What do probiotics do?
Probiotics, which grow rapidly, can ‘crowd out’ bad (called pathogenic) bacteria in the digestive tract. These probiotics compete with the pathogens for food sources and space in the digestive system thus blocking out the ‘undesirable’ bacteria. These gut pathogens can produce many toxins that can negatively affect our health. This is because, when we take a probiotic, we are replenishing our own ‘friendly’ bacteria and supplanting the ‘bad’ bacteria in our digestive tract.
How long do probiotics take to work?
The time it takes for probiotics to work depends on the strain of the probiotic, the make-up of the individual’s microbiome and the symptoms of the individual. It is difficult to tell when the effects of probiotics will be realized. Some probiotics can take as quickly as 3 days for affects (Saccharomycces boulardii) whereas others can be seen in 30-days (Lactobacillus acidophilus) when taken daily. Keep in mind that your body will have a unique response to probiotic supplementation which is dependent on factors specific to the individual.
How to tell when probiotics are working
The gut is where good health starts. By using probiotics, gut health can improve. Over time many more positive effects can occur such as less colds and skin conditions. However, many things affect the gut, including medication, poor diet, and stress. These can be improved by probiotics. As shown here, supporting the gut with probiotics is a good idea, not only for the digestive tract but also for general health.