When you reach a certain age, itâs important to take different steps to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in your gut.
One way to do this is by taking a probiotic for better digestion. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can be found in supplements, yogurt, and other fermented foods. They play an important role in gut health by helping to keep the bad bacteria in check.
Probiotic supplements have been shown to be especially helpful for people over 50 who want to maintain a healthy gut balance.
What are the benefits of taking a probiotic?
Probiotics can be taken to help address digestive issues, support regularity, boost immunity and improve mood. Taking a probiotic supplement is one way to ensure youâre getting enough of these beneficial bacteria. Probiotics have been shown to be especially helpful for people over 50 who want to maintain a healthy gut balance.
Taking a probiotic supplement is one way to ensure youâre getting enough of these beneficial bacteria. Probiotics have been shown to be especially helpful for people over 50 who want to maintain a healthy gut balance.
Some other common benefits of taking a probiotic include:
- along with prescription medication, probiotics may help to reduce the risk of getting diarrhea caused by Clostridium difficile (C. diff) after antibiotic treatment
- they may help lower your cholesterol levels
- some studies show that probiotics can help boost immunity and decrease respiratory infections
- you could enjoy better skin health because some strains of probiotics produce vitamins that help increase the number of antioxidants and vitamin E in your skin
- probiotics may also be good for bone health
- some studies suggest that taking a probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus can help to reduce stress and anxiety levels
Store-bought probiotics versus those available by prescription
There are many supplements on the market that claim to have various strains of probiotics. However, not all of them contain live organisms. If you decide to try a supplement containing probiotics, itâs important to make sure the label lists âlive culturesâ or âactive cultures.â Without this designation, you wonât know if the probiotics are still alive when you take them.
There is some evidence that taking a prescription probiotic containing Lactobacillus reuteri can help increase testosterone levels in men over the age of 50.
What else should you consider when buying a probiotic?
Itâs best to go with one that has a lot of different strains in it. A probiotic with at least ten different strains, including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, is likely to be most effective for a wide variety of health concerns.
In particular, look for a supplement that offers several types of Lactobacillus bacteria because this strain has been shown to be the most helpful for a healthy gut.
When should you take a probiotic and how much?
Itâs best to take them right before eating, with a small amount of food, so they can survive in your stomach and reach your intestines where they can start doing their work.
When taking lactobacillus probiotics, itâs best to take them on an empty stomach. If you have too much food in your stomach, the probiotics may not be able to survive until they reach your intestines where they can start doing their work.
How long do you need to take a probiotic for them to be effective?
Most studies show that a probiotic supplement needs to be taken continuously for one month before it will have a beneficial effect. Some people may notice an improvement in symptoms as soon as one week after starting the supplement, but others may need to take it longer.
Every person is different and sometimes you need to be patient to see the benefits.

What should you do if you miss a dose?
If you forget to take a dose by the end of the day, just take the next one as usual and continue on with your regular schedule.
What should you do if a probiotic doesnât seem to be doing anything?
Some people donât feel any different when they take a probiotic even though itâs been shown to be effective in studies. If this is the case for you, itâs best to stop taking the supplement.
Consult with your doctor or nutritionist and see what advice they recommend. The reason being is that they will ask a series of questions to ascertain other factors that could have a bearing on the non-results. Things in relation to diet, sleep, stress, exercise, and health issues.
What are some possible side effects of probiotics?
Probiotics are considered safe for most people, but there is still a possibility that they might cause you to have gas or bloating. If this occurs, you can try drinking them with more food or with less food, so they have more room to get where they need to go.
If you have a weakened immune system or are taking immunosuppressants, itâs best to consult your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement because your body may not be able to fight off any infections caused by the probiotics. After all, they are live bacteria.
Whilst we need bacteria in our bodies to regulate our gut and aid in digestion, striking the balance is the key.
Are there any other precautions that I should consider?
Since probiotics interact with many medications, itâs important to check with your doctor before taking them if youâre currently on any other medication. This includes both over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
If you have a weakened immune system or are taking immunosuppressants, itâs best to consult your doctor before taking a probiotic supplement because your body may not be able to fight off any infections caused by the probiotics.
If you have an underlying health condition, a cautious approach is recommended and this is why it is vital you consult with your doctor so that a treatment plan can be adhered to in order to navigate your path to full health by the best means possible. Either with probiotics or not.
In conclusion
Most people over 50 should consider taking a probiotic supplement to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in their gut.
Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can be found in supplements, yogurt, and other fermented foods. They play an important role in gut health by helping to keep the bad bacteria in check.
Taking a probiotic supplement is one way to ensure youâre getting enough of these beneficial bacteria. Probiotic supplements have been shown to be especially helpful for people over 50 who want to maintain a healthy gut balance.
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