Do You Have To Take Probiotics On An Empty Stomach
By Kay Uzoma and from Healthfully.Com
Dietary probiotics are friendly bacteria that are similar to the friendly bacteria in your intestinal tract. The most common types of dietary probiotics are of the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species. They provide several health benefits, especially when they’re taken properly. Although probiotics are generally considered easy to take, they can cause a few side effects and may not be suitable for people with certain Medical conditions, such as pancreatitis.
Benefits of Probiotics
Foods such as yogurt, kefir, miso and sauerkraut (or kimchi) are good sources of probiotics. They are also available as supplements. The primary health reason for taking probiotics is to restore the balance of bacteria in the intestinal tract. A variety of factors can deplete healthy bacteria in your intestines such as stress, antibiotics or a poor diet. A healthy intestinal tract is essential for functions such as preventing the growth of disease-causing bacteria in your intestines and a healthy immune system. Probiotics can also treat specific health problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and allergies.
The Best Way to Take Probiotics
Although you can still reap some of the health benefits of probiotics by taking them on an empty stomach, it’s best to take them with foods. The stomach is a very acidic environment but after eating, your stomach becomes less acidic. This enables more of the live bacteria to survive the acidity in your stomach and make their way to your intestinal tract. Ideally, you should take probiotics in three or four divided doses over the course of a day.
Amount
The dose of probiotics you need depends on your reason for taking them. For instance, for maintaining intestinal health, you can take between 1 and 15 billion colony forming units, or CFUs, daily, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. But you may need to take just 1 to 2 billion CFUs to prevent or treat diarrhea. Your practitioner or a nutritionist can recommend the amount of probiotics to take to treat specific conditions.
Considerations
Suddenly introducing probiotics into your diet may lead to gas, bloating or flatulence. Starting with a lower daily dose may help to prevent these symptoms. If you are taking antibiotics as well, wait two hours before taking probiotics and take them for up to five days after your antibiotic treatment ends. Seek advice from your practitioner on taking probiotics if you have a medical condition such as an immunosuppressive disease or pancreatitis.
Should I Take a Probiotic Every Day?
By Adam Cloe
Although many different kinds of bacteria cause harmful infections, some forms of bacteria are important for your health.Probiotics, either in dietary sources or supplements, contain beneficial microorganisms that help enhance the growth of healthy bacteria in your body. Taking a probiotic every day or at all may not be necessary for yo, you can talk to your practitioner before taking this supplement.
Probiotics
Probiotic foods and supplements contain live microorganisms. According to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative medicine, probiotics provide health benefits if you take them in the appropriate dosage. Most probiotics contain bacteria from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains. Some foods, such as yogurt made with active cultures and tempeh, naturally contain probiotics, but these organisms can also be added to other types foods.
Bacteria and Health
The bacteria in probiotics are similar to the bacteria that naturally exist in different parts of the human body, including the digestive tract and vagina. The bacteria in your digestive tract help break down food particles, stimulate your immune system and crowd out potentially infectious bacteria. Vaginal bacteria helps prevent yeast infections by making the vagina more acidic, which makes it harder for Candida yeast to grow.
Benefits
More research still needs to be done, but some probiotic supplements have many benefits. They prevent diarrhea, particularly if you have recently taken a course of antibiotics, which kills both harmful and beneficial bacteria. Other benefits reaped from daily probiotic usage include relief for the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, the prevention and treatment of eczema and reduced severity of viral infections.
Usage
The amount of bacteria in probiotic supplements varies, so follow the directions on the packaging when using these products. A typical dose of probiotics involves consuming a few billion live organisms each day. Probiotic bacteria don't typically cause infections and are safe for most people to use. However, you might need to avoid probiotics if you have a weakened immune system or serious intestinal problems; talk to your practitioner before using these supplements.
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