If you’re taking a probiotic, the chances are that you’re doing it to promote the good bacteria present in your body in general or because you’re trying to fix an imbalance between the good vs. bad bacteria in your guts that may be causing issues. For example, you may be experiencing uncomfortableness after eating, abdominal discomfort and burning, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and constipation due to your bacterial imbalance. Either way, you may have noticed some unexpected side effects taking place since starting your probiotics, namely gassiness.
This is a problem that stinks, both literally and figuratively, but it’s nothing you should be worried about. Please continue to learn about one of the most common possible side effects of adding probiotics to your diet. And if you’re actively looking for some effective probiotics to help balance your gut bacteria, consider trying out the quality probiotic drinks from Sunny Culture.
Related: Probiotic Drink Benefits [Buyer’s Guide]
Can Probiotics Cause Gas? The Short Answer is Sometimes
Probiotics are widely considered safe and predominantly beneficial for maintaining a balanced microbiome for the bacteria in your gut, though they can also provide several other benefits. That said, people need to understand that probiotics can also come with some side effects they may not have been expecting, such as excess gas and bloating. While not everyone will not experience side effects from probiotics, some people will. One of the most common that people may encounter is a bit of extra gas, particularly within the first few weeks after starting their probiotic.
According to an article published in the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy from Oxford Academy, this happens because probiotics introduce new types of bacteria into your system while alternating the levels of your gut’s present bacteria. Though the gut’s microbiome is constantly fluctuating, introducing new bacteria means it will need to adjust to its presence, even if it’s good bacteria. While your gut bacteria is balancing itself out and becoming used to the presence of probiotics in your system, your intestines will have to adjust, and part of that adjustment may include excess gas. That said, it’s also possible that probiotics may help relieve excess gas in those already experiencing gut issues, so it really depends on your particular situation and gut biome.
Related: Probiotics for Acid Reflux: Do They Help?
What Can You Do to Reduce Your Gassiness?
If you’re one of the people who encounter extra gassiness after starting your probiotic, consider lowering your dosage for a bit to help your body adjust to the change more gradually. If you’re taking a one-a-day pill or beverage, cut back to taking them once every three days and steadily work your way back up to the recommended dosage over several days, depending on the severity and frequency of your side effects.
That said, if you’ve been taking a probiotic for several weeks and don’t notice the gassiness subside, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your regular doctor or a certified gastroenterologist to make an appointment. This is important because these temporary side effects’ continued presence can be a clear indicator that something else is going on that may trigger your gastrointestinal issues. In the meantime, if you’re taking a general probiotic, consider stopping your dosage, doing some research, and switching to a more specified probiotic strain that’s specifically targeted to meet your particular digestive needs. Targeted probiotic strains may prove more beneficial in their effects and may also be less likely to trigger unwanted side effects.
Are you suffering from the negative effects of antibiotics and need an effective way to start boosting the growth of helpful bacteria in your guts? Sunny Culture can provide you with a range of specialized probiotic water kefir drinks to promote your gut health and support your overall wellbeing.
What Else Can You Do to Combat Probiotic Gassiness?
In addition to reducing your dosage for a bit and switching to more precisely targeted strains of probiotics, you may find benefits from also adjusting your current diet to include some probiotic-rich foods. These can include:
- Yogurt
- Sauerkraut
- Some types of cheese (including cheddar, swiss, cottage, provolone, gouda, edam, and gruyère)
- Kefir
- Sourdough bread
- Traditional buttermilk
- Tempeh
- Kimchi
- Pickles
- Natto
- Miso
- Kombucha
Not only are many of these foods healthy in general, but such dietary changes may help your body adjust to the presence of helpful probiotics more rapidly than by just relying on supplements or specialized beverages alone. Remember not to go overboard, though, because there’s also a possibility that your stomach and guts won’t appreciate a sudden onslaught of probiotics from both supplements and large amounts of new foods. Take things slow as you steadily introduce anything that wasn’t part of your diet before, and give your body sufficient time to adjust.
Related: How Many Probiotic Drinks Per Day Should I Take?
The Bottom Line: Despite the Gas, are Probiotics Right for You?
Once again, we’d like to take the time to say that probiotics are considered very beneficial in helping people maintain a healthy balance between the good and bad bacteria present in their guts. Additionally, side effects from probiotics aren’t something that everyone experiences. That said, even if you do have to deal with some side effects, they are typically minor and should go away within a few weeks, meaning that the benefits of probiotics significantly outweigh the potential costs.
If you’d like to start incorporating a helpful, top-quality probiotic into your diet to help boost the presence of good bacteria in your gut’s microbiome, please consider checking out our awesome probiotic drinks. For instance our Elderberry Ginger, Ginger Lemon, Lemon Spirulina, and Turmeric Ginger probiotic shots.