Best Time To Take Probiotics

Learn the best time to take probiotics for optimal gut health. Some experts recommend taking them in the morning, while others say night is best. Read on to find out which is right for you.

Probiotics can be a great health aid. They can help you to combat gut issues, but they also target multiple areas of your health and well-being at once – making them a great addition to your supplement regime.

But when should you take them for the best effects? Here we reveal the best time of day to take your probiotics for better health.

Why Take Probiotics?

Many of us suffer from gut issues. Whether it’s bloating, constipation, or other troubles – this is an indication that our gut health is less than optimal.

Gut health issues can be the result of functional disorders such as IBS, inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s and acute infections like gastroenteritis. 

Most of these conditions are either caused by or made worse by an unbalanced gut microbiome. (Source)

This means that you have too many bad bacteria species and not enough of the beneficial types.

Ideally, you want to redress this by increasing your intake of both prebiotic and probiotic bacteria, as they work together synergistically.

So, taking probiotics can help you to address this imbalance and try to crowd out the bad with the benefits.

Other reasons to take probiotics include:

They Can Reduce Gas And Bloating

Did you know that studies have shown that specific strains of the lactobacillus and bifidobacteria family can lessen annoying gut symptoms such as gas and bloating? (Source)

This may be because these strains are able to crowd out the bad bacteria in your gut leading to better digestion and a less irritable gut.

They Can Help You With IBS Symptoms

People taking a supplement containing bacillus coagulants for a number of weeks noticed a significant decrease in their IBS symptoms. (Source)

This is again likely to be the result of reduced dysbiosis which for many LBS patients can either cause or worsen their condition.

They Can Reduce Your Risk Of Cognitive Decline

It’s easy to think of probiotics as only benefiting the gut, but the beneficial effects are actually much more wide-ranging. We now know that the brain and gut are connected via the vagus nerve, otherwise known as the gut-brain axis.

This means that when the gut is healthy, the brain is more likely to be too. Specifically, a healthy microbiome can reduce inflammation throughout the body and brain, which can result in a reduced risk of conditions such as cognitive decline. (Source)

They May Improve Your Mental Wellbeing

Many people with IBS and other gut issues also experience poor mental health. And whilst stress can increase gut issues the reverse is also true.

When you lack enough beneficial bacteria in the gut you can also suffer from low serotonin and GABA – two key neurotransmitters required for mental wellbeing.

So, taking probiotics is an easy way to increase your range of helpful microbes, and therefore support your mental health too. (Source)

They Can Support Your Immunity

A lot of your immune defenses start in your gut.

So, keeping your good bacteria topped up through the use of probiotics is an easy way to keep your immune system strong. This in turn can help you to fight off viruses and other bugs. (Source)

They Can Reduce Your Risk Of Obesity

Managing your weight can be hard and it’s not always as simple as eating less and moving more.

Studies have shown that you can also have an ‘obesogenic microbiome’, where the selection of bugs in your gut can make you more likely to gain weight. This is probably because they promote fat absorption and trigger inflammation which can drive obesity. (Source)

So, if you are keen to lose weight then taking probiotics is an important addition to your weight loss regime.

Best Time To Take Probiotics

In general, the best time to take probiotics is whenever you remember. This is because whenever you take your probiotics you will get some benefits.

But there are certain times of the day when you are more likely to get extra benefits.

In general, the recommendations are to take probiotics either first thing in the morning, or last thing at night.

This is because taking your probiotics at these times gives you the best chance of the beneficial bacteria making it to your intestines -which is where they need to be.

Should I Take Probiotics In The Morning Or At Night?

This really comes down to you and your personal preferences as both of these times are recommended. But it may depend a little on when you eat your last meal of the day. This is because the reason it’s recommended for you to take probiotics at night is so they will reach an empty stomach.

But if you eat your meal close to bedtime or like to snack through the evening then it may be better to take your probiotics first thing in the morning when your stomach is more likely to be empty.

Aim to take them about 30 mins before your breakfast to give them a chance to get where they need to go.

Why Is It Better To Take Probiotics On An Empty Stomach?

You want your probiotics to reach the gut alive so they can start to colonize and take effect.

When you do this on an empty stomach, your stomach acid is less likely to destroy the beneficial bacteria. This is because stomach acid is stimulated when you consume food, so if you take your probiotics at this time, you might end up destroying the bacteria before it gets a chance to thrive.

And in case you’re wondering if taking probiotics will break your fast, you can find out here.

Should I Take A Probiotic Every Day?

As with most supplements and healthy habits – consistency is key. So if you want to improve your gut health over time, you need to build and then sustain a healthy and diverse microbiome.

Taking a daily probiotic can help you to keep your gut in check, even on those days when your diet is less than ideal. It also takes a while to build a healthy colony of gut bugs, so building this up over time can help to protect you in the future.

The other option is to take probiotics after a course of antibiotics, or before travelling to protect yourself against travellers’ diarrhea. But, for many people taking probiotics daily offers the most protection against gut-based troubles. So why not take our new probiotic powder, and improve your health today?

Julia Ebbens, MSc

Julia is a health content editor and nutritionist from Norwich, UK. She has worked as a health coach in private practice and for the national health service. She undertook an MSc in nutritional medicine to deepen her knowledge.

She enjoys producing evidence-based content which inspires people to become healthier and happier.