For many people who want to first start on taking probiotics, the question is how long does it take for probiotics to work?
Your body is a reservoir for various microorganisms that affect your health.
According to this research, gut organisms help to boost your immunity, improve your brain-gut response, and enhance your metabolism.
Probiotics are defined by the World Health Organization as “any living microorganism that when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host.”
They take the form of supplements.
They work by stimulating an immune response, alienating disease-causing microorganisms, improving digestion, and regulating fat storage, as outlined here.
But just how long does it take for probiotics to work? Here is an examination of the ins and outs of probiotics.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BODY WHEN YOU START TAKING PROBIOTICS?
Before we come to how long does it take for probiotics to work, you need to know what exactly happens when you take the supplements.
The first thing that will happen is a change in gut composition.
When the probiotics enter your body, they start to multiply in the gut, especially in the small and large intestines.
They then stimulate gut-strengthening protein production, suppress enzymes that cause inflammation, produce agents that kill bad bacteria, and regulate your PH.
Since most of the activities target unhealthy gut bacteria, they may start to release some harmful toxins. This could manifest as bloating, gassiness, and irregular bowel movements.
Other people begin to experience muscular pain or skin complications.
The above side effects often last for a few weeks. With time, your digestive system will adjust and you will no longer feel such discomfort.
When the above happens, your body may become more energized. You may also feel comfortable in your tummy and your face or complexion may take on a brighter appearance.
SO HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE PROBIOTICS TO WORK?
If you are still wondering how long does it take for the probiotics to work, that question is relative.
There are many factors that will define how long it works.
The quality of the probiotic, its dosage, and strain are all determining factors. The state of your health will also determine your body’s response to the probiotics.
Some people may feel the effects in one day or two while others could take 4-6 weeks to build up a healthy gut.
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS YOU NEED PROBIOTICS?
Probiotics maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria, so you will need them when you have stomach problems.
Do you experience constipation, loose bowels, or suffer from bloating and gas?
If so then probiotics could be just what you need to regulate your bowel movements.
Does your skin have acne, rashes, and other irritations? If you have digestive problems, it often manifests as skin problems.
This study shows that a link exists between metabolism and weight gain.
If you are gaining a lot of weight in spite of eating relatively healthy foods, this could be a sign that your metabolism is slow and you need probiotics to restore it.
In case you experience unexplainable cravings for sugar-rich foods then this could also be a sign.
Most unhealthy gut bacteria tend to depend on sugary foods for survival, so if they are excessive, they will create that craving in order to cater to their needs.
More and more people are giving in to the need to take a lot of over-the-counter antibiotics.
The bad news is, antibiotics have the unwanted effect of killing off healthy gut bacteria.
Therefore, if you take a lot of antibiotics, then probiotics could be the perfect antidote. They will reverse the dire consequences of too many antibiotics in your gut system.
Finally, if you are one of those people that have compromised immunity, probiotics could help. Falling sick all the time shows that your body’s defense against diseases is weak.
IS IT BETTER TO TAKE PROBIOTICS ON AN EMPTY STOMACH?
Probiotics are best taken in the morning. When picking the time of day to take them, you want a time when you have the least amount of stomach acid.
This is because probiotics consist of bacteria, which are live organisms. Acidity may neutralize them and thus render them useless.
In the morning, you usually have an empty stomach devoid of acids.
Your body releases acid when you have eaten food to aid in its digestive processes, thus morning and hungry is a safe bet.
That said, when you have food in your stomach, it is likely to buffer the probiotics. It is even worse when you take them right after a heady meal.
A heavy meal means the food will take more time in the stomach, where it will have to endure the high acidity.
Most of them die before they reach the small and large intestine, which is where most of the bacteria they are supposed to revive lives.
According to this research, probiotics that were taken 30 minutes after a meal were found to not survive. Those taken 30 minutes prior had a high survival rate.
SIGNS PROBIOTICS ARE NOT WORKING
You may be obsessed with the question of how long does it take for probiotics to work, yet the problem might not be time. Sometimes it could be that the probiotic is ineffective.
If it has been close to 6 weeks and you are still experiencing the same problems, the probiotics may not be working.
After the above period, you should start to have fewer digestive problems, skin reactions, or challenges with your immunity.
If any of the above symptoms persist then your probiotics are ineffective.
In some instances, the probiotics may not just fail to treat your earlier problems but could worsen them.
If you are experiencing more problems than before, then reconsider your supplements.
Some probiotics have extremely severe side effects. These may include persistent headaches from changes in blood levels.
You may even develop worse cases of constipation or other stomach problems.
While some people are able to see an improvement in the frequent illnesses after taking probiotics, it the opposite for some.
If they aggravate the conditions they are supposed to get rid of, it might be time to consider an alternative.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TOO MUCH PROBIOTICS?
Probiotics operate on the basis of the Jarisch-Herheimer reactions. This refers to the process of detoxing any of the toxins that were released by unhealthy gut bacteria.
As these toxins leave your body, you may experience a lot of gassiness and bloating. You could also feel pain in the stomach and the number of bowel movements may also increase.
While a small manifestation of the above is experienced and a sign that the supplements are working, too much of it could indicate that you may have overdone it.
When there are too many bacteria in your stomach, chances are that the chemical reactions taking place could increase on an equal scale.
The result is that your body and health will respond to those chemical reactions.
You may develop a skin flare-up, which may take the form of acne, rashes, and itchiness. If you feel like it is excessive and persistent then chances are that you took too much.
Another side effect of taking too many probiotics is intensive headaches. These may come from the formation of clots or complications in your blood vessels.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Probiotics are an organic way of restoring balance within your digestive tract. When taking them, do not expect instant results since the microorganisms have to repopulate.
After some time (roughly 6 weeks), you should start to experience a reduction in symptom-severity and prevalence.
When the opposite happens and the symptoms get worse or you experience new problems then the probiotics may not be working.
When taking them, it is safer to do so very early in the morning or late in the day, because your stomach will most likely be empty at this time.
If not, take them 30 minutes before a meal, but not immediately after a heavy meal.
Finally, while probiotics come with side effects, if these conditions feel excessive to you then you may need to reconsider the choice to take them.
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