Probiotics are live microorganisms — usually bacteria — that are similar to the bacteria that naturally reside in the gut. Although this type of microorganism is used to improve overall health, many people report negative side effects that typically involve the digestive system, no matter how they are ingested. The most common side effects are gas, diarrhea, bloating, intestinal infections, irregular metabolic activity, cramps, and constipation. Through the use of antibiotics, the side effects of introducing live microorganisms to the gut can be counterbalanced.
Another common side effect that probiotics cause is the weakening of the immune system, which regulates yeast and bacteria within the body. When live microorganisms are introduced to the immune system, they can kill the bacteria that the immune system is trying to regulate, thereby resulting in impairments and irregularities. Most doctors advise people with weak immune systems not to consume probiotics because the chances of infections or sickness are much higher.
Many scientists believe that these side effects are due to the relationship between probiotics and the bacteria that already lives within the gut. Once probiotics enter the digestive system, the original bacteria begin to fight, viewing the new bacteria as a threat. As one bacterium kills another, toxins and waste are released into the body, specifically inside the gut. These toxins can lead to infections within the digestive system, at times causing one or more of the aforementioned side effects. The use of live microorganisms can contribute to an overall imbalance of bacteria within the body.
Overall, the effects of probiotics vary from person to person. It can be prescribed to aid the same problems that it causes. This type of bacteria, for example, has proven to alleviate irregular bowel movements in children who are on antibiotics, as well as adults who might be traveling. For those that might be taking probiotics for other reasons, diarrhea could be a negative side effect. Due to this irregularity, many doctors neither endorse nor prohibit the intake of live microorganisms for dietary reasons.
Probiotics are in most pasteurized foods, such as yogurt, milk, soy beverages, and miso. The quantity of the bacteria is regulated in these types of foods to ensure that people do not receive too much. Live microorganisms can also enter the body through dietary supplements, such as pills and tablets. It typically is important for a person to consult with a doctor before using these supplements to better understand the effects they might have on the digestive and immune systems.
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StarJo
Post 10 |
I had no idea that milk and miso contained probiotics! I have been drinking milk and eating miso soup for years, and I have a weakened immune system.
Maybe that's why I've had so many problems with intestinal infections. I have been through a lot of pain over the years because of them. I will have to ask my doctor about this.
Does anyone know if soy milk contains probiotics? I still want to be able to eat cereal with something that resembles milk, but only if it is safe. I will give up my cereal forever if it is causing me pain. |
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lighth0se33
Post 9 |
@Oceana – I used to get yeast infections frequently, but I hated yogurt. Even learning that it might help my situation wasn't enough to make me eat it.
My doctor recommended probiotics supplements. Since I could swallow them in pill form without having to taste anything yucky, I got some.
I did stop getting yeast infections, but I got an intestinal infection that was very painful. I had stabbing pains, soreness, and cramps, and my doctor told me to stop taking the probiotics. She put me on antibiotics, and I am fine now, but I will never touch another food that has probiotics in it. |
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Oceana
Post 8 |
I started eating yogurt because I heard that the probiotics were supposed to help prevent yeast infections. I had been getting a lot of those, so I figured that eating yogurt would be an easy way to stop them.
It worked. I had been getting about three infections a year, and once I started eating yogurt, I didn't get another one.
As a bonus, I started having less bloating and cramping. I now eat at least one carton of yogurt a day. With so many flavors available, it is the most enjoyable prevention technique and gas medication out there. |
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Sara007
Post 7 |
@animegal - I would quit eating the probiotics yogurt if it is just making you gassy and have diarrhea. Some people's systems just don't do well with foreign bacteria being added to them. I personally think that too many probiotics products are being advertised as being a cure all and they really aren't.
If you want to help your stomach and be more regular I would suggest just going the old-fashioned route and eating more fruits and vegetables, as well as a lot of brain. You should be careful of the newest gimmicky things as they very seldom give you what they promise. It's a real shame too, as a lot of them can actually make you feel even worse, as I am sure you've found out. |
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animegal
Post 6 |
I recently started eating a yogurt that is advertising having good probiotics in it, and I have been feeling really gassy since I began eating it. Do you think that I should quit having the yogurt, or will this symptom pass?
I am also suffering from a bit of what sounds like probiotics diarrhea which is really embarrassing. I suppose it could just be my system realigning itself but it isn't a very pleasant experience. If I do need to stop eating the yogurt is there anything else I can do to help my digestive system. I originally started adding the yogurt to my diet because I was feeling bloated and it was supposed to help with that. |
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ysmina
Post 5 |
I started taking a probiotic supplement last week and have been feeling tired, and very sluggish in general. There is a mild constipation going on as well.
I'm not too familiar with probiotic products, but a friend of mine who's taken them before told me that the side effects generally go away after about a week or so of taking them. It's just been a week for me, so I hope the fatigue goes away as I get used to it.
My friend also told me not to take any alcohol or eat too much sugar while I'm on the supplement as that worsens the side-effects. What's the reasoning behind that? Is it because of the yeast that probiotics release in the body? |
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alisha
Post 4 |
@honeybees-- I also experience gas and bloating sometimes when I eat probiotic foods. I think I agree with @sunshined that it's probably the food causing those symptoms more than the probiotic.
Yogurt is already a food that tends to cause gas because it naturally contains live cultures in it. When manufacturers also add more probiotics to yogurt, it can either increase or decrease these symptoms. It depends on the person because everyone metabolizes food and reacts to microorganisms differently.
I think it's best to try out different probiotic foods to see which works better than others. And probiotic supplements might work better for you in general. I personally like probiotic yogurt a lot. Probiotic yogurt causes less gas and bloating than regular yogurt does for me. And since I'm a diabetic, I think it improves my digestion a lot. |
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turquoise
Post 3 |
I'm surprised to hear that probiotics can cause constipation and weaken the immune system. I also thought that they were supposed to do exactly the opposite.
Probiotic foods are really popular these days and highly advertised by celebrities and health gurus. I also purchased probiotic yogurt several times when I was sick so that it would improve my immune system. It never occurred to me that it could actually do just the opposite. But reading about it in this article, the possibility seems logical. I think it's pretty normal for the body to consider newcomer microorganisms to be foreign and potentially dangerous.
I wish these side effects, which are pretty serious in my view, were more elaborately described publicly. I don't think most people who consume them regularly are aware of them at all. |
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sunshined
Post 2 |
@honeybees - I had a similar situation happen to me. I saw so many TV commercials about the benefits of eating yogurt on a regular basis so did the same thing.
I found out that I had the best results when I took probiotics supplements. I didn't have the side effects when taking the supplements that I did when trying to get these through certain foods.
Everybody is different and reacts differently to food and substances they eat and swallow. I think it is important enough to get probiotics in my diet, that I wanted to find a way to include them and get the results I was looking for. |
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honeybees
Post 1 |
Has anyone else experienced side effects such as gas, bloating and cramping when adding a probiotic to their diet?
I find it so interesting that some of the side effects of probiotics are the same as what you are trying to take care of in the first place.
I began taking probiotics for digestion problems and started out eating one carton of yogurt every day.
After a week of this, I felt like I had more symptoms than before I started. I stopped eating the yogurt every day and these symptoms went away.
Now I don't know what to do. I wonder if I keep eating the yogurt will it eventually help me, or am I better off not eating it at all? |
