Probiotics are live bacteria inside your gut that contribute to the way you feel. Probiotics can be a lifesaver for many people struggling with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), chronic diarrhea, or constipation.
If you find a high-quality supplement or have implemented fermented foods into your diet, how long do probiotics take to work? And what happenswhen you stop taking probiotics? Let’s take a look.
When Will You See Benefits from Probiotics?
You can take probiotics through a supplement, or you can find them in foods like pickles, yogurt, sauerkraut, and kefir. The pros and cons of probiotics show up after ongoing intake, which means that you can’t eat yogurt one day and expect to see lasting benefits to your health. If you stop taking probiotics, you will stop seeing results.
Daily implementation of probiotics will result in benefits to your digestive system in as little as 2 days. For those who suffer from diarrhea, replenishing the good bacteria in your gut can regulate your bowel movements relatively quickly.
Improvements in digestive health are the fastest benefits you will see as a result of taking probiotics. As for other benefits such as increased immune health, higher energy throughout the day, and clearer skin – you may need to wait months before seeing changes.
What If Probiotics Do Not Work?
There can be a variety of reasons why probiotics do not work for you. And many of these reasons have an easy solution. You don’t have to give up on probiotics if you do not experience any changes within the first few weeks. Here are some things to look into:
- Wrong Amount:It may take some time to figure out the best dosage for your body. The goal is to create a balance inside your gut so that the good bacteria offsets the bad bacteria. Therefore, the dosage can be different for everybody.
- Wrong Strain:Find the right strain to treat your symptoms best. If you are looking to combat digestive discomfort, then find the strain of probiotics that is especially for that purpose.
- Taken Incorrectly:Follow directions on your bottle to see if you should take probiotics with food or on an empty stomach. Taking the supplement on an empty stomach can ensure that the probiotics get absorbed and increase the good bacteria in your gut.
- Improper Storage:Temperature and humidity can decrease the effects of probiotics. Be sure to find out if your supplement needs to be refrigerated. And if you are seeking probiotics from yogurt or another food source, keep it refrigerated.
- Low Quality:Some supplements tout that they will change your life just to find out the product is very poor in quality. Be sure to find a trusted product with good reviews.