Daily Probiotic Use – Is it Safe & Are there Long-Term Benefits?

Daily probiotic use is beneficial for the immune system, improving digestive conditions and for supporting general health. But should you take probiotics every day and are there potential side effects?

Probiotics refer to the beneficial bacterial microorganisms that naturally live within our digestive tract. We have trillions of these organisms inside the gastrointestinal system. The collection of bacterial species inside the gut is called the microflora and researchers have found that the make-up of your microflora determines a lot about how healthy you are.

Probiotic supplements may be recommended by your doctor following a disruption to the microflora, such as after taking antibiotic medicines. They may also be recommended for conditions such as IBS (Irritable Bowel Disease), IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease), diarrhea, constipation and more.

In some cases, short-term use of probiotics may be beneficial. But research suggests that the benefits of probiotics quickly dissipate after you stop taken them. Ongoing, continuous use may be necessary for treating certain health conditions and for maintaining a well-balanced microflora.

Probiotics

Digestive Supplement

Gut Health

Digestion

Immune Function

How It Works:

• Supports a healthy immune system & microflora
• Promotes digestion & nutrient absoprtion
• Combats pathogenic bacteria; Improves metabolism

Dosage:

Between 1 - 10 Billion CFUs per day

Safety:

Rated Likely Safe

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Benefits of Taking Probiotics Every Day

Taking a probiotic supplement every day can help to maintain balance in the gut microflora. This may have a preventative or prophylactic effect, supporting general health and well-being.

Research into the effects of probiotic organisms began in the early 1900s, when Elie Metchnikoff (a future Nobel prize winner) began examining the diet of rural people in Buglaria. He noted that these populations had a much longer life expectancy and their diet consisted primarily of fermented milk products.

These milk products contained lactic-acid bacteria, which we now recognize as probiotics from the Lactobacillus family. These “friendly” bacteria produced lactic acid from the lactose found in milk and colonized the gastrointestinal tract when they were ingested.

Metchnikoff realized that these good bacteria from milk products competed with the harmful pathogenic bacteria that colonized the gut and caused disease. By seeding the gut with the probiotic bacteria, it was possible to modify the microflora of the intestines in favor of these health-boosting microorganisms.

Since this initial discovery, researchers have identified more than 400 different types of probiotic bacteria that can support digestive health and the immune system. Using a probiotic supplement every day can ensure the gut microflora is well balanced so that harmful bacteria cannot gain a foothold.

Probiotics may also be taken for short-term use to address specific health conditions or to replenish the good bacteria in the gut following illness, antibiotic use, travel, dietary changes or other causes of disruption.

Do You Need to Use Probiotics Every Day?

Do you really need to take a probiotic supplement every day? Each individual is unique and some people may naturally have a healthier colony of good bacterial microorganisms in their GI tract. This may be the result of better diet, lower stress levels, better hygiene, genetic or environmental factors.

For these individuals, it may not be necessary to use a probiotic supplement to maintain a healthy microflora. These people may only require probiotic-enriched foods or supplements following digestive disturbances, such as using prescription medications or

However, there is growing research suggesting that many conditions can be improved by using a probiotic supplement. Not only are these supplements linked to improved digestive health, bowel regularity and protection from disease, they are increasingly being connected to mood regulation, cardiovascular health, weight loss and nutrient absorption.

Evidence also shows that probiotics can reduce chronic systemic inflammation, which is now believed to be a major cause of serious, preventable health conditions. Probiotics have been observed to reduce markers for oxidative damage, help control cholesterol levels and to reduce risk factors for certain types of cancer.

Probiotics Long-Term Benefits

One reason to use probiotics on a daily basis is to continue to provide the gut microflora with active, living microorganisms to replace the bacteria that are killed off or eliminated during bowel movements.

Researchers have found that after you stop taking a probiotic supplement every day, the gut microflora quickly returns to baseline levels. This means that if you stop supplementing your diet with sources of these good bacteria, you can lose the benefits shortly after you discontinue your daily use.

It may be possible to prevent this decline by eating a diet rich in probiotic and prebiotic food sources. However, it is important to get a sufficient number of live Colony Forming Units (CFUs) per day to keep the gut microflora healthy and well balanced.

Are Probiotics Safe for Everyday Use?

A number of probiotic products have received GRAS (Generally Regarded as Safe) status by the FDA. The probiotic bacteria from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium families are both rated as Likely Safe when used appropriately.

These organisms are naturally found in the human gastrointestinal tract and are well tolerated when used as supplements by health adults. In some cases, adverse effects have been reported including bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea or stomach irritation.

Probiotics may interact with antibiotics and should be taken at least two hours apart to prevent a reduction in efficacy. Probiotics should not be taken by people with impaired immune systems such as organ donors or those using catheters.

Yeast-based probiotics may cause allergies in those allergic to yeast. Milk based probiotics should be avoided by those allergic to milk or individuals who are lactose intolerant.

People with SBS (Short Bowel Disease) should avoid probiotics as well as those with open surgical wounds.

Daily probiotic use can help to maintain a healthy balance in the microflora, which can have positive effects on digestion, immunity and general health. Using a probiotic supplement every day may not be necessary for everyone. However, research shows that these supplements may have wide-ranging benefits when used on an on-going basis.

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