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When Is The Best Time To Take Probiotics?

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By Leslie Waterson

Reviewed by Juliana Tamayo, MS, RDN - Last Updated

When Is The Best Time To Take Probiotics

Bacteria is not all about germs and diseases. 

Casting off negative impressions pertaining to the word ‘bacteria’, meet Probiotics, your gut-friendly bacteria that are more than just a popular ingredient to your favorite kombucha and yogurt drinks. 

On a more serious note, probiotics are live microorganisms that offer great health benefits when consumed in the right amounts. Mostly found in cultured or fermented foods, drinks, and supplements, they primarily boost your gut health while contributing more goodness into your body such as supporting your immune system and even assisting in weight loss. 

These days probiotics are incredibly popular as supplements as well. You can get them in gummy form, capsule form, or even in a liquid supplement. If you are interested in supplementing with probiotics, it’s important to first get to know the good bacteria a little better. So, what are probiotics? When is the best time to take probiotics? We will find out the answers to those questions and more in this guide.

Why Take Probiotics?

The human body is made of both ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria. When you contract an infection, it usually means that there are more ‘bad’ bacteria in your body than good bacteria. This will knock your immune system out of balance and cause an immune reaction. ‘Good’ bacteria help eliminate the ‘bad’ bacteria, which provides balance to your system. Probiotic supplements are a great way to add that ‘good’ bacteria into your body.

Probiotics keep you healthy by focusing on your digestive health. It helps your body digest food, keeps your gut healthy by preventing the growth of harmful organisms, and reinforces the gut barrier while offering treatment to minor digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea. 

Aside from being your gut’s best friend, probiotics also help support your immune function and even boosts your own mood! With proper intake, cultured or fermented foods found with strains of probiotics were linked to lower blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels. 

If you have struggled with gut health issues, then adding probiotics to your diet might be the best move for your health. Your gut also referred to as the ‘second brain,’ impacts many bodily functions as well. If your gut biome is not in good condition, chances are the rest of your body may be out of whack as well.   

Why Take Probiotics

When Is The Best Time To Take Probiotics?

You may have heard some probiotic manufacturers recommend taking the supplement on an empty stomach, while others advise taking it with food, so what’s the best time to take it?

When To Take Probiotics

Timing and consistency are key. 

Dr. Stephanie Wallman, D.O., a family medicine physician specializing in functional medicine at Parsley Health in New York City, believes that the best time to take a probiotic is on an empty stomach. She recommends taking it either first thing in the morning (at least an hour before a meal) or right before you go to sleep.

The secret lies in delivering between 5 and 100 billion colony-forming units (CFUs), the unit used in microbiology to estimate the number of viable bacteria or fungal cells in a sample, to the large intestine tract. 

If you take probiotics with food in your gut, your gut becomes more acidic, which can limit the number of CFUs that can make it to their final destination. 

If you are currently taking antibiotics, do not ever make the mistake of consuming them both at the same time, or else the strong antibiotic treatment will eventually kill all the good bacteria. Instead, Dr. Wallman advises waiting for the antibiotic to settle for at least two (2) hours before you start on your probiotics. 

However, depending on its kind, some probiotics are better ingested with food, as the harsh acidic environment that comes along with eating meals does not affect them. Furthermore, they use the food to ‘gravitate’ down to the large intestine. These are called spore-based probiotics. 

Different Types Of Probiotics

One thing to consider aside from properly timing your intake is to identify where you get your prebiotics from. Quality supplements from trusted producers will put higher amounts of probiotics in every single capsule to guarantee that the amount of CFUs advertised on the bottle is in each tablet for the length of its shelf life. 

Unlike spore-based probiotics, broad-spectrum probiotics are usually made up of at least three different kinds of bacteria, such as the case of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Cerevisiae.

Lactobacillus is inherently resistant to stomach acid than any other type of bacteria since most of its strains come from the human intestinal tract.  

Probiotics are available in many different forms such as capsules, lozenges, beads, powders, and drops. You can also find probiotics in several foods and drinks, including some yogurts, fermented milk, chocolates, and flavored beverages.

Best Probiotics On The Market

In choosing the best probiotics supplement available in the market, you must consider one that aligns with your current diet alongside its quality ingredients. While there are a variety of supplements to choose from, we are going to highlight a few that we recommend. 

Gundry MD 24 Strain Probiotic

If you are currently on the hunt for a probiotic supplement that, really, addresses your digestive concerns, this Gundry MD 24 Strain Probiotic will get right to the source of your problems – healing your gut.

Keen on providing their clients with one of the most potent probiotic supplements on the market, the brand specially designed a formula combining twenty-four (24) unique probiotic strains, with each capsule containing thirty (30) billion CFUs that will help your “good bugs” thrive. 

If you’re unsatisfied and somehow still not a fan of this product, the brand promises to give you a 100% guaranteed money-back for 90 days! Did I mention that it’s vegetarian, dairy, and caffeine-free? 

USE CODE “FITNESSCLONE” FOR 10% OFF 24 STRAIN PROBIOTIC

Seed Daily Synbiotic

Seed Synbiotic

Thinking beyond what the consumers want, Seed Daily Synbiotic is both a probiotic and prebiotic. When we say prebiotic, in its simplest definition, they act like fertilizers that stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut and are usually found in many fruits and vegetables. In essence, it is basically the “food for your good bacteria.” 

It does not stop with just improving your gastrointestinal health! Seed Daily Synbiotic spans digestive health as it also benefits your cardiovascular, dermatological, immune system, metabolic, and reproductive health. The product has also pioneered the first synbiotic with strains that increase the production of folate (the natural form of folic acid) within the body.

Apart from being dairy-free, gluten-free, and soy-free, its ingredients are also perfect for those currently following vegan, vegetarian and ketogenic diets. 

Take 2 capsules daily and on an empty stomach to limit exposure to digestive enzymes and bile salts. 

Cookie points: Sustainable packaging made from mushrooms and cornstarch. Easy-to-follow manual to start your regimen. We stan a great vegan brand! 

GET THE BEST PRICE ON SEED DAILY SYNBIOTIC

Final Thoughts: Probiotics

Before spending money on a probiotic supplement, remember to assess your lifestyle and dieting habits, consult your dietician and/or bariatrician, and never overlook instructions so as not to compromise your health.

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Leslie Waterson

Leslie has been passionately involved in the health and fitness industries for over a decade. She is constantly reviewing the latest scientific research and studies in order to take a research-backed approach to lifestyle optimization. Her main areas of interest include nutrition and supplementation. Leslie shares her findings on Fitness Clone to help other health enthusiasts choose the products and routines that will help them achieve their goals.