How can I tell if my probiotic is working?

Your gut can be a battlefield. Or, at least, it can feel like one if you’re having gastrointestinal issues. Regardless of what you take to bring about a gastrointestinal ceasefire, whether it’s over the counter or prescription medication, bland food, or a decades-old home remedy, you just want that discomfort to stop. And stop as soon as possible.

There are really 2 options—band-aid fixes that promise fast relief or long-term, preventative solutions. It’s pretty simple to know if those quick fixes work. You’ll know it within a few minutes. However, when you’ve opted for a long-term, preventative solution—such as taking a probiotic supplement to improve gut health—it may beg this question: How can I tell if they’re working or not? It’s a good question, and here are answers to it.

You’re having fewerbad bowel days

Like having a bad hair day, you can experience a bad bowel day. Having a bad bowel every now and then isn’t uncommon. However, if you experience them often there’s a good chance either your probiotic isn’t working effectively or you are experiencing a medical issue that needs to be addressed by your healthcare professional. If you check out OK with your doctor, but continue to experience regular bad bowel days, your probiotic may not be working. Or, at least, working to your satisfaction. If you consistently experience diarrhea and/or constipation, the probiotic you’re taking may not be delivering the goods.

It’s important to remember that not all probiotics are (created) equal. For example, many probiotics contain different strains of organisms. And the concentration of microbes can greatly vary. This is important. Remember, the human microbiome, which consists of microbes, is a critical regulator of health and human biology. A poor microbiome can be attributed to a number of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, breathing problems, urinary problems, chronic pain, neurologic diseases, and gastrointestinal problems.

You are no longer passing gas that is legendary

Here’s another sign that your probiotic may not be working. You produce foul-smelling gas. Not your garden variety gas; the stuff that can clear a room in seconds. Gas that is talked about for years at parties and family gatherings.

Everyone passes gas; it’s normal. But if the stench is otherworldly, your probiotic may not be working optimally, if at all.

If you regularly experience extreme bloating, you’re likely taking an ineffective probiotic. This level of bloating can only be described as incredibly uncomfortable. You’ll know it when you feel it.

Your Speed of Relief is faster

Another way to determine if, or how well, your probiotic is working is by how fast you experience relief. How quickly the uncomfortable, even embarrassing, symptoms subside, the more effective the probiotic.

You’re enjoying Better Skin

While these signs will take longer to evaluate, a good indication that your probiotic is working is if it is helping your body more effectively handle eczema, psoriasis, even acne. While it is not suggested that probiotics be taken as the only means of addressing these skin-related issues, taking them with other medication and/or remedies has proven effective. They can be used as part of a larger, integrated solution that also incorporates omega-3 oils, vitamin D, and other dietary improvements, along with the elimination of food or environmental issues that can cause or contribute to these issues.

Your Mood is Boosted

Along with heightened levels of grumpiness, people with gastrointestinal issues are more likely to experience anxiety and depression. And keep this important tidbit in mind―it is estimated that the Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract produces up to 90% of the serotonin in our body. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that controls, among other things, your mood, happiness, and overall well-being. That is why it’s commonly referred to as The Happy Chemical. So, you may be wondering what probiotics have to do with your mood. Basically, a happy gut can chemically and biologically produce a happier person.

You have More Energy

If you don’t have a happy gut, your body produces higher levels of immune cells to battle back those toxins. That battle can leave you feeling more tired and rundown. If you are experiencing increased energy, it is a good sign that your probiotic is playing a role in it.

If you want a probiotic that works for you…

Your body deserves the best. It deserves Dr. Ohhira’s Probiotics from Essential Formulas.