t affect the survival of probiotic bacteria. (6)
However, there’s some evidence suggesting that regular soda consumption may negatively affect your bone density. Carbonated beverages contain a substance known as phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid may interfere with calcium absorption. However, there’s no research suggesting that it would affect probiotic absorption. Many carbonated beverages are also filled with sugar or artificial sweeteners that may have negative effects on your health. You may want to avoid most carbonated drinks to lower your intake of these harmful substances.
You don’t need to refrigerate BalanceGenics Daily Probiotic. We’ve designed it to be a convenient option no matter where you decide to take it. You can pack it in your suitcase when traveling, keep it on your nightstand, or leave it in a drawer in your work desk. No matter where you are, you don’t need to worry about negatively impacting the quality.
Some probiotics supplements on the market require refrigeration. However, at BalanceGenics we use freeze-drying as a way to preserve the bacteria. Probiotic supplements that are freeze-dried keep their potency even at room temperature. (7) Research shows that freeze-drying is an effective method for preserving probiotic bacteria in supplements. (8)
You can still eat probiotic foods when taking a probiotic supplement. The number of probiotics in most fermented foods are relatively low compared to the amount found in supplements.
For example, one study found that the CFUs content of kimchi and pickles ranged from undetectable to 100 million per gram. (9) The number of CFUs in sauerkraut was found to be between 1,000 and 100 million per gram.
Probiotic bacteria feed on a type of fiber your body can’t break often referred to as prebiotics. New research shows that turmeric may act as a prebiotic and help support the health of the bacteria in your gut. (10) Taking a turmeric supplement such as Daily Turmeric along with your probiotics may further support your gut health and immune system.
Reducing stress can also benefit your digestive health so taking a supplement like Daily Adrenal Support may also be beneficial.
Your stomach is extremely acidic. This acid helps you break down food and it also helps protect you from foreign invaders.
To get probiotics through your stomach alive, it’s important to take a supplement that offers some kind of protective buffer. Daily Probiotic uses MAKTrek® Bypass Technology to help the bacteria in each capsule pass through your stomach unharmed.
Some people notice mild digestive issues when they first take probiotics including an upset stomach, gas, diarrhea, or bloating. The symptoms go away for many people after a few days. If you experience persistent symptoms, it may be a good idea to consult your healthcare practitioner.
If you have a compromised immune system, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement. (11) If you have an existing condition, or any kind of medical history, we advise speaking with your healthcare provider first before adding probiotics to your diet.
Pregnant and breastfeeding women should also consult their doctor before taking a probiotic supplement.
If you want to know if probiotics are beginning to support your gut, it’s a good idea to make a note of the state of your current digestive health.
Once you know what your baseline is, you can ask yourself the same questions periodically. If your gut is recovering, you should notice improvements in one or more of the above areas.
Taking a probiotic supplement is a great way to improve your digestive health. However, there are some other steps you can take to also support your digestive health. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
1. We recommend taking probiotics in supplement form so you know exactly how many CFUs you’re getting each time you take it.
2. We recommend splitting your daily dose of two capsules into two servings. Take them about twelve hours apart.
3. Research suggests that the best time to take probiotics is either before a meal or during a meal with a little bit of fat.
4. You may take your Daily Probiotic with water, a smoothie or a carbonated drink, but not with a hot beverage as this could damage the probiotic bacteria in the supplement.
5. You don’t need to refrigerate Daily Probiotic. We recommend keeping it stored at room temperature.
6. You can still eat probiotic foods when taking a probiotic supplement. The number of probiotics in most fermented foods are relatively low compared to the amount found in supplements.
7. New research shows that taking a turmeric supplement such as Daily Turmeric may act as a prebiotic and help support the health of the bacteria in your gut. Reducing stress can also benefit your digestive health so taking a supplement like Daily Adrenal Support may also be beneficial.
8. To get probiotics through your stomach alive, it’s important to take a supplement that offers some kind of protective buffer. Daily Probiotic uses MAKTrek® Bypass Technology to help the bacteria in each capsule pass through your stomach unharmed.
9. Some people notice mild digestive issues when they first take probiotics, however, these symptoms go away after a few days. If you experience persistent symptoms, it may be a good idea to consult your doctor.
10. We always recommend consulting with your doctor before introducing a new supplement, especially if you have a compromised immune system, are pregnant or are breastfeeding.
11. If you want to know if probiotics are beginning to support your gut, it’s a good idea to make a note of the state of your current digestive health, and then check yourself periodically for any improvements.
12. Some good lifestyle habits to improve your digestive health include, drinking plenty of water, eating plenty of high fiber foods, minimizing caffeine and alcohol consumption, and chewing your food thoroughly.
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. Readers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither the author(s) nor the publisher of this content take responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All readers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
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