Probiotics- Take on empty stomach or with food?

Christine_72
Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
edited November 16 in Food and Nutrition
I've always taken probiotics on an empty stomach, but after googling, the consensus seems to be split down the middle. Some advise taking them with food, others say they work best on an empty stomach.

What do you do?

Replies

  • Michellelynn219
    Michellelynn219 Posts: 62 Member
    My doctor told me to take them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
  • Mandamanda93
    Mandamanda93 Posts: 213 Member
    If they're working for you and the consensus among medical professionals is split down the middle, I'd think to just keep doing what you're doing. I have to take them just before I eat or afterwards, or else I'm overwhelmingly nauseated.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Michellelynn219 wrote: »
    My doctor told me to take them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

    Yep, that's what I've been doing. On every bottle the instructions state "to take with food", but they don't give a reason of why.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    Mandamanda93 wrote: »
    If they're working for you and the consensus among medical professionals is split down the middle, I'd think to just keep doing what you're doing. I have to take them just before I eat or afterwards, or else I'm overwhelmingly nauseated.

    Aah that could be the reason why manufactures advise taking them with food.. I don't feel nauseous taking them on an empty tum.
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,301 Member
    edited March 2017
    When one uses probiotics you are reintroducing or topping up, the most beneficial microbes which help to break down your foods to maximise absorption through the semi permeable lining of the gut. They need food to digest, to work on to re-establish themselves in your digestive tract. Many benefit from soluble fibre from oats, flax and other similar foods. I have used probiotics which were specifically designed to replace the bacteria which is lost to antibiotics, it is best to take these probiotics and antibiotic at different times because one will cancel the other out.

    Hope this is helpful.
  • perkymommy
    perkymommy Posts: 1,642 Member
    I always take anything with food - the exception being Tylenol or allergy meds. I am the type to get a queasy stomach if I don't eat a little something with a pill.
  • Meghan509
    Meghan509 Posts: 2,096 Member
    I tend to take them on an empty stomach in the AM, and about 30 minutes or so before breakfast. I have not had any issue with nausea. I switched from taking them at night on a full stomach and I felt they were not that effective. I guess I feel they are a little more effective taking them in the AM.
    While we are on topic... And if the original poster does not mind: Does anyone have a good brand they want to recommend? I am finishing up a rather expensive one that I am no longer planning to continue. Looking for other options. :)
  • Fuzzipeg
    Fuzzipeg Posts: 2,301 Member
    I don't know of a specific brand, I'm not in the US. I think the recommendation is for a number of strains in high quantities. It may help to look up the names of the ones in the product you are currently using and see if you can find them in a different product. Some microbes promote the production of histamine which can be an issue for some. Another is supposed to help in appetite control, can't remember the name. If you have what we call, health food shops which specialise in this sort of thing they could well recommend something to fit your requirements.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    @Meghan509 I don't mind at all, I'm in Australia, so can't recommend any. My only preference is to stick to the refrigerated brands.
  • byrnet18
    byrnet18 Posts: 230 Member
    I just started taking some a few weeks ago and I take them on an empty stomach. The reason being that they are in an enteric coating so if you take them on an empty stomach, they will reach the intestines before the coating is gone and therefore the good bacteria makes it to where they're supposed to be to work best. If you took it with food then the pill would stay in your stomach too long and release the probiotics there which is not ideal.
  • Michellelynn219
    Michellelynn219 Posts: 62 Member
    Meghan509 wrote: »
    I tend to take them on an empty stomach in the AM, and about 30 minutes or so before breakfast. I have not had any issue with nausea. I switched from taking them at night on a full stomach and I felt they were not that effective. I guess I feel they are a little more effective taking them in the AM.
    While we are on topic... And if the original poster does not mind: Does anyone have a good brand they want to recommend? I am finishing up a rather expensive one that I am no longer planning to continue. Looking for other options. :)

    I use Hyperbiotics pro 15. I buy it on Amazon for $23 dollars. I also use Natures Bounty $11 dollars on Amazon as well.
  • Meghan509
    Meghan509 Posts: 2,096 Member
    Thanks for the feedback!! Going to look in to some of these. :smiley:
  • Michellelynn219
    Michellelynn219 Posts: 62 Member
    Meghan509 wrote: »
    Thanks for the feedback!! Going to look in to some of these. :smiley:

    Yw :)
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Christine_72 wrote: »
    Michellelynn219 wrote: »
    My doctor told me to take them first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.

    Yep, that's what I've been doing. On every bottle the instructions state "to take with food", but they don't give a reason of why.

    I'll give you a bit of insight from the scientific community - we don't know why...it's just always been done that way. Medicine and science are great at explaining how something works, but why? Because the original testing was done in this manner and produced better results.

    For pills it is largely irrelevant. Most oral medications are recommended to take with food to ease digestion and minimize nausea.
  • girlinahat
    girlinahat Posts: 2,956 Member
    Try making kefir instead - it's more effective at creating a good range of beneficial bacteria than tablets.
  • Meghan509
    Meghan509 Posts: 2,096 Member
    girlinahat wrote: »
    Try making kefir instead - it's more effective at creating a good range of beneficial bacteria than tablets.

    I have heard kefir is good too.
    Other items that come up: kimchi, sauerkraut, pickles, tempeh, and yogurt - when I Google fermented foods. :)
  • zenwildberry
    zenwildberry Posts: 9 Member
    I used to take one called PB8, however I stopped when it kept giving me headaches. ( my hubby did great on it though! )I now make yogurt at home and eat it with most meals. And as a bonus if I want a treat I mix it with coffee and a little brown sugar, so good!
  • Meghan509
    Meghan509 Posts: 2,096 Member
    zenwildberry wrote: »
    I used to take one called PB8, however I stopped when it kept giving me headaches. ( my hubby did great on it though! )I now make yogurt at home and eat it with most meals. And as a bonus if I want a treat I mix it with coffee and a little brown sugar, so good!

    Thanks! My Mom takes that one too! Heard good things from her as well and online.
    Weighing all options. LOL
  • Treece68
    Treece68 Posts: 780 Member
    I take mine in the morning before I eat, and then in the evening after I eat I have no problems. I use Culturelle because my doctor recommended that brand.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    byrnet18 wrote: »
    I just started taking some a few weeks ago and I take them on an empty stomach. The reason being that they are in an enteric coating so if you take them on an empty stomach, they will reach the intestines before the coating is gone and therefore the good bacteria makes it to where they're supposed to be to work best. If you took it with food then the pill would stay in your stomach too long and release the probiotics there which is not ideal.

    This is precisely the reason i heard for taking them on an empty stomach, it does seem to make sense.
    girlinahat wrote: »
    Try making kefir instead - it's more effective at creating a good range of beneficial bacteria than tablets.

    I have looked into this, i would also love to make my own yogurt. I'm a lazy cow when it comes to making stuff like this from scratch!

    I have searched high and low for kimchi but cant find it anywhere! I may have to go scout out the Asian supermarkets.
  • caroldavison332
    caroldavison332 Posts: 864 Member
    I take mine on an empty stomach because I take my other medicine before eating.
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